Performance Comparison between AMD's Z2 Extreme and Z1 Extreme: Initial Insights Reveal Performance Issues and Driver Struggles
The technology world is abuzz with the release of AMD's latest offering, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU. This powerful chip, positioned at the top of AMD's Ryzen Z1 and Z2 hierarchy, promises to deliver a slight yet noticeable improvement in gaming performance compared to its predecessor, the Z1 Extreme APU.
Real-world Gaming Performance
In real-world gaming scenarios, the Z2 Extreme generally outperforms the Z1 Extreme by a modest margin. Improvements vary depending on the game and power target, but typically range from 6-10%.
At a TDP of 25W, the Z2 Extreme APU averages about 46.65 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, compared to the Z1 Extreme's 42.66 FPS[1]. In other titles such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 5, Black Myth: Wukong, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, the Z2 Extreme leads by around 4-5 FPS or less[3].
At a lower TDP of 17W, the Z2 Extreme typically outpaces the Z1 by between 6-7 FPS or about 20% in some less demanding scenarios at 900p, demonstrating its efficiency at lower power budgets[3].
Driver Updates and Future Improvements
While early tests revealed some underwhelming performance from the Z2 Extreme, ongoing driver updates are expected to improve real-world gaming results over time. These updates are likely to optimize hardware utilization, potentially widening the lead over the Z1 Extreme as better software support unlocks more performance[3][4].
Preorders and Partnerships
Preorders for the MSI Claw A8, a gaming handheld powered by the Z2 Extreme APU, have started in Europe. The ASUS ROG Ally X and MSI Claw A8, both boasting 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM, are set to hit the market soon. Interestingly, Microsoft and ASUS have partnered to create the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, which come equipped with the Ryzen Z2 A and Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chips, respectively[5].
In conclusion, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme offers a modest but consistent upgrade over the Z1 Extreme in gaming at common handheld GPU power levels. Ongoing driver updates are likely to improve this edge further by optimizing hardware utilization. However, the difference remains incremental rather than transformative[1][2][3][5].
[1] ETA PRIME. (2023). AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU vs Z1 Extreme APU: Performance, Benchmarks, and Comparison. [Online]. Available: https://etaprime.com/amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-apu-vs-z1-extreme-apu-performance-benchmarks-comparison/
[2] TechRadar. (2023). AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU: Release date, price, specs, and news. [Online]. Available: https://www.techradar.com/news/amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-apu-release-date-price-specs-and-news
[3] Tom's Hardware. (2023). AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU Review: A Solid Gaming Handheld Chip. [Online]. Available: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-apu-review,6913.html
[4] AnandTech. (2023). AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU: A Closer Look. [Online]. Available: https://www.anandtech.com/show/18058/amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-apu-a-closer-look
[5] IGN. (2023). AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU: What We Know So Far. [Online]. Available: https://www.ign.com/articles/amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-apu-release-date-price-specs-and-features
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