AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme: The Main Boost Lies in Radeon 890M

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme is the flagship processor for portable gaming computers running Windows. Compared to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, it features new Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, but the main change is the integrated graphics Radeon 890M with 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units.

On paper, the update seems significant; however, in portable devices, the processor's specifications reveal only part of the picture. The performance of Z2 Extreme depends on the power limit set, cooling system, memory speed, and firmware settings. Therefore, two consoles with the same chip may yield different results.

Ryzen Z2 Extreme Performance in Specific Devices

The results were obtained in the standard performance modes of the devices. They are not normalized to a single power limit, so the table shows the performance of ready-made consoles rather than the pure difference between cooling systems.

In single-threaded Cinebench R23, the devices are nearly equal. Lenovo Legion Go 2 outperforms MSI Claw A8 by about 5% in the multi-threaded test and in the graphical portion of Time Spy. Such a gap may be explained by power profiles, cooling, and firmware settings, rather than the characteristics of the processor itself.

Changes from Ryzen Z1 Extreme

Ryzen Z2 Extreme features three full-sized Zen 5 cores and five more compact Zen 5c cores. Overall, the processor has eight cores and 16 threads, just like the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

The shift to a mixed core configuration allowed AMD to update the CPU section without a sharp increase in power consumption. However, in games, the primary limitation of a portable system often becomes the integrated graphics, so the CPU boost is not the main advantage of the new generation.

The Ryzen Z1 Extreme is equipped with Radeon 780M with 12 RDNA 3 compute units. Ryzen Z2 Extreme has received Radeon 890M with 16 RDNA 3.5 units. The number of graphics units has increased by a third, along with an updated architecture.

This is evident in 3DMark Time Spy. Lenovo Legion Go 2 with Z2 Extreme scores 3512 points in the graphical test, while the original Legion Go with Z1 Extreme scores around 2646 points. The difference reaches approximately 33%.

In multi-threaded Cinebench R23, the gap is much smaller. Fast implementations of Z1 Extreme can score around 13,000 points, which is on par with Z2 Extreme. The new generation has seen a more significant gain in graphics compared to heavy computations across all cores.

Performance Depends on Power

Ryzen Z2 Extreme is designed for a cTDP range of 15 to 35 watts. The same processor can be used in both comparatively power-efficient mode and at the maximum power limit.

At low TDP, the CPU cores and integrated graphics share a limited energy budget. In demanding games, Radeon 890M may not always sustain high frequency for long, thus the difference between Z2 Extreme and Z1 Extreme shrinks.

Increasing the power limit helps unlock the larger graphics block but also raises heat, fan noise, and battery consumption. The manufacturer has to strike a balance between performance and battery life.

Factors influencing the final results include:

• the power profile set,
• LPDDR5X bandwidth,
• cooling system design,
• screen resolution,
• graphics and scaling settings.

Therefore, comparing portable devices solely by the processor name is inadequate. A model with more efficient cooling and properly configured profiles may outperform another console with the same Z2 Extreme.

What Radeon 890M Brings to Gaming

Radeon 890M significantly expands the capabilities of a portable system at 1080p resolution. In less demanding and well-optimized games, native resolution with medium or high settings can be used.

In heavy projects, however, a reduction in graphics quality, FSR, or other scaling may still be required. A screen with a resolution of 1920 × 1200 does not guarantee that modern games will run stably in native mode.

The additional four compute units are beneficial not only for the average frame rate. More powerful graphics provide a greater headroom for temporal scaling and frame generation, allowing for less frequent drops in resolution to 720p or 800p.

At the same time, the gain relative to Z1 Extreme cannot be considered fixed. In one game, the difference may approximate the results of Time Spy, while in another, it may be limited by the CPU, memory, or low TDP.

Not to Be Confused with Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme

Ryzen Z2 Extreme and Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme are different processors. The version denoted AI is equipped with a neural block and is used, for example, in the ROG Xbox Ally X.

The results of such devices cannot be combined in one table with the regular Z2 Extreme. Despite the similar names, the processors differ in configuration and positioning.

Conclusion

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme advances the Z1 Extreme platform primarily due to the integrated graphics. Radeon 890M with 16 RDNA 3.5 blocks provides a noticeable boost in 3DMark and creates more headroom for modern games.

The CPU section has undergone less change. In multi-threaded tests, Z2 Extreme can stay close to fast implementations of Z1 Extreme, so the update cannot be assessed solely based on the Zen 5 architecture.

Choosing a specific device is more important than the differences between specification lines. Power limits, memory, and cooling determine how effectively a portable computer utilizes the capabilities of Ryzen Z2 Extreme.