According to a recent leak, the upcoming AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme is expected to feature eight cores, matching the same core count found in the Z1 Extreme, which currently powers several gaming handheld devices. However, this could suggest that future handhelds may not feature any additional cores beyond what is already present in the current device.
The AMD Ryzen Z1’s exceptional power enables it to surpass devices like the Asus ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Yogo, securing their positions in our top-ranked handheld gaming PC list, primarily due to the unparalleled processing capabilities of AMD’s chip. Anticipated to power the next generation of devices, the Z2 Excessive’s potential CPU core increase may have left some enthusiasts wondering if a boost was in store.
Despite initial speculation about a significant upgrade, a fresh leak indicates that the mysterious GPU chip may actually retain an 8-core CPU architecture similar to AMD’s forthcoming Strix Level gaming laptop design. The information leak originates from a reliable tech source, @Olrak29_, citing the delivery manifest website as their supply of under-delivered data. Here is the rewritten text:
This screenshot showcases a detailed view of the “NOTEBOOK Z2X28W” device, featuring an 8-core microprocessor.
While details are scarce regarding the Z2 chip’s ultimate specifications or timing, the inclusion of an “X” in the designation implies that this could be the high-end Excessive model rather than the anticipated lower-powered variant. This assumption follows from AMD’s precedent with the Ryzen Z1 chip, which was notably less powerful than its Excessive counterpart.
While it may seem underwhelming, there’s actually no reason to be concerned about future gaming handhelds not exceeding the processing power of the Z1 Extreme. While the number of CPU cores may not be a significant constraint on gaming performance in these devices, the actual bottleneck lies more with the GPU’s power capabilities, with the CPU clock speed playing a smaller secondary role.
The Steam Deck’s performance capabilities demonstrate this potential despite its reliance on a quad-core CPU, solely powered by an AMD chip. While many video games can operate efficiently on this hardware, the AMD RDNA 2 GPU’s eight compute units typically impose significant performance constraints in most scenarios. Compared to the Z1 Extreme’s existing RDNA 3 GPU featuring 12 compute units, it’s no surprise that devices like the ROG Ally can support higher resolutions and maintain top-tier efficiency while the Steam Deck struggles to keep up.
Will the Z2 Excessive’s performance be further enhanced by an upgraded graphics processing unit? AMD recently unveiled Ryzen AI 300 Strix Level processors, featuring a Radeon 890M GPU with up to 16 compute units, which would be impressive if replicated in a handheld device.
Discover more about AMD’s next phase in gaming handheld CPU innovation by exploring our comprehensive AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme guide, which consolidates both officially released and leaked intel to date.
