01
Preface
In recent years, I’ve shared many performance evaluations of AMD APU integrated graphics, mainly focusing on the Radeon 780M, Radeon 880M, and Radeon 890M. Some readers have consistently dismissed this type of content, believing that these integrated GPUs are easily outperformed by contemporary entry-level discrete graphics cards, and thus are seen as impractical and of little value.
This view is quite narrow-minded. These integrated GPUs are not only used in desktop processors (such as the Ryzen 7 8700G), but also in laptops, mini PCs, and various handheld gaming devices. Due to constraints like size, power consumption, and cooling, such devices typically cannot accommodate discrete graphics cards. In these scenarios, AMD’s integrated graphics show significant advantages and become highly appealing.
This article will compare the gaming performance of the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, for the reference of interested readers.
02
Specification Comparison
The Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme was released in June 2025. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.0 GHz, a boost clock of up to 5.0 GHz, 8MB of L2 cache, and 16MB of L3 cache. It supports LPDDR5X-8000 memory.
It features a Radeon 890M integrated GPU with 16 compute units, an NPU AI performance of 50 TOPS, and a configurable TDP of 15W to 35W, adjustable by manufacturers.
The Ryzen Z1 Extreme was released in May 2023. It also has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 3.3 GHz, a boost clock of up to 5.1 GHz, 8MB of L2 cache, and 16MB of L3 cache. It supports LPDDR5X-7500 memory.
It is equipped with a Radeon 780M integrated GPU with 12 compute units and a configurable TDP of 9W to 30W, adjustable by manufacturers.
03
Test Platform Configuration
The test devices used are the ASUS ROG XBox Ally X and the ASUS ROG Ally X. The former is equipped with the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, and the latter with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.
04
Game Testing (Ryzen AI Z2 vs Z1 Extreme)
Four games were tested below, all under 1080P low graphics settings and a 30W power mode. In each image set, the left side represents the Ryzen Z1 Extreme platform, and the right side represents the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform.
The first game is Ghostwire: Tokyo.
On the Ryzen Z1 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 74
- Minimum FPS: 65
- Frame time: 15.4ms
- CPU usage: 45%
- Power consumption: 30W
- Temperature: 69°C
- Memory usage: 12.6GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.6GB
- GPU temperature: 69°C
On the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 92
- Minimum FPS: 84
- Frame time: 11.2ms
- CPU usage: 42%
- Power consumption: 30W
- Temperature: 69°C
- Memory usage: 12.8GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.7GB
- GPU temperature: 68°C
In this game, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform shows 3% lower CPU usage, 0.2GB higher memory usage, and nearly identical GPU and VRAM utilization.
Average FPS is 18 higher (about 24% lead), minimum FPS is 19 higher, and frame time is around 4ms lower.
The second game is Cyberpunk 2077.
On the Ryzen Z1 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 62
- Minimum FPS: 54
- Frame time: 17.4ms
- CPU usage: 43%
- Power consumption: 30W
- Temperature: 69°C
- Memory usage: 12.4GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.4GB
- GPU temperature: 68°C
On the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 78
- Minimum FPS: 69
- Frame time: 13.9ms
- CPU usage: 47%
- Power consumption: 31W
- Temperature: 68°C
- Memory usage: 12.4GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.5GB
- GPU temperature: 67°C
In this game, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform has 4% higher CPU usage, while memory, GPU, and VRAM usage are nearly equal.
Average FPS is 16 higher (about 26% lead), minimum FPS is 15 higher, and frame time is roughly 3ms lower.
The third game is Forza Horizon 5.
On the Ryzen Z1 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 90
- Minimum FPS: 81
- Frame time: 11.2ms
- CPU usage: 43%
- Power consumption: 30W
- Temperature: 69°C
- Memory usage: 12.1GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.2GB
- GPU temperature: 68°C
On the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 111
- Minimum FPS: 102
- Frame time: 8.6ms
- CPU usage: 47%
- Power consumption: 31W
- Temperature: 68°C
- Memory usage: 12.3GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.2GB
- GPU temperature: 67°C
In this game, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform shows 4% higher CPU usage, 0.2GB higher memory usage, with GPU and VRAM usage being identical.
Average FPS is 21 higher (about 23% lead), minimum FPS is also 21 higher, and frame time is approximately 3ms lower.
The fourth game is Black Myth: Wukong.
On the Ryzen Z1 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 56
- Minimum FPS: 47
- Frame time: 18.8ms
- CPU usage: 23%
- Power consumption: 30W
- Temperature: 69°C
- Memory usage: 13.1GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.6GB
- GPU temperature: 68°C
On the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform:
- Average FPS: 81
- Minimum FPS: 70
- Frame time: 13.3ms
- CPU usage: 27%
- Power consumption: 31W
- Temperature: 68°C
- Memory usage: 13.0GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.8GB
- GPU temperature: 67°C
In this game, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme platform shows 4% higher CPU usage, similar memory and GPU usage, and 0.2GB higher VRAM usage.
Average FPS is 25 higher (about 45% lead), minimum FPS is 23 higher, and frame time is about 5ms lower.
05
Comparison Conclusion
For handheld gaming devices, limitations in size, power consumption, and cooling make the operating environment for processors significantly more demanding than that of desktop CPUs. This also means that achieving performance improvements is much more difficult.
From the tests above, it’s clear that under similar power and temperature conditions, the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme delivers a notable performance boost. Based on the compiled data, its performance is approximately 30% higher than that of the Ryzen Z1 Extreme—a substantial improvement.
It’s expected that more portable devices featuring the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (and Ryzen Z2 A) will enter the market in the future. Handheld gaming enthusiasts are advised to keep an eye on these developments.
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