AMD Readies Ryzen Z2 Chip for Handhelds Based on "Strix Point" Silicon

[btarunr]

AMD is readying a major update to its category-defining Ryzen Z-series SoCs, with the new Ryzen Z2. Designed for handheld game consoles, the Ryzen Z-series chips are typically power-optimized variants of its mobile processors designed for ultra-low board footprint, allowing PC OEMs to build handheld game consoles with them. Facing competition from Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake-MX" SoCs in this segment, AMD is readying the Ryzen Z2 chip. The Z2 is based on the 4 nm "Strix Point" silicon, which gives it a significantly updated iGPU, as well as a higher core-count CPU.

Perhaps the biggest sub-system performance uplift console designers can expect from the Ryzen Z2 is graphics—AMD has given the "Strix Point" a larger iGPU with 16 compute units in place of 12 on "Phoenix," which is a 33% increase in just numerical terms. Then there's also the update to the newer RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture, which incorporates several architecture-level performance and battery-efficiency improvements. It's also better optimized for LPDDR5 memory. With CPU, AMD has given "Strix Point" a heterogeneous multicore setup with four "Zen 5" and eight "Zen 5c" cores. At this point, we don't know if all 12 cores are enabled on the Z2. ASUS is designing its next generation of ROG Ally consoles powered by the Ryzen Z2, and its designers hint that the console should be able to offer over 1 hour of "Black Myth: Wukong" gameplay on a full charge of battery—something current-gen ROG Ally X powered by the Z1 doesn't.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Daven]

The masses demand Strix Halo!

 

[wolf]

If I could get a GPD Win Max with Strix Point/Halo and Occulink it'd basically be an insta buy for me, these APU's are getting insanely good and the ability to connect a big GPU is super tempting.

 

[Patriot]

The masses demand Strix Halo!

Strix halo is not a handheld tdp.

 

[shk021051]

steam deck 2 with z2 extreme

 

[R0H1T]

The masses demand Strix Halo!

The plebs won't pay $1000 for a "handheld" console, although they're perfectly fine paying $1500 for a fold/iphone Pro Max

 

[Testsubject01]

Eagerly waiting for reviews! Although I'm a bit sad, that the rumors of AMD pairing Zen5 with RDNA 4 for APU's did not pan out.
Oh well, maybe one day APU's will combine current gen architectures.

 

[john_]

We might see Intel archiving parity in this generation or even winning some benchmarks. AMD needs to rework it's APUs to avoid bandwidth or other limitations.

 

[GenericUsername2001]

Strix halo is not a handheld tdp.

Just learn to game while wearing oven mitts! More seriously though, while the full 16 core 40 CU Strix Halo will indeed not be that well suited for handhelds, AMD did mention some cut down versions, with only 1 CPU chiplet and like 24 or 32 CU graphics units enabled (presumably to use up any chips that did not have all 40 CUs working), that may be able to squeeze into a handheld format.

The plebs won't pay $1000 for a "handheld" console, although they're perfectly fine paying $1500 for a fold/iphone Pro Max

The thing with phones is that so many of them are being purchased from the cell carriers, with monthly payment plans and what not; very few are paying that $1500 in a lump sum. So a disturbing number of people don't actually know what their phone costs, they just get a new one every two years and think the $50-$60 monthly payment rolled into their cell phone plan is "normal".

 

[mrnagant]

Not exciting really. Just like Z1 / Hawk Point, it'll likely just have AI cores disabled and we will see a few different SKUs. It'll be a great 25-35W processor, especially while docked, but not as good as it could be for 15W where you want it in a handheld, while playing mobile.

Like, sure, products that use it will be better than Steam Deck is today, and Stead Deck 2 would be better with it, but it won't be a Van Gaugh processor, that is something that could be significantly better than just a SKU'd laptop processor.

I'd rather have a Van Gaugh / Aerith 2. At 15W, this Zen2/RDNA2 processor really punches above its weight. IMO because it was specifically designed for this and not some cut down processor.

 

[CosmicWanderer]

Can't wait for this in the ROG Ally 2.

 

[A&P211]

Just learn to game while wearing oven mitts! More seriously though, while the full 16 core 40 CU Strix Halo will indeed not be that well suited for handhelds, AMD did mention some cut down versions, with only 1 CPU chiplet and like 24 or 32 CU graphics units enabled (presumably to use up any chips that did not have all 40 CUs working), that may be able to squeeze into a handheld format.


The thing with phones is that so many of them are being purchased from the cell carriers, with monthly payment plans and what not; very few are paying that $1500 in a lump sum. So a disturbing number of people don't actually know what their phone costs, they just get a new one every two years and think the $50-$60 monthly payment rolled into their cell phone plan is "normal".

I'm still on a 6yr old phone, S10+

 

[GoldenX]

Hopefuly it runs mainline drivers now.

 

[watzupken]

The masses demand Strix Halo!

Ideally yes, but practically, no. It is impractical in every sense in a handheld PC because it will require some serious cooling solution and battery to make it work.

We might see Intel archiving parity in this generation or even winning some benchmarks. AMD needs to rework it's APUs to avoid bandwidth or other limitations.

I rather wait for actual testing on the Xe2 to see how it performs before concluding. There are differences between the 2 iGPU solutions, such as faster memory on the Intel solution, to give it an edge. But the biggest problem for Intel is their driver maturity and we can see this manifest in the existing ARC GPU performance inconsistencies. It can likely be fixed over time, but I don't believe 2nd gen ARC GPUs will solve the problem entirely. Nonetheless, it is good to see Intel put up the pressure on AMD that's been slacking on the GPU progress. For example, I don't really think there is any meaningful improvement between RDNA 3 and 3.5.

 

[Cheeseball]

There is no point in having a potential Z2/Z2 Extreme chip have more than 8-cores for the CPU portion, especially with what its aimed at. Almost all games today still play fine with 4C/8T.

8-core CPU with at least a 16CU GPU would be perfect.

 

[AusWolf]

One hour of gaming on a full charge is not a lot. I guess you can't expect PC-level AAA performance and good battery life from a handheld. With that in mind, I'd rather choose the latter, but each to their own.

 

[JWNoctis]

One hour of gaming on a full charge is not a lot. I guess you can't expect PC-level AAA performance and good battery life from a handheld. With that in mind, I'd rather choose the latter, but each to their own.

Considering that very few gaming laptops could pull off even one hour of AAA-level gaming, graphical differences notwithstanding, I'd call that a win.

I would expect retailers to try to upsell those with a good powerbank. Three hours should be reasonable with an air-portable kit.

 

[AusWolf]

Considering that very few gaming laptops could pull off even one hour of AAA-level gaming, graphical differences notwithstanding, I'd call that a win.

I would expect retailers to try to upsell those with a good powerbank. Three hours should be reasonable with an air-portable kit.

Gaming laptops are a no-go for me for similar reasons. When performance defeats portability, you might as well just stick to your PC.