Support NeoGAF

[Topher]

AMD introduces Ryzen Z2 Series - VideoCardz.com

AMD Ryzen Z2 for gaming handhelds official The new generation of Z-Series to feature three different CPU architectures. AMD has introduced not one but three new Ryzen Z-Series APUs, designed exclusively for gaming handhelds and intended for larger OEMs that work directly with AMD. Today, AMD...

videocardz.com

Next month's Lenovo Legion Go S releases with the Ryzen Z2 Go processor. It will cost $729 with 32GB, 1 TB SSD. $599 with 16GB, 512GB SSD.

The GPU's seem to be based mostly on old tech.

Z2 is really just Z1 Extreme. Z2 Go is really just 6800U. So the Legion Go S is actually a downgrade from the previous Legion Go?

How does this make sense?

 

[Haint]

AMD introduces Ryzen Z2 Series - VideoCardz.com

AMD Ryzen Z2 for gaming handhelds official The new generation of Z-Series to feature three different CPU architectures. AMD has introduced not one but three new Ryzen Z-Series APUs, designed exclusively for gaming handhelds and intended for larger OEMs that work directly with AMD. Today, AMD...

videocardz.com

Next month's Lenovo Legion Go S releases with the Ryzen Z2 Go processor. It will cost $729.

The GPU's seem to be based mostly on old tech. How does this make sense?

Edit: asked for mods to fix the title, stand by

There's no sense to make, the Z2 Go is some surplus junk part or manufacturing contract they're trying to pawn off on fools.

 

[LectureMaster]

AMD introduces Ryzen Z2 Series - VideoCardz.com

AMD Ryzen Z2 for gaming handhelds official The new generation of Z-Series to feature three different CPU architectures. AMD has introduced not one but three new Ryzen Z-Series APUs, designed exclusively for gaming handhelds and intended for larger OEMs that work directly with AMD. Today, AMD...

videocardz.com

Next month's Lenovo Legion Go S releases with the Ryzen Z2 Go processor. It will cost $729.

The GPU's seem to be based mostly on old tech. How does this make sense?

Yeah that's shady, as shady as scamming a 3080 as a 4070Ti to an old man.

 

[Topher]

Yeah that's shady, as shady as scamming a 3080 as a 4070Ti to an old man.

 

[Astray]

Z2 is really just Z1 Extreme. Z2 Go is really just 6800U. So the Legion Go S is actually a downgrade from the previous Legion Go?

It's meant to be a cheaper version of the Legion Go without the detachable controllers etc.

There's a Legion Go 2 that's based on Z2 extreme, OLED panel and detachable controllers, the battery is like 70wh iirc.

 

[kevboard]

the Z2 chips are weird. barely an upgrade for the high end models, and the Go is not even the same GPU architecture...

super fucked up naming scheme

 

[LectureMaster]

Z2 is really just Z1 Extreme. Z2 Go is really just 6800U. So the Legion Go S is actually a downgrade from the previous Legion Go?

I don't think this is the first time AMD doing name scheme like this. I remember the did similar thing for their laptop CPUs where the newer one was essentially a higher-end last gen CPU.

 

[Topher]

It's meant to be a cheaper version of the Legion Go without the detachable controllers etc.

There's a Legion Go 2 that's based on Z2 extreme, OLED panel and detachable controllers, the battery is like 70wh iirc.

It is cheaper, but the APU is a significant downgrade with old chips.

I'm really curious what the Legion Go 2 handheld will cost at this point.

I don't think this is the first time AMD doing name scheme like this. I remember the did similar thing for their laptop CPUs where the newer one was essentially a higher-end last gen CPU.

Yeah, I think I remember that. The 8000 series was really just the 7000 series renamed or something like that.

 

[Puscifer]

Man remember when AMDs 6800m demolished the 3080m chip for less than half the price?

 

[llien]

Assumption being that Lenovo has no idea what they are buying?

Z2 Go is really just 6800U

6800U's boost clock is 4.7Ghz and 6nm. Z2 is claimed to be 4nm.
Also, Z2's should have Zen 5 cores.

AMD Announces the Ryzen Z2 Line of SoCs for Gaming Handhelds

AMD at the 2025 International CES unveiled the Ryzen Z2 line of SoCs for gaming handhelds that combine an x86-64 based SoC with a customized version of Windows 11. This market segment is poised to heat up with the entry of the Intel Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processor, and so AMD is...

www.techpowerup.com

Why don't you just wench for baitmarks?

 

[llien]

Man remember when AMDs 6800m demolished the 3080m chip for less than half the price?

Yes. In perf.
Sales were the other way around, although I'm typing it from ROG with 6800m.

 

[Topher]

Assumption being that Lenovo has no idea what they are buying?

Not assuming anything, my man. I'm asking questions.

6800U's boost clock is 4.7Ghz and 6nm. Z2 is claimed to be 4nm.
Also, Z2's should have Zen 5 cores.

AMD Announces the Ryzen Z2 Line of SoCs for Gaming Handhelds

AMD at the 2025 International CES unveiled the Ryzen Z2 line of SoCs for gaming handhelds that combine an x86-64 based SoC with a customized version of Windows 11. This market segment is poised to heat up with the entry of the Intel Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processor, and so AMD is...

www.techpowerup.com

Check that article you linked to....

"Next up is the Ryzen Z2 (non-Extreme). This chip comes with a CPU configuration of 8-core/16-thread, but is based on the older "Phoenix Point" silicon, all eight of its cores are "Zen 4," and come with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The iGPU is a maxed out RDNA 3 unit with 12 CU. With this generation, AMD is introducing a new entry level chip for handheld consoles that are into casual gaming. The company is calling this the Ryzen Z2 Go. This chip is based on the older "Phoenix 2" silicon, and comes with a combination of two "Zen 4" and two "Zen 4c" cores."

Seems we are getting conflicting information from various sources.

Why don't you just wench for baitmarks?

I don't "wench" for anyone bro.

 

[llien]

"Next up is the Ryzen Z2 (non-Extreme). This chip comes with a CPU configuration of 8-core/16-thread, but is based on the older "Phoenix Point" silicon, all eight of its cores are "Zen 4," and come with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The iGPU is a maxed out RDNA 3 unit with 12 CU. With this generation, AMD is introducing a new entry level chip for handheld consoles that are into casual gaming. The company is calling this the Ryzen Z2 Go. This chip is based on the older "Phoenix 2" silicon, and comes with a combination of two "Zen 4" and two "Zen 4c" cores."

Mea culpa, the non-extreme part is a mess indeed.

 

[Topher]

Mea culpa, the non-extreme part is a mess indeed.

Yeah, Z2 Extreme seems pretty straightforward, thankfully.

 

[Astray]

I'm really curious what the Legion Go 2 handheld will cost at this point.

Yeah I think that will cost between $900-1000 for sure.

The Go S Steam edition is quite well priced.. $500 iirc, if it performs on par with the Switch 2 then it could form a serious problem for Nintendo.

 

[DoubleClutch]

This is just a lightweight variant. Similar to Surface Laptop vs Surface Laptop Go.

Rest is no different than RX 480 to RX 580, the jump was minimal.

Sometimes you just have a limited gain in that phase of the development cycle.

 

[Topher]

This is just a lightweight variant. Similar to Surface Laptop vs Surface Laptop Go.

Rest is no different than RX 480 to RX 580, the jump was minimal.

Sometimes you just have a limited gain in that phase of the development cycle.

But this looks like it could be no gain at all and simply renaming of old tech.

Yeah I think that will cost between $900-1000 for sure.

The Go S Steam edition is quite well priced.. $500 iirc, if it performs on par with the Switch 2 then it could form a serious problem for Nintendo.

Just sucks folks have to wait until May for it. I'm guessing that is to coincide with the official release of Steam OS.

 

[ReBurn]

Z2 Go appears to be the next generation of CPU for that $400 Black Friday laptop at Best Buy that slows down consistently over 90 days to the point where you just get frustrated and throw it away. Aiming for the Celeron title.

 

[Astray]

Just sucks folks have to wait until May for it. I'm guessing that is to coincide with the official release of Steam OS.

Part of me wonders if Valve chose that device specifically because they want their OEM hardware to be roughly similar to the Steam Deck, and thus just keep whatever certification work they already did as is?

Like if it was more powerful, then they'd have to re-evaluate basically all the titles that don't run so great on the Steam Deck and see if they run on that device?

 

[Topher]

Part of me wonders if Valve chose that device specifically because they want their OEM hardware to be roughly similar to the Steam Deck, and thus just keep whatever certification work they already did as is?

Like if it was more powerful, then they'd have to re-evaluate basically all the titles that don't run so great on the Steam Deck and see if they run on that device?

Good points, but for a lot of people that might be a tough sell. Why not just get a Steam Deck? Or maybe this will also serve to get some retail presence for Steam OS.

 

[Astray]

Good points, but for a lot of people that might be a tough sell. Why not just get a Steam Deck? Or maybe this will also serve to get some retail presence for Steam OS.

The part in bold is why they're doing this. For the distribution.

Valve as it is rn can't really push distribution beyond a certain point, like if you look at the Steam Deck sales, they're pretty weak.. Wasn't it something like 3-5m units sold so far? Even the Wii U or Xbox Series, systems that are seen as sales failures, managed to beat these numbers by at least 3-5 times.

For Valve to be able to get to the next level in their quest to be less dependent on Windows (Microsoft is clearly poised to be their biggest potential competitor at this point), they have to either hire a ton more people (and permanently change their company culture), or they have to make 3P partnerships with OEMs with things like this.

This is a big reason I completely disagree whenever anyone brings up Steam as an immediate competitor to Sony and Nintendo, they aren't and won't be unless they change radically in every way possible.

 

[DoubleClutch]

But this looks like it could be no gain at all and simply renaming of old tech.



Just sucks folks have to wait until May for it. I'm guessing that is to coincide with the official release of Steam OS.

Yup, wouldn’t be the first time AMD has done that.

 

[RaZoR No1]

How is the competition?
Are the Intel APUs fast enough ?

 

[StereoVsn]

AMD introduces Ryzen Z2 Series - VideoCardz.com

AMD Ryzen Z2 for gaming handhelds official The new generation of Z-Series to feature three different CPU architectures. AMD has introduced not one but three new Ryzen Z-Series APUs, designed exclusively for gaming handhelds and intended for larger OEMs that work directly with AMD. Today, AMD...

videocardz.com

Next month's Lenovo Legion Go S releases with the Ryzen Z2 Go processor. It will cost $729 with 32GB, 1 TB SSD. $599 with 16GB, 512GB SSD.

The GPU's seem to be based mostly on old tech.

Z2 is really just Z1 Extreme. Z2 Go is really just 6800U. So the Legion Go S is actually a downgrade from the previous Legion Go?

How does this make sense?

It’s AMDs stupid rebadging. They constantly do that shit. Look at their 8000 series mobile stuff, like 70%+ is rebadged.

Basically only Z2 Extreme is a worthwhile upgrade. And even there don’t expect miracles, around 15-20% based on a game. Sometimes less.

So from Lenovo only Legion Go 2 (big boy edition) is worth buying.

 

[StereoVsn]

Part of me wonders if Valve chose that device specifically because they want their OEM hardware to be roughly similar to the Steam Deck, and thus just keep whatever certification work they already did as is?

Like if it was more powerful, then they'd have to re-evaluate basically all the titles that don't run so great on the Steam Deck and see if they run on that device?

Most likely it was Lenovo’s decision to test the waters in a cheaper device. $500 is a lot more palatable vs $800-900 for the full on Go 2.

 

[bender]

I don't "wench" for anyone bro.

 

[SHA]

Nintendo switch 2 is the common factor of handhelds, wait after the switch 2 reveal and see how it washout many handheld brands. I could be wrong but Microsoft will most likely set the standard for handhelds cause it's Microsoft and anything before besides the switch 2 is trash.

 

[Topher]

It’s AMDs stupid rebadging. They constantly do that shit. Look at their 8000 series mobile stuff, like 70%+ is rebadged.

Basically only Z2 Extreme is a worthwhile upgrade. And even there don’t expect miracles, around 15-20% based on a game. Sometimes less.

So from Lenovo only Legion Go 2 (big boy edition) is worth buying.

Seems that way. At least the Go S is appropriately priced for the Steam version, I guess. But those thinking they are getting a better handheld from the Legion Go with the non-extreme Z2 processor are in for a rude awakening.

How is the competition?
Are the Intel APUs fast enough ?

Only Intel entry so far was MSI's handheld last year, I believe. It didn't do very well. A new MSI is due out sometime soon and early indications are that it is improved, but I think there will need to be some head to head benchmarks against AMD's handhelds before we really have a good idea.

 

[alabtrosMyster]

How is the competition?
Are the Intel APUs fast enough ?

They're fast enough, only if the youtuber you watch is sponsored.

 

[Wooxsvan]

worst part IMO is there are no plans for Z2 Extreme model with Steam OS. hopefully we can eventually side load

 

[Topher]

worst part IMO is there are no plans for Z2 Extreme model with Steam OS. hopefully we can eventually side load

I would think the Steam Deck 2 would have something comparable even if it remains a custom SOC. Going to be disappointing if Valve let's their handheld lag behind the competition.

 

[mrmeh]

Cheaper, die shrink of 6800u? Maybe it performs better at a lower wattage, my Ally isn't optimised for 15w.

Benchmarks will be interesting, the Youtube crowd all seemed to really like the legion go.

 

[StereoVsn]

Seems that way. At least the Go S is appropriately priced for the Steam version, I guess. But those thinking they are getting a better handheld from the Legion Go with the non-extreme Z2 processor are in for a rude awakening.



Only Intel entry so far was MSI's handheld last year, I believe. It didn't do very well. A new MSI is due out sometime soon and early indications are that it is improved, but I think there will need to be some head to head benchmarks against AMD's handhelds before we really have a good idea.

Seemed to be pretty good performance wise but as usual drivers needed work.

Problem is pricing. Claw 2 is like $900. Personally I think new Z2 and Intel devices are going to price too high for most of the market considering the fairly small gains.

Which is why probably we won’t see Steam Deck 2 till next year

 

[bbeach123]

The name was terrible , but as long as its cheap I guess.

Atleast its not the 4x CU Z1.

 

[Topher]

the Youtube crowd all seemed to really like the legion go.

I've noticed that and frankly, I more than a bit suspicious of it.

 

[StereoVsn]

worst part IMO is there are no plans for Z2 Extreme model with Steam OS. hopefully we can eventually side load

I think if we get Steam OS for Go S, and Steam OS for a lot of other devices, getting it to run on Go 2 won’t be a huge issue.

Go 2 does look interesting, however price and release dates aren’t known. It’s also damn ginormous.

At that point you aren’t far from Asus’ new Flow 13 tablet which has a full on APU baked in with 40 cores.

 

[Astray]

Most likely it was Lenovo’s decision to test the waters in a cheaper device. $500 is a lot more palatable vs $800-900 for the full on Go 2.

I would probably buy a Go 2 if the price is around the ROG Ally X's, just as long as it's supported by either SteamOS or Bazzite.

Really wish they'd release a high-end device without the detachable controllers, they are honestly useless to most PC games, unless you're like, emulating the Wii or something.

 

[mrmeh]

I've noticed that and frankly, I more than a bit suspicious of it.

That's always a concern ...however everyone I watched seemed more interested in the go s rather than the big one. They were quite cool on the larger, heavier 2. If I was being cynical I would have suspected them to big up both units.

I'm kind of expecting the Go S steam OS version to be about the same ballpark in performance as my Ally at 10-15w and better battery life.

Price is rough... Steam deck is strong alternative.

 

[Topher]

That's always a concern ...however everyone I watched seemed more interested in the go s rather than the big one. They were quite cool on the larger, heavier 2. If I was being cynical I would have suspected them to big up both units.

I'm kind of expecting the Go S steam OS version to be about the same ballpark in performance as my Ally at 10-15w and better battery life.

Price is rough... Steam deck is strong alternative.

The Z2 Go should be somewhere between Z1 and Z1 Extreme, from what I understand, so not quite as powerful as the Ally.

I would probably buy a Go 2 if the price is around the ROG Ally X's, just as long as it's supported by either SteamOS or Bazzite.

Really wish they'd release a high-end device without the detachable controllers, they are honestly useless to most PC games, unless you're like, emulating the Wii or something.

Biggest issue I had with Lenovo Legion Go when I had one was the portrait oriented screen. Not all games play nicely with that.

 

[StereoVsn]

I would probably buy a Go 2 if the price is around the ROG Ally X's, just as long as it's supported by either SteamOS or Bazzite.

Really wish they'd release a high-end device without the detachable controllers, they are honestly useless to most PC games, unless you're like, emulating the Wii or something.

Yep, I would do the same. Especially considering a much nicer screen.

Instead of detachable controllers, more ergonomic ones would be much better. But Lenovo is still doubling down on detachable for whatever reason, guess they feel that’s their differentiation.

It’s going to be interesting what price they will launch at and if screen is going to be horizontal this time. And of course if there will be support (even if unofficial for SteamOS). I am thinking $899 for 32GB / 1TB version.

 

[Klosshufvud]

I hate it and my only conclusion is an act of deception by AMD/Lenovo. Why even stray away from Z1 branding? Which was stupid in itself since Z1E was basically the 7840U. Pretty sure the Z2 GO is less performant than Z1 non-E. So now there is E, non-E and also "Go" which has extremely misleading naming since it's sort of like 6800U, an APU from early 2023.

Z2 basically being the Z1E is so stupid and confusing. And I am sure that's their intention. To mask lack of actual progress with increased numerals instead. Taking a page out of Intel's book.

 

[MacReady13]

In terms of power between the Z1 extreme and Z2 extreme, what difference are we talking about? Worth waiting for the Z2 extreme as opposed to going for a Z1 extreme now?

 

[Topher]

In terms of power between the Z1 extreme and Z2 extreme, what difference are we talking about? Worth waiting for the Z2 extreme as opposed to going for a Z1 extreme now?

Hard to say. Looks like Z2 Extreme is really the only true upgrade, but I don't think there has been anything revealed about how it performs.

I hate it and my only conclusion is an act of deception by AMD/Lenovo. Why even stray away from Z1 branding? Which was stupid in itself since Z1E was basically the 7840U. Pretty sure the Z2 GO is less performant than Z1 non-E. So now there is E, non-E and also "Go" which has extremely misleading naming since it's sort of like 6800U, an APU from early 2023.

Z2 basically being the Z1E is so stupid and confusing. And I am sure that's their intention. To mask lack of actual progress with increased numerals instead. Taking a page out of Intel's book.

Z2 Go is around the same as the Steam Deck custom APU so slightly more powerful than non-extreme Z1. But yeah, this whole thing is a mess.

 

[Klosshufvud]

Hard to say. Looks like Z2 Extreme is really the only true upgrade, but I don't think there has been anything revealed about how it performs.



Z2 Go is around the same as the Steam Deck custom APU so slightly more powerful than non-extreme Z1. But yeah, this whole thing is a mess.

The Z2E is supposedlyvthe same as Strix Point which is already in GPD Win Mini 2025 and the OneXFly 2025 edition. There is a performance gain of about 15-20% but supposedly drastically more expensive than Phoenix Point. I personally don't think it's a worthy upgrade.

I did forget Z1 only had 4CUs damn. That was really gutted down. Does RDNA2 also not support some features of framegen that RDNA3 does support? I'm not sure if the feature set is as complete. One big argument against these custom made chips is the fact that all driver support will be reliant on hardware manufacturer. My 7840U device gets driver updates directly from AMD. The best thing would have been to keep the SKUs at a minimum and have all driver support come directly from AMD. Right now it's all so fractured. If both Lenovo and Asus used an AMD-updated system, it would boost all systems long term. But maybe device specific updates have other advantages.

 

[Topher]

The Z2E is supposedlyvthe same as Strix Point which is already in GPD Win Mini 2025 and the OneXFly 2025 edition. There is a performance gain of about 15-20% but supposedly drastically more expensive than Phoenix Point. I personally don't think it's a worthy upgrade.

I did forget Z1 only had 4CUs damn. That was really gutted down. Does RDNA2 also not support some features of framegen that RDNA3 does support? I'm not sure if the feature set is as complete. One big argument against these custom made chips is the fact that all driver support will be reliant on hardware manufacturer. My 7840U device gets driver updates directly from AMD. The best thing would have been to keep the SKUs at a minimum and have all driver support come directly from AMD. Right now it's all so fractured. If both Lenovo and Asus used an AMD-updated system, it would boost all systems long term. But maybe device specific updates have other advantages.

Ah....didn't realize GPD and OneXfly had the Strix Point APU. Those devices are always a bit more expensive than the larger manufacturers, but with the all the bullshit renaming of old chips, I'm thinking you might be right and the new Z2 extreme might be a pretty penny across the board.

I'm not sure about framegen on RDNA 2. Speaking of, I actually went back to the Aokzoe A1 that we talked about a while back. Just snagged one for $350 off eBay yesterday. Really loved the 8" screen.

 

[Klosshufvud]

Ah....didn't realize GPD and OneXfly had the Strix Point APU. Those devices are always a bit more expensive than the larger manufacturers, but with the all the bullshit renaming of old chips, I'm thinking you might be right and the new Z2 extreme might be a pretty penny across the board.

I'm not sure about framegen on RDNA 2. Speaking of, I actually went back to the Aokzoe A1 that we talked about a while back. Just snagged one for $350 off eBay yesterday. Really loved the 8" screen.

Nice to hear man. Been saying for a while that 8'' display is a game changer. Makes Windows OS a million times more manageable than 7''. Also when a game runs at native 1200p 16:10, man does it wow me. Modern high detailed games need that extra size and resolution.
I sometimes take my device to night shift at work. I use the kickstand, plug in Dualshock 4 controller and go wild. It's a geniunely versatile device. I hope you find similar joy in yours, despite all the jankiness of OneXConsole.

 

[StereoVsn]

Ah....didn't realize GPD and OneXfly had the Strix Point APU. Those devices are always a bit more expensive than the larger manufacturers, but with the all the bullshit renaming of old chips, I'm thinking you might be right and the new Z2 extreme might be a pretty penny across the board.

I'm not sure about framegen on RDNA 2. Speaking of, I actually went back to the Aokzoe A1 that we talked about a while back. Just snagged one for $350 off eBay yesterday. Really loved the 8" screen.

15-20% is what it looks like at best vs 780m. At least this seems to be the case with the new full AI 370X Pro Plus Max Extreme Turbo Edition or whatever nonsense AMD is calling them.