AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU vs AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows no head-to-head benchmark entries for this pairing, and both GPUs hold identical percentile positions at 50 against all GPUs in the database. With zero benchmark scores listed for either part, the comparison rests entirely on the documented specification differences.

The most substantial numerical advantage belongs to the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 figure of 8.294 TFLOPS is over three times the 2.560 TFLOPS delivered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU. The FP16 comparison shows an even sharper split: the Z2 GPU also records 8.294 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, whereas the Z1 GPU reaches 5.120 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio. This indicates the Z2 GPU does not rely on packed math to reach its peak, it sustains the same rate regardless of precision.

The shading unit count reinforces this gap. The Z2 GPU carries 768 shading units against 256 on the Z1 GPU, exactly three times the execution resources. Texture mapping units follow the same ratio, 48 versus 16, and render output units stand at 32 versus 8. Ray tracing cores also scale by a factor of three, 12 on the Z2 GPU compared to 4 on the Z1 GPU.

Pixel throughput illustrates the difference in fill rate capability. The Z2 GPU records 86.40 GPixel/s, while the Z1 GPU manages 20.00 GPixel/s. That is a 4.32 times advantage for the newer part. Texture rate shows 129.6 GTexel/s on the Z2 GPU versus 40.00 GTexel/s on the Z1 GPU, a 3.24 times margin.

Memory bandwidth also shifts decisively. The Z2 GPU uses a 128 bit bus with LPDDR5X memory at 119.9 GB/s. The Z1 GPU uses a 64 bit bus with LPDDR5 memory at 51.20 GB/s. Both have 16 GB capacity, but the Z2 GPU delivers roughly 2.34 times the bandwidth. The effective memory speed differs as well: 7.5 Gbps on the Z2 GPU versus 6.4 Gbps on the Z1 GPU.

Clock behavior reverses the expected trend. The Z1 GPU has a higher base clock at 1500 MHz, while the Z2 GPU starts at 800 MHz. The boost clock favors the Z2 GPU at 2700 MHz against 2500 MHz on the Z1 GPU. The Z2 GPU therefore relies on a wider architecture with a more aggressive boost ceiling, while the Z1 GPU maintains a higher idle baseline.

Process technology and die characteristics are identical. Both use a 4 nm node at TSMC, with 25,390 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 142.6M per mm². The chip names differ, Phoenix for the Z1 GPU and Hawk Point for the Z2 GPU, but the underlying fabrication is the same.

Power consumption runs counter to the performance gap. The Z1 GPU is rated at 30 W TDP, while the Z2 GPU sits at 28 W TDP. The Z2 GPU delivers over three times the FP32 throughput while drawing 2 W less according to the recorded specifications. Neither part uses power connectors, and neither lists a suggested PSU.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU wins every performance category in the specification comparison. Compute, fill rate, texture rate, ray tracing resources, memory bandwidth, and boost clock all favor the Z2 GPU. The width of the win varies by metric, but the direction is uniform.

The largest relative victory is in FP32 throughput, where the Z2 GPU is 3.24 times higher. The smallest relative advantage appears in boost clock, where the Z2 GPU leads by 200 MHz, an 8% increase. This suggests the architectural width, not clock speed, drives the performance delta.

The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU holds only two specification advantages. Its base clock is 700 MHz higher, and its TDP is 2 W higher. In practical terms, a higher base clock on a part with far fewer execution units does not offset the compute deficit. The TDP difference is minor and does not translate into a performance win.

Memory technology also splits cleanly. The Z1 GPU uses LPDDR5, the Z2 GPU uses LPDDR5X. The newer memory type on the Z2 GPU operates at a higher effective speed and over a wider bus. Both parts keep 16 GB capacity, so capacity is not a differentiator.

Display output differs as well. The Z1 GPU lists no outputs, while the Z2 GPU provides 1x USB Type-C. This gives the Z2 GPU an advantage for direct display connectivity, assuming the target system can use that output.

The Z1 GPU has a release date recorded as 2023-09-17, while the Z2 GPU follows on 2024-12-31. The Z1 GPU has a launch MSRP of 599 USD, and the Z2 GPU has no recorded launch MSRP. The production status for both is Active.

The Verdict

The data points to a decisive verdict in favor of the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU for any workload that depends on compute, fill rate, or memory bandwidth. The FP32 figure of 8.294 TFLOPS against 2.560 TFLOPS is not a marginal improvement, it is a fundamental class shift. The Z2 GPU also triples shading units, TMUs, ROPs, and RT cores, which means the performance gap should persist across varying workload types rather than appearing only in synthetic peak tests.

The memory subsystem on the Z2 GPU removes a likely bottleneck. The 128 bit bus and 119.9 GB/s bandwidth give it 2.34 times the data throughput of the Z1 GPU. For gaming or compute tasks that stream large textures or geometry, this bandwidth advantage compounds the compute lead.

The Z1 GPU is not without a role. Its higher base clock of 1500 MHz could favor lightly threaded or latency-sensitive tasks where the GPU does not sustain heavy load. The 30 W TDP, while higher than the Z2 GPU's 28 W, still places both parts in a low-power envelope. However, the Z1 GPU's lower shading unit count and narrower memory bus limit its ceiling.

For users choosing between these two parts, the Z2 GPU is the stronger pick in every measured specification except base clock and TDP. The Z1 GPU's launch MSRP of 599 USD may reflect its earlier release date, but the database contains no pricing information for the Z2 GPU, so no cost comparison is possible.

The 50th percentile ranking for both GPUs against all GPUs in the database indicates that neither part is positioned as a high-end solution. Both sit at the median of recorded GPUs. The Z2 GPU achieves that same percentile while offering substantially more compute resources, which suggests it delivers more capability within the same relative performance tier.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU records 8.294 TFLOPS, which is 3.24 times the 2.560 TFLOPS of the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU.

Q: Do both GPUs use the same memory capacity?

A: Yes, both have 16 GB. The Z1 GPU uses LPDDR5 at 51.20 GB/s, while the Z2 GPU uses LPDDR5X at 119.9 GB/s.

Q: What is the difference in ray tracing cores?

A: The Z2 GPU has 12 ray tracing cores, while the Z1 GPU has 4, a threefold difference.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Z2 GPU boosts to 2700 MHz, while the Z1 GPU boosts to 2500 MHz. The Z1 GPU has a higher base clock at 1500 MHz versus 800 MHz.

Q: Are the two GPUs manufactured on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are on a 4 nm node at TSMC with 25,390 million transistors and a 178 mm² die size.

Q: Do the GPUs have identical TDP ratings?

A: No. The Z1 GPU is rated at 30 W, and the Z2 GPU is rated at 28 W, making the Z2 GPU 2 W lower despite higher performance.

Q: Which GPU offers a display output?

A: The Z2 GPU provides 1x USB Type-C. The Z1 GPU lists no outputs.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the RDNA 3.0 architecture, but they use different silicon. The Z1 GPU is built on the Phoenix chip, while the Z2 GPU uses the Hawk Point chip. The database lists both under the Console GPU generation, and both are produced by AMD at TSMC on a 4 nm node.

The transistor count and die size are identical: 25,390 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. This means the architectural differences come from how those transistors are organized, not from a change in process technology. The transistor density of 142.6M per mm² is the same for both.

The execution pipeline scales by a factor of three. The Z2 GPU has 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, 32 render output units, and 12 ray tracing cores. The Z1 GPU has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, 8 ROPs, and 4 RT cores. This consistent 3:1 ratio across all execution resources indicates a fundamentally wider design rather than a clock-driven improvement.

The memory architecture also differs. The Z1 GPU uses a 64 bit bus with LPDDR5, while the Z2 GPU uses a 128 bit bus with LPDDR5X. The effective memory speed rises from 6.4 Gbps on the Z1 GPU to 7.5 Gbps on the Z2 GPU. The combination of a wider bus and faster memory produces the bandwidth jump from 51.20 GB/s to 119.9 GB/s.

FP16 handling differs between the parts. The Z1 GPU records 5.120 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio, meaning it halves the work for packed precision. The Z2 GPU records 8.294 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, meaning it does not gain from packed math. This is a notable architectural distinction: the Z2 GPU's FP16 throughput matches its FP32 throughput, while the Z1 GPU's FP16 is double its FP32 rate.

Both GPUs support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Neither lists tensor cores. The Z2 GPU has a single USB Type-C output, while the Z1 GPU has no outputs.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs diverge on multiple specification fields. The chip name differs: Phoenix for the Z1 GPU and Hawk Point for the Z2 GPU. The process node, foundry, transistor count, die size, and transistor density are identical.

Clock specifications show a split. The Z1 GPU has a 1500 MHz base and 2500 MHz boost. The Z2 GPU has an 800 MHz base and 2700 MHz boost. The memory clock also differs, with the Z1 GPU at 800 MHz and 6.4 Gbps effective, and the Z2 GPU at 937 MHz and 7.5 Gbps effective.

Memory configuration differs in type, bus width, and bandwidth. The Z1 GPU uses LPDDR5 with a 64 bit bus and 51.20 GB/s. The Z2 GPU uses LPDDR5X with a 128 bit bus and 119.9 GB/s. Capacity remains 16 GB for both.

Compute resources differ across shading units, TMUs, ROPs, and RT cores. The Z1 GPU has 256, 16, 8, and 4 respectively. The Z2 GPU has 768, 48, 32, and 12 respectively. Pixel rate and texture rate scale accordingly: 20.00 GPixel/s and 40.00 GTexel/s for the Z1 GPU, versus 86.40 GPixel/s and 129.6 GTexel/s for the Z2 GPU.

FP32 and FP16 throughput differ in both magnitude and ratio. The Z1 GPU delivers 2.560 TFLOPS FP32 and 5.120 TFLOPS FP16 at 2:1. The Z2 GPU delivers 8.294 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 at 1:1.

TDP differs by 2 W, with the Z1 GPU at 30 W and the Z2 GPU at 28 W. Neither has power connectors. The Z1 GPU has no display outputs, while the Z2 GPU has 1x USB Type-C. The Z1 GPU has dimensions of 280 mm length, 111 mm height, and 21 mm width, while the Z2 GPU has no recorded dimensions.

Release dates differ: 2023-09-17 for the Z1 GPU and 2024-12-31 for the Z2 GPU. The Z1 GPU has a launch MSRP of 599 USD, while the Z2 GPU has no recorded MSRP. Both are Active in production status, both sit at the 50th percentile against all GPUs, and neither has benchmark scores or nearest rivals in the database.