AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU vs NVIDIA RTX A400 Comparison

# AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU vs NVIDIA RTX A400

The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU and the NVIDIA RTX A400 occupy different corners of the graphics landscape, and the recorded data shows a clear split between compute-oriented workloads and legacy graphics performance. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU, built on RDNA 2.0, delivers a 50th percentile ranking across all GPUs in the database, while the RTX A400 sits at the 35th percentile. That gap in overall standing reflects a broader pattern: the RTX A400 posts a higher average benchmark score of 6078, but its advantages are concentrated in specific tests, whereas the Ryzen Z2 A GPU offers a larger memory footprint and a lower power envelope. The data does not present a single dominant card; instead, each part wins in distinct scenarios.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA RTX A400 wins in raw compute throughput and general-purpose graphics performance. Its FP32 output of 2.706 TFLOPS exceeds the Ryzen Z2 A GPU's 1.638 TFLOPS, a 65% advantage in single-precision floating-point work. The RTX A400 also carries more shading units, 768 versus 512, and a higher boost clock of 1762 MHz compared to 1600 MHz. These specifications translate directly into benchmark results: the RTX A400's average benchmark score of 6078 places it roughly 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 and 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon 760M, according to the nearest rivals data. The RTX A400's passmark_g3d score of 5983 and passmark_gpu_compute score of 2557 demonstrate strength in both rasterized graphics and compute tasks.

The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU wins in memory capacity and power efficiency. It ships with 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, four times the RTX A400's 4 GB of GDDR6. Its 128-bit memory bus, double the RTX A400's 64-bit bus, provides a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, slightly ahead of the RTX A400's 96.00 GB/s. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU also draws only 15 W, one-third of the RTX A400's 50 W TDP. That power difference is substantial for compact or battery-driven systems. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU's 50th percentile ranking across all GPUs, compared to the RTX A400's 35th percentile, indicates that the AMD part holds its own in the broader database distribution, even without a listed average benchmark score in the recorded data.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward selection rule. The NVIDIA RTX A400 is the choice for users who prioritize raw FP32 compute, higher shading unit count, and established workstation-oriented features such as tensor cores and a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. Its 24 tensor cores and 6 RT cores give it capabilities the Ryzen Z2 A GPU does not match in the specifications, and its 2.706 TFLOPS FP32 output is the highest in this comparison. The RTX A400 also offers four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, supporting multi-display workstation setups with a single-slot, 163 mm card that requires no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 250 W.

The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU is the choice for memory-intensive workloads and power-constrained environments. Its 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory is unmatched in this pairing, and its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for systems where thermal and power budgets are tight. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU's RDNA 2.0 architecture includes 8 RT cores and 512 shading units, and its 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth edges out the RTX A400. Users who need to hold large datasets in VRAM or who run integrated or low-power platforms should favor the AMD part. The RTX A400, by contrast, is the better option for users who need the highest compute throughput per benchmark score and who can accommodate a 50 W board.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head benchmark data is not present in the database for these two cards, so the comparison relies on the RTX A400's individual benchmark scores and the architectural specifications of both parts. The RTX A400's strongest recorded results are in Geekbench compute tests. Its geekbench_opencl score of 22844 and geekbench_vulkan score of 22237 indicate robust performance across different compute APIs. In Passmark tests, the RTX A400 scores 5983 in g3d, 2557 in gpu_compute, 899 in g2d, and 87 in directx_9. Its directx_10 and directx_11 scores are 32 and 37, respectively, while directx_12 comes in at 27. These figures show that the RTX A400 is strongest in compute and general 3D workloads, with legacy DirectX 9 performance being its highest per-test result relative to other DirectX versions.

The Ryzen Z2 A GPU has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so its wins are inferred from its specifications. Its 16 GB memory capacity and 128-bit bus give it a clear bandwidth advantage in memory-bound scenarios. The 102.4 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the RTX A400's 96.00 GB/s, and the larger memory pool allows for textures and datasets that would exceed the RTX A400's 4 GB limit. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU's FP16 output of 3.277 TFLOPS (2:1) is higher than its FP32 output, suggesting efficient half-precision compute, whereas the RTX A400 offers identical FP16 and FP32 rates at 2.706 TFLOPS (1:1). For workloads that use FP16, the AMD part has a theoretical edge in raw half-precision throughput.

The RTX A400's transistor density of 43.5M per mm² on an 8 nm Samsung process contrasts with the Ryzen Z2 A GPU's 14.7M per mm² on a 7 nm TSMC process. The RTX A400 packs 8,700 million transistors into a 200 mm² die, while the Ryzen Z2 A GPU uses 2,400 million transistors on a 163 mm² die. The NVIDIA part's higher transistor count and density support its larger shading unit array and tensor core count. The AMD part's smaller transistor count and die size align with its 15 W power target.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU has a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, which is higher than the NVIDIA RTX A400's 96.00 GB/s, despite the RTX A400 using faster GDDR6 memory.

Q: How do the FP32 compute capabilities compare?

A: The NVIDIA RTX A400 delivers 2.706 TFLOPS FP32, which is 65% higher than the AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU's 1.638 TFLOPS.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU has a TDP of 15 W, while the NVIDIA RTX A400 has a TDP of 50 W, making the AMD part three times more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which card has more RT cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU has 8 RT cores, while the NVIDIA RTX A400 has 6 RT cores.

Q: What are the nearest rivals to the RTX A400 in the database?

A: The RTX A400's closest competitors by average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce MX230 (6077, 0% delta), the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 (6049, 0.5% delta), the Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 (6117, -0.6% delta), and the AMD Radeon 760M (6019, 1% delta).

Q: Does the RTX A400 have tensor cores?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA RTX A400 includes 24 tensor cores, a feature not listed for the AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and foundries. The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU uses the Van Gogh chip on RDNA 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA RTX A400 uses the GA107 chip on Ampere architecture, manufactured on an 8 nm process at Samsung. The process difference is notable: AMD uses a smaller 7 nm node, while NVIDIA uses an 8 nm Samsung process. The AMD chip integrates 2,400 million transistors on a 163 mm² die, resulting in a density of 14.7M transistors per mm². The NVIDIA chip packs 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, for a density of 43.5M per mm².

Memory architecture differs substantially. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU uses 16 GB of LPDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, with memory clocked at 800 MHz (6.4 Gbps effective). The RTX A400 uses 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, with memory clocked at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective). Despite the RTX A400's faster memory clock and newer GDDR6 type, its narrower bus limits bandwidth to 96.00 GB/s, just below the AMD part's 102.4 GB/s.

Core configurations diverge in both count and type. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The RTX A400 has 768 shading units, 24 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The RTX A400 therefore has 50% more shading units but 25% fewer TMUs. The RTX A400 includes 24 tensor cores and 6 RT cores, while the Ryzen Z2 A GPU lists 8 RT cores and no tensor cores. Pixel and texture rates follow the core counts: the RTX A400 achieves 28.19 GPixel/s and 42.29 GTexel/s, while the Ryzen Z2 A GPU achieves 25.60 GPixel/s and 51.20 GTexel/s.

Clock speeds also differ. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU runs at a 1000 MHz base and 1600 MHz boost. The RTX A400 runs at 1417 MHz base and 1762 MHz boost. The NVIDIA part's higher clocks contribute to its FP32 advantage. The RTX A400's FP32 of 2.706 TFLOPS matches its FP16 output at a 1:1 ratio, while the Ryzen Z2 A GPU's FP16 of 3.277 TFLOPS is double its FP32 at a 2:1 ratio.

Physical and interface differences are clear. The RTX A400 is a single-slot card measuring 163 mm by 69 mm, with no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 250 W. Its bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8, and it provides four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The Ryzen Z2 A GPU lists no dimensions, slot width, power connectors, or bus interface, and provides a single USB Type-C display output. Both parts support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The RTX A400's predecessor is listed as Quadro Turing, with successor Workstation Ada, while the Ryzen Z2 A GPU has no predecessor or successor listed. Both products are Active in production, with the Ryzen Z2 A GPU releasing in December 2024 and the RTX A400 in April 2024.