AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU vs NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation as the dominant performer in this pairing. Its average benchmark score of 135,218 places it in the 95th percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU holds a 50th percentile ranking with no recorded average score. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation leads in every measured benchmark, with the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU showing no wins in the head-to-head comparison.

The RTX 4000 Ada Generation is a workstation-class solution with 20 GB of GDDR6 memory, 6,144 shading units, and 192 tensor cores. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU is a console-oriented chip with 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory, 768 shading units, and no tensor cores. For workloads that demand raw compute throughput, memory bandwidth, or ray tracing capability, the data clearly favors the NVIDIA card. The AMD chip, by contrast, operates at a 28 W TDP and appears suited to low-power embedded or handheld applications where its compact footprint and minimal power draw are the primary considerations.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs stem from different foundry processes and architectural generations. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU uses the RDNA 3.0 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, packing 25,390 million transistors into a 178 mm² die. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses the Ada Lovelace architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process, with 35,800 million transistors across a 294 mm² die. Despite the smaller process node, AMD's chip has a higher transistor density at 142.6 million transistors per mm², compared to NVIDIA's 121.8 million per mm².

Core configurations diverge sharply. The AMD chip provides 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA card offers 6,144 shading units, 192 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores. This eightfold difference in shading units and fourfold difference in RT cores explains the substantial performance gap in compute-heavy tasks.

Memory subsystems also differ fundamentally. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU uses 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 119.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, achieving 360.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA card's bandwidth advantage is roughly threefold, which matters for large datasets and high-resolution textures.

Clock behavior further separates the two. AMD's chip has a base clock of 800 MHz and boosts to 2700 MHz, while NVIDIA's base clock is 1500 MHz with a 2175 MHz boost. The AMD chip's higher boost clock cannot compensate for its far smaller execution resource pool. Pixel throughput stands at 86.40 GPixel/s for AMD versus 139.2 GPixel/s for NVIDIA, and texture throughput at 129.6 GTexel/s versus 417.6 GTexel/s.

Compute output shows the most dramatic gap. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU delivers 8.294 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16, while the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation delivers 26.73 TFLOPS in both precisions. That places NVIDIA roughly 3.2 times ahead in raw floating-point throughput.

Power and physical design differ by design intent. The AMD chip draws 28 W with no power connectors and a single USB Type-C display output. The NVIDIA card draws 130 W, uses a single-slot design with a 16-pin power connector, requires a 300 W suggested PSU, and provides four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The NVIDIA card measures 245 mm in length and 112 mm in height. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table is empty, and the win counts show zero for both entries. However, the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation has two recorded benchmark scores. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 146,593, and its Geekbench Vulkan score is 123,842. These combine for an average score of 135,218. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU has no recorded benchmark entries, so no direct comparison scores exist for it.

The nearest rival data for the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation provides context for its standing among workstation cards. The NVIDIA A10M scores 135,230, a delta of 0 percent. The AMD Radeon PRO W6800 scores 135,396, which is 0.1 percent higher. The AMD Radeon Pro W6800X Duo scores 135,774, 0.4 percent higher. The AMD Radeon PRO V620 scores 136,472, 0.9 percent higher. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation therefore sits within 1 percent of several comparable workstation accelerators, with the Radeon PRO V620 holding the largest edge at 0.9 percent.

These deltas indicate that the RTX 4000 Ada Generation performs on par with its immediate peers, not that it leads its class. Its 95th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it well above the median, but the nearest rivals show that several alternatives match or slightly exceed its average score. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU, with no benchmark data and a 50th percentile ranking, cannot be positioned relative to these workstation parts.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more raw compute throughput?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation delivers 26.73 TFLOPS in FP32 and FP16, while the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU delivers 8.294 TFLOPS in both precisions. NVIDIA is roughly 3.2 times ahead.

Q: How do the memory systems compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU uses 16 GB of LPDDR5X on a 128-bit bus with 119.9 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus with 360.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What ray tracing resources does each GPU have?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU includes 12 RT cores. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU has a 28 W TDP with no power connectors. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation has a 130 W TDP with a 16-pin power connector and a 300 W suggested PSU.

Q: How does the NVIDIA card compare to its nearest rivals?

A: Its average score of 135,218 is within 1 percent of the NVIDIA A10M (135,230), AMD Radeon PRO W6800 (135,396), AMD Radeon Pro W6800X Duo (135,774), and AMD Radeon PRO V620 (136,472).

Q: What display outputs does each GPU provide?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU provides one USB Type-C output. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation provides four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation wins in every measurable performance category. Its FP32 throughput of 26.73 TFLOPS dwarfs the AMD chip's 8.294 TFLOPS. Memory bandwidth of 360.0 GB/s versus 119.9 GB/s gives it a clear advantage for bandwidth-intensive workloads such as large model inference, high-resolution rendering, and multi-stream video processing. The 20 GB frame buffer exceeds the AMD chip's 16 GB, supporting larger working sets without spillover. Pixel rate of 139.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 417.6 GTexel/s indicate stronger fill capabilities for rasterization-heavy scenes.

The 192 tensor cores on the NVIDIA card enable accelerated AI workloads, a feature entirely absent from the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU. The 48 RT cores provide substantially more ray tracing throughput than AMD's 12. The single-slot form factor, PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, and four DisplayPort outputs make the RTX 4000 Ada Generation a flexible workstation component for multi-monitor setups.

The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU wins on power efficiency and physical simplicity. Its 28 W TDP is less than a quarter of the NVIDIA card's 130 W draw. It requires no power connectors, no suggested PSU rating, and occupies minimal space. The single USB Type-C output suits compact or portable designs. Its 4 nm process node and 142.6 million transistors per mm² density show a more advanced manufacturing approach, though this does not translate into performance dominance.

For use cases defined by the data, the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation suits professional workstations, AI inference, and ray-traced rendering. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU suits low-power consoles or handheld devices where the 28 W budget and minimal footprint are decisive. The benchmark record shows no scenario where the AMD chip outperforms the NVIDIA card, but its architectural profile indicates a different market segment entirely.