AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme vs AMD Ryzen Z1: Which is the best CPU for handheld gaming?

When you buy the ROG Ally handheld, you get two choices for chipsets: the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and the AMD Ryzen Z1. As the name suggests, the processor with the extreme moniker is more powerful with better CPU and GPU capabilities. But will the performance difference be significant enough to warrant the extra $100 it costs over the regular AMD Z1 chipset?

That's what we plan to find today. In this article, we will compare the two processors to determine the best one for handheld gaming.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions.

AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme vs AMD Ryzen Z1

Both processors are based on the same Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 graphics architecture, so they are similar. However, due to differences in core count, clock speeds, GPU, and more, a significant performance gap is expected between them. But before we check out game comparisons, let's look at their specs.

Specs comparison

ASUS ROG Ally box contents (Image via ASUS)

Here are the specs of AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and AMD Ryzen Z1:

Specifications	AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme	AMD Ryzen Z1
Architecture	Traditional architecture	Hybrid architecture
Core configuration	8 x Zen 4 cores	2 x Zen 4 cores + 4 x Zen 4c cores
Cores	8	6
Threads	16	12
Max clock speed	5.1 GHz	4.9 GHz
L2 & L3 cache	8 MB and 16 MB	6 MB and 16 MB
RAM support	DDR5-7500	DDR5-7500
Integrated GPU	AMD Radeon 780M	AMD Radeon 740M
GPU shader cores	768	256
GPU max clock speed	2700 MHz	2500 MHz
Thermal design power (TDP)	15W Typical \| Configurable up to 30W	15W Typical \| Configurable up to 30W
Manufacturing node	4nm	4nm

While there are some differences in the core count and clock speeds, the biggest contrast is in the core configuration and the shader core count in the integrated GPU. Using hybrid architecture in Ryzen Z1 is good for power-saving but can often come at the expense of CPU performance.

Also, there's a significant difference in the number of GPU shader cores, which will profoundly affect gaming.

Synthetic and productivity benchmark

While the specs can showcase many details of the two chipsets, we need actual performance benchmarks to see how powerful these two chips are. Here's how AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and AMD Ryzen Z1 scores at Geekbench:

Benchmarks	AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme	AMD Ryzen Z1
Geekbench 5 (Single-core)	1917	1821
Geekbench 5 (Multi-core)	9977	7706

In the single-core benchmark, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme scores 5.2% higher than the non-extreme variant. In multi-core benchmarks, the former chip was a whopping 29.4% faster.

Gaming performance benchmark

The Ryzen Z1 Extreme is faster in CPU tasks, but what about gaming? Let's find out with a few game compressions:

Note: All games were played at 720p upscaled to 1080p via Radeon Super Resolution. The FPS numbers were sourced from ASUS.

Games	AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme	AMD Ryzen Z1
Elden Ring (Medium graphics)	51 FPS	48 FPS
EA Sports FIFA 23 (Medium graphics)	74 FPS	69 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Medium graphics without RSR)	62 FPS	42 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 (Medium graphics)	66 FPS	44 FPS
COD: Modern Warfare II (Medium graphics)	97 FPS	70 FPS
Forza Horizon 5 (Medium graphics)	76 FPS	52 FPS
Diablo IV (Medium graphics)	73 FPS	51 FPS

On average, the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme is 32.7% faster than the Ryzen Z1. In Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, the former is as much as 50% faster than the latter, and that's a significant difference in performance.

AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme vs AMD Ryzen Z1: Final verdict

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme is the best for handheld gaming. It provides around 32.7% higher performance on average than the Ryzen Z1. But in some specific games, the Extreme variant of the chip can deliver as much as 50% higher performance.

You can choose this chipset in your ROG Ally for $100, and it's worth it. Apart from the ROG Ally, the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme is also available in Lenovo Legion Go, another fantastic handheld.