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The AMD Ryzen Z2 will power next-gen gaming handhelds… including a new Steam Deck
AMD has just announced its latest addition to the Ryzen family – the Ryzen Z2. As we expected, it’s set to power the next generation of gaming handhelds, and that includes a rumored revision to the Steam Deck. We’re not surprised by this development, given that the original Steam Deck was powered by a custom AMD chip.
The new Ryzen Z2 brings significant upgrades compared to its predecessor, including more processing power and potentially better battery life. The top-of-the-line model, dubbed the Z2 Extreme, boasts an impressive eight cores with a maximum clock speed of 5GHz and 16 RDNA 3 graphics cores. This is likely to be the chip that powers the higher-end gaming handhelds, capable of delivering smooth and fast performance for demanding games.
On the other end of the spectrum, the budget-friendly Z2 Go model will feature four CPU cores and 12 graphics cores. While it may not have the same level of processing power as its more expensive counterparts, it could still be a great option for those who want to stream games from their PC instead of playing locally.
Unfortunately, AMD didn’t provide any specific performance metrics or benchmarks at this time, but we’re sure to see those numbers emerge in the coming weeks and months. The Ryzen Z2 is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2025, with ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go getting revamped versions featuring these new chips.
It’s worth noting that Valve has been adamant about not entering a “horsepower race” when it comes to gaming handhelds. However, constant leaks have hinted at an upcoming Steam Deck revision, which would make sense given the upgraded hardware offered by the Ryzen Z2.
Stay tuned for more information and hands-on impressions with these new chips as we approach CES 2025.
Source: http://www.engadget.com
