Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen Z2 Go

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen Z2 Go FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen Z2 Go: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen 5 1600

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $219 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3150% higher power demand at 65W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen Z2 Go can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 63W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 680M, while Ryzen 5 1600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 1600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,188 vs 12,261).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 1600 better than Ryzen Z2 Go?

Yes. Ryzen 5 1600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 1600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 1600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 5 1600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 1600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $219 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (56.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen Z2 Go makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2017) and a healthier platform with a newer socket and DDR5 instead of AM4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen Z2 Go Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Ryzen 5 1600

The Ryzen 5 1600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,261 points. Launch price was $219.

Ryzen Z2 Go

The Ryzen Z2 Go is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 8 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 12,188 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 1600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 Go offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Ryzen 5 1600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 Go (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1600 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 Go uses Rembrandt R (2025) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1600 scores 12,261 against the Ryzen Z2 Go's 12,188 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 1600. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1600 vs 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1600	Ryzen Z2 Go
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4.3 GHz+19%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+7%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)+100%	8 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+25500%	2 MB
Process	14 nm	6 nm-57%
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Rembrandt R (2025)
PassMark	12,261	12,188
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	5,802
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,842
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	6,073

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Memory & Platform

Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1600 versus LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Z2 Go — the Ryzen Z2 Go supports 140.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 1600) vs 16 (Ryzen Z2 Go) — the Ryzen 5 1600 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 300 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 1600) and Rembrandt-R (Ryzen Z2 Go).

Feature	Ryzen 5 1600	Ryzen Z2 Go
Socket	AM4	—
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	LPDDR5-6400+140%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24+50%	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 1600) / SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go). The Ryzen Z2 Go includes integrated graphics (Radeon 680M), while the Ryzen 5 1600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Z2 Go targets Budget. Direct competitor: Ryzen Z2 Go rivals Core Ultra 5 135U.