CPU
GPU
Ryzen 5 1600
Ryzen Z2 Go
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Ryzen 5 1600 is positioned at rank 378 and the Ryzen Z2 Go is on rank 935, so the Ryzen 5 1600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1600
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen Z2 Go
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600 | Ryzen Z2 Go |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rembrandt R (2025) / 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600 | Ryzen Z2 Go |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 1600 and Ryzen Z2 Go
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.
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) | 2 MB+300% |
| 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 |
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 22.2% 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+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24+50% | 16 |
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.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600 | Ryzen Z2 Go |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon 680M |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | SVM |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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