Ryzen Z2 Go vs Ryzen 5 1600
Ryzen Z2 Go
Ryzen 5 1600
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 Z2 Go is positioned at rank 935 and the Ryzen 5 1600 is on rank 378, 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 Z2 Go
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Go | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rembrandt R (2025) / 6 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Go | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) |
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 Z2 Go and Ryzen 5 1600
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen Z2 Go packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 1600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go versus 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600 — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 Go (base: 3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen Z2 Go uses the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture (6 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1600 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Z2 Go scores 12,188 against the Ryzen 5 1600's 12,261 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 1600. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1600.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Go | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+19% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 16 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 6 nm-57% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Rembrandt R (2025) | Zen 2 (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 12,188 | 12,261 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 5,802 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,842 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,073 | — |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Z2 Go versus DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1600 — 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: 16 (Ryzen Z2 Go) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 1600) — the Ryzen 5 1600 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Rembrandt-R (Ryzen Z2 Go) and AMD 300 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 1600).
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Go | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-6400+25% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go) / not specified (Ryzen 5 1600). 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 Z2 Go | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 680M | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | SVM | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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