Ryzen Z2 Go vs Xeon E5-1680 v2
Ryzen Z2 Go
Xeon E5-1680 v2
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 Xeon E5-1680 v2 is on rank 943, so the Ryzen Z2 Go 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 Xeon E5-1680 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Go | Xeon E5-1680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rembrandt R (2025) / 6 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Go | Xeon E5-1680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 Xeon E5-1680 v2
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.
Xeon E5-1680 v2
The Xeon E5-1680 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600, DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 12,396 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Ryzen Z2 Go packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-1680 v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-1680 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v2 — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 Go (base: 3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen Z2 Go uses the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture (6 nm), while the Xeon E5-1680 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Z2 Go scores 12,188 against the Xeon E5-1680 v2's 12,396 — a 1.7% lead for the Xeon E5-1680 v2. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 5,802 vs 8,579 (38.6% advantage for the Xeon E5-1680 v2). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,842 vs 750, a 84.3% lead for the Ryzen Z2 Go that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,073 vs 4,500 (29.8% advantage for the Ryzen Z2 Go). L3 cache: 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1680 v2.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Go | Xeon E5-1680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+10% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 25 MB (total)+213% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 6 nm-73% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Rembrandt R (2025) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 12,188 | 12,396+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 5,802 | 8,579+48% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,842+146% | 750 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,073+35% | 4,500 |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Z2 Go versus DDR3-1866 on the Xeon E5-1680 v2 — the Ryzen Z2 Go supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-1680 v2 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen Z2 Go) vs 4 (Xeon E5-1680 v2). PCIe lanes: 16 (Ryzen Z2 Go) vs 40 (Xeon E5-1680 v2) — the Xeon E5-1680 v2 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Rembrandt-R (Ryzen Z2 Go) and C602,X79 (Xeon E5-1680 v2).
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Go | Xeon E5-1680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-6400+67% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 256 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon E5-1680 v2 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon E5-1680 v2). The Ryzen Z2 Go includes integrated graphics (Radeon 680M), while the Xeon E5-1680 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Z2 Go targets Budget, Xeon E5-1680 v2 targets Server/Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen Z2 Go rivals Core Ultra 5 135U; Xeon E5-1680 v2 rivals Core i7-4960X.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Go | Xeon E5-1680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 680M | None |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | SVM | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Server/Workstation |
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