AMD Ryzen Z1 chip codenamed Phonex 2, Adopt Zen 4+Zen 4c core design
At its debut, the ROG Ally handheld offered choices between the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and the Z1 chips. However, the currently available Ally only sports the Z1 Extreme, likely due to the Z1 still undergoing testing. Insider sources suggest that the Z1 has a notable highlight: its dual-core design that utilizes both Zen 4 and Zen 4c architectures.
Contrary to popular speculation that the AMD Ryzen Z1 chip was derived from the Ryzen 5 7540U, recent discoveries by hardware connoisseurs indicate the Z1, codenamed ‘Phoenix 2’, represents AMD’s foray into a hybrid architecture. This combines two Zen 4 primary cores with four Zen 4c secondary cores—a stark contrast to the Ryzen 5 7540U’s six Zen 4 primary cores. The Z1’s maximum frequency reaches up to 4.9GHz for the primary cores and 3.5GHz for the secondary ones, boasting a customizable TDP ranging between 9 and 30W.
Based on the current Cinbench R23 performance benchmarks, the Z1’s performance at 30W TDP (scoring 10,155) isn’t significantly behind the Ryzen 7 7840U (25W, scoring 12,003) — trailing by approximately 18.2%. However, when reduced to a 15W TDP (scoring 7,822), its performance drops by around 29.8%. In SPECint tests, the Zen 4 core’s single-threaded performance is approximately 30% faster than that of the Zen 4c. Yet, when both are locked at a frequency of 3.2GHz, their performance levels are parallel.
Given that the AMD Ryzen Z1 chip targets handheld gaming devices, power efficiency becomes paramount. The four Zen 4c secondary cores can render superior power efficiency when the handheld is not plugged in. Nevertheless, the Z1 chip’s integrated GPU possesses only four CU units, resulting in a considerably lesser graphical prowess than the Z1 Extreme. When compared to the 12 CU Ryzen 7 7840U, the deficit is roughly 65%. Thus, it’s evident that the Z1 is better suited for affordable Windows handhelds, focusing more on indie games and prolonged battery longevity.
