Valve could ensure Steam Deck 2 is uncontested if they fit it with the leaked Z2 Extreme CPU
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As we previously confirmed, Valve is actively working on new hardware. However, there still has been no word on the possible release date for the much-awaited Steam Deck sequel. Well, it’s been a while since we started hearing word on the upcoming Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, and based on the leaked specs, if Valve opts for this in the Steam Deck 2, we doubt any other handheld could outmatch it.
With Valve having the benefit of the more efficient SteamOS, and a loyal fanbase behind the handheld, we think that many Windows alternatives will be left in the dust if Steam Deck 2 harnesses that power.
AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme leaks appear online
The latest leaks on the Z2 Extreme come from Golden Pig Upgrade Pack, a renowned tech leaker who has been consistently providing updates on rumors about the Z2 lineup. Originally, Golden Pig stated that the Z2 lineup would have three processors: Z2, Z2G, and Z2E, with AMD possibly canceling a top-of-the-line Z2 Extreme X variant.
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However, the leaker followed up with the news that AMD has potentially renamed the Z2 Extreme X to just Z2 Extreme without making any changes to the specs. That said, the now Z2 Extreme would have 8 CPU cores (3+5 Zen5 core configuration) with 16MB of L3 cache. As for graphics, the processor may feature 16 CUs (compute units) based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture.
Here are the rumored specs, compared to the Ryzen Z1 lineup:
Specification | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Ryzen Z2 | Ryzen Z2G | Ryzen Z1 Extreme | Ryzen Z1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silicon | Strix Point | Hawk Point | Rembrandt | Phoenix1 | Phoenix2 |
Cores | 8 (3+5) | Up to 8 | Up to 8 | 8 | 4 (2 + 2) |
CPU Architecture | Zen5 | Zen4 | Zen3+ | Zen4 | Zen4 |
GPU Compute Units | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 4 |
GPU Architecture | RDNA 3.5 | RDNA 3 | RDNA 2 | RDNA 3 | RDNA 3 |
Steam Deck 2 can be the king of the hill with Z2 Extreme
The current Steam Deck was initially released two years ago, and it is still going pretty strong. When we tested the LCD variant of the console, we were very impressed by how it manages to be the jack-of-all-trades, offering good performance, reliability, and value for money. That’s primarily why we also crowned its OLED variant the best versatile handheld of the year.
With that said, if Valve decides to use the Ryzen Z2 Extreme as the main powerhouse of its next-gen Steam Deck 2, things could be looking very good. The APU brings massive upgrades over the last-gen Z1 Extreme, which is currently being used by all the top-performing handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally X.
The 3+5 CPU core configuration suggests a mix of 5x Zen5c (compact) and 3x full Zen5 cores. Assuming this is accurate, the APU may strike a good balance between performance and efficiency. The highlight of the leaked specs, however, is the GPU configuration, which indicates that the Z2 Extreme may feature an RDNA 3.5 GPU with 16 CUs.
If this holds true, and Valve chooses this APU for their Steam Deck 2, the handheld will definitely have the generational leap from the current Steam Deck, which uses an RDNA 2 GPU with 8 CUs. The only problem is the question of battery life and whether Valve can address that issue if they choose to upgrade to something like the Z2 Extreme.