Tag: Ryzen Z2

  • Asus Launches Xbox Handheld Gaming Console This Year

    Asus Launches Xbox Handheld Gaming Console This Year

    Key Takeaways

    1. Microsoft is collaborating with Asus to launch a new Xbox console later this year, rather than producing it in-house.
    2. The internal project name for the console is Project Keenan, but it is officially referred to as Project Kennan.
    3. The new Xbox console will be a handheld device, running a tailored version of Windows 11.
    4. The choice of System on Chip (SoC) is critical for the console’s success, with a focus on AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series for performance.
    5. Effective cooling solutions and battery management will be essential to maintain performance in the compact handheld design.

    Industry insider Jez Corden recently talked about a new Xbox console set to launch later this year. Interestingly, Microsoft won’t be making it themselves. Instead, they are planning to collaborate with a big name in the PC industry. Tom Warren from The Verge has dug deeper into the specifics of this secretive device and has uncovered the name of the company behind it in a paywalled article.

    Project Keenan or Project Kennan?

    According to Jez’s insights, internally, this device is known as Project Keenan. However, Tom clarifies that the correct name is actually Project Kennan. This initiative is part of Microsoft’s strategy to connect Xbox consoles with PCs, which is becoming more visible through its “this is an Xbox” promotional efforts. The manufacturer chosen to create this enigmatic console is Asus.

    Asus: A Strong Choice

    Asus seems to be a fitting choice for this project. They were among the pioneers to replicate the Steam Deck’s design with the first ROG Ally. This could shed light on why the ROG Ally X made minor improvements to fix the design issues of its forerunner, albeit without upgrading the somewhat outdated Ryzen Z1 Extreme System on Chip (SoC). Asus is currently engaged in creating the first Xbox-branded handheld console. Since it is backed by Microsoft, this Asus/Xbox device will operate on a tailored version of Windows 11.

    The SoC Dilemma

    The success of this console hinges on the SoC it will incorporate. Asus has experience with AMD, meaning a Ryzen Z2 series chip is likely the best option. However, the Z2 Go might lack the necessary power to support a full Windows 11 installation and gaming, leading us to consider the Ryzen Z2 and Ryzen Z2 Extreme instead. The latter is more capable for handheld tasks due to its combination of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The Zen 5c cores can be designated for background processes, which could enhance battery longevity.

    An ideal chip would be an 8-core/32 CU Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max 385), but achieving this in a handheld would necessitate significant underclocking and effective cooling solutions, along with a powerful battery to maintain performance. In the worst-case scenario, we could end up with something akin to the Acer Nitro Blaze 11.

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  • Rumored Xbox Handheld Device Expected to Launch This Year

    Rumored Xbox Handheld Device Expected to Launch This Year

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Xbox handheld, codenamed “Keenan,” is expected to launch later this year, but Microsoft will not produce it themselves.
    2. A well-known manufacturer like Asus, Lenovo, or MSI will handle the hardware development, with Microsoft creating a simplified version of Windows 11 for it.
    3. The handheld will feature a special Xbox button for adjusting settings like fan speed and refresh rate.
    4. The choice of chip for the device remains uncertain, with options including AMD’s Ryzen Z2 and Intel’s Lunar Lake series, but performance is not expected to be groundbreaking.
    5. Microsoft is also working on a next-generation console to succeed the Xbox Series X, set for release alongside a fully developed Xbox handheld in 2027.

    Rumors regarding an Xbox handheld have been circulating for quite a while now, and they are not something new. Recently, Jez Corden from Windows Central added some exciting details to the story with his latest scoop. The handheld, which is referred to by the code name “Keenan,” is expected to be released later this year. However, it seems that Microsoft won’t be the one to actually produce it.

    Hardware Development Insights

    It looks like a well-known manufacturer, such as Asus, Lenovo, or MSI, will handle the hardware development. Microsoft is planning to assist in creating a simplified version of Windows 11 that will be free from unnecessary software. Additionally, there will be a special Xbox button included, allowing users to adjust settings like fan speed, TDP, refresh rate, and more. Basically, this handheld is just a more efficient version of a typical handheld device, featuring software tweaks from Microsoft, along with a stamp of approval as an Xbox accessory.

    Chip Selection Mystery

    The biggest question still remains about which chip will power this device. Microsoft has a selection of options to choose from, including AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Go, Ryzen Z2, Ryzen Z2 Extreme, and Intel’s Lunar Lake or Arrow Lake-H series. In a post, Jez suggested that it might be the standard Z2, but that is not confirmed yet. Regardless, it is unlikely to achieve record-breaking performance, especially if it utilizes the anticipated Hawk Point-based Ryzen Z2.

    Future Console Plans

    Jez also mentions that Microsoft is working on its next-generation console, which will take over from the Xbox Series X. This new console is expected to be released alongside the first true handheld from Xbox that is developed entirely from scratch in 2027. This upcoming console is rumored to feature a combination of an AMD Zen 5 CPU and UDNA 1 (previously known as RDNA 5) GPU. There have been discussions about incorporating 3D V-Cache as well, but that technology might be reserved for Sony’s PlayStation 6.

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  • Steam Deck 2: Valve Designer Talks Rumored AMD Ryzen Z2 Update

    Steam Deck 2: Valve Designer Talks Rumored AMD Ryzen Z2 Update

    Rumors about Valve possibly launching new hardware have been floating around for the past month or so, partly due to some leaks from databases. To summarize, information about the rumored Steam Controller 2 came out in late November. In addition, new details about Valve’s much-speculated ‘Deckard’ VR headset also surfaced, quickly followed by a leak regarding a gaming device codenamed ‘Fremont’.

    AMD Confirms Steam Deck Update?

    Today, VideoCardz published an article that claimed AMD had ‘confirmed Valve Steam Deck update’ as part of the Ryzen Z2 series announcement. This lead to various news outlets resharing the information, even though there was no clear reference to a new Steam Deck in the leaked documents shared by VideoCardz. Instead, the Steam Deck was mentioned alongside other devices like the Legion Go and ROG Ally, which use older Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen Z1 Extreme APUs.

    Valve’s Clarification

    However, Pierre-Loup Griffais, a key figure in the Steam Deck’s design, has stepped in to clarify Valve’s stance. He directly stated that ‘there is and will be no Z2 Steam Deck’, putting an end to the speculation right there.

    As for Valve’s official position, they have only mentioned plans for a next-generation Steam Deck to be released in ‘a few years’. Since the Steam Deck performs similarly to the Radeon 890M in benchmarks, it seems unlikely that the Ryzen Z2 series would be used for a device that Valve wants to deliver with ‘a significant bump in horsepower’.

    Upcoming Devices

    Meanwhile, there is solid evidence indicating that a SteamOS-powered Legion Go gaming handheld is nearing its launch. Lenovo has strongly suggested that this device will be revealed later this week at CES 2025. However, it won’t be a direct successor to the original Legion Go gaming handheld that Lenovo launched last year (currently priced at $619.99 on Amazon). Instead, it may come as a more affordable option with fixed controllers and a lower price point, aimed at meeting lesser performance targets.

    Source: Link

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  • AMD Ryzen Z2 Gaming Handhelds Likely to Miss Radeon 890M

    AMD Ryzen Z2 Gaming Handhelds Likely to Miss Radeon 890M

    The AMD Strix Point has unveiled two new RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics processing units (iGPUs). One of these is the Radeon 890M, which comes equipped with 16 compute units (CUs). This makes the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and AI 9 HX 375 quite strong APUs for gaming. In our performance tests, the new iGPU delivered roughly 18% improved results compared to the earlier 780M.

    Upcoming Gaming Handhelds

    Although AMD has not announced any gaming handhelds using the new Strix Point APUs yet, the company has confirmed plans for the Ryzen Z2 series. In a conversation with Digital Trends, they mentioned an “early 2025” launch date. This new lineup is anticipated to introduce Zen 5 chips for handheld devices, although the Radeon 890M will likely not be part of this series.

    Details on Ryzen Z2 Series

    Renowned leaker Golden Pig Upgrade revealed on Bilibili that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme will include an RDNA 3.5 iGPU with 12 CUs, effectively the Radeon 880M. This iGPU is also found in the Ryzen AI 9 365, and during testing in a gaming handheld environment, it showed about 13% better performance than the Radeon 780M.

    Golden Pig Upgrade also indicated that the standard Ryzen Z2 will be equipped with an RDNA 3 iGPU with 12 CUs. This suggests it may use the same Radeon 780M as seen in the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Interestingly, the tipster mentioned a third APU in the new lineup, which they refer to as the Ryzen Z2G.

    What’s the G for?

    The meaning of the “G” remains uncertain, but according to Golden Pig Upgrade, it will come with an RDNA 2 iGPU with 12 CUs. This APU might just be an update to the Rembrandt series with the Radeon 680M, which could enable manufacturers to create more budget-friendly gaming handhelds.

    Even though the AMD Z2 series might not include the powerful Radeon 890M, there is a chance that Chinese manufacturers will incorporate it into gaming handhelds powered by the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. GPD has already included this APU in its 2024 Pocket 4. While it’s more of a compact laptop than a true gaming handheld, it demonstrates the potential of this chipset to run portable devices within thermal design power (TDP) limits.

    Golden Pig Upgrade on Bilibili via: Tom’s Hardware

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