MSI Claw A8 Docked Mode: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU Performance Tested

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme showcases significant efficiency and performance gains when pushed to higher sustained power limits.

Hardware by Masaru Hoshino on Oct 28, 2025

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU is the next step in handheld gaming performance. It has a 16-compute-unit RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 890M iGPU, paired with a combination of Zen 5 and Zen 5C CPU cores. It was designed for devices that don't use much power, and it can deliver a good gaming experience at both 1080p and 1440p resolutions.

In this examination, we look at how far we can push the Z2 Extreme, its power limits, and the benefits of boosting its TDP with bespoke cooling solutions.

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Testing Setup and Power Configuration

We started our experiments by playing games at 1440p on high settings with FSR off. The Z2 Extreme was pushed to its limits by running in a docked mode with a higher TDP. The MSI Claw A8 with this APU can only run at a steady 35W TDP, but it can briefly jump to 48W.

But we utilized a third-party program called X86 Tuning Utility to elevate the TDP to 60W so we could see what the APU could really do.

A makeshift cooling system was used to handle the excess heat. A thermoelectric (Peltier) cooler was added to the flat aluminum heatsink with thermally conductive tape to further cool it. This isn't the best solution, but it did prevent thermal throttling even when the TDP was set to 60W for a long time.

CPU and GPU Performance Insights

The Geekbench 6 scores at the 60W power limit were far better than those at the regular 35W level. The single-core score went up a little, but the multi-core score went up from 11,163 to 13,820. 3DMark Time Spy also showed big improvements in GPU performance, going from 3,495 at 35W to 4,053 at 60W.

Even with these changes, the APU's GPU clocks didn't reach the predicted levels. The iGPU might hit 2900MHz, but when you're playing games, it usually stays below that. This constraint shows that the chip's design still prioritizes efficiency over sheer clock speed, even with more power available.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Performance

The Z2 Extreme kept Cyberpunk 2077 running smoothly at high settings. When I adjusted the FSR to quality and the resolution to 1080p high, the frame rate stayed around 60 fps. It worked better when I changed the settings to medium with FSR balanced or lowered the resolution to 900p.

We saw a significant performance boost after enabling FSR 3.1 Frame Generation. When I adjusted the game to 1080p high settings and enabled frame generation, it got much smoother. It stayed at 60 fps for almost the entire time. Frame generation isn't ideal for competitive games. Still, it's ideal for single-player games because it delivers high-quality graphics and responds quickly, with no noticeable input lag.

Forza Horizon 5 Benchmark

Forza Horizon 5 turned out to be one of the best games on the Z2 Extreme. The game ran at over 100 fps most of the time at high settings and 1440p, with only a few instances falling below that. This performance shows that the APU works really well in games that aren't too demanding but are well-optimized.

During testing, the CPU and GPU maintained high clock speeds, indicating that the 60W arrangement enabled the chip to handle severe loads without slowing down. The high preset had no effect on performance compared to the medium settings, making it perfect for playing when docked.

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Marvel Rivals and Fighting Game Tests

The results were not as good when moving to Marvel Rivals. At 1080p medium with FSR set to performance, the APU struggled to maintain 60 fps, especially during intense action scenes. Even at 60W TDP, frame dips still occur, indicating the GPU wasn't strong enough. Lowering the resolution would help keep the game running smoothly, but it would make the graphics less clear.

Mortal Kombat 1, on the other hand, ran quite well. The game ran at a steady 60 frames per second with no performance drops when set to 1080p medium with FSR balanced. This shows that fighting games, which usually don't use as much GPU power, work well even with integrated graphics like the Radeon 890M.

Spider-Man 2 Performance Analysis

Spider-Man 2 1080p medium with FSR balanced worked far better than I thought it would. Without frame generation, the experience was almost unplayable @ 25W TDP. But when FSR 3.1 Frame Generation was enabled, frame rates quickly exceeded 60 frames per second, especially in areas with heavy graphics.

At 60W TDP in docked mode, Spider-Man 2 ran smoothly and looked great. Since the game relies heavily on GPU resources, frame generation remains an important tool for keeping performance up without lowering settings or resolution too much.

Thermal and Power Observations

Running the Z2 Extreme at its 60W TDP greatly improves performance; however, managing heat becomes critical. Without enough cooling, the APU and iGPU temperatures might rise quickly. Our makeshift Peltier system worked well to stop throttling, but it's not a good long-term fix. Handheld devices that use this technology in the future may need more complex cooling solutions to keep the same power levels safe.

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Final Thoughts

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU performs well as an integrated graphics solution. Increasing the TDP to 60W does give you some real benefits; however, the difference between 35W and 60W isn't as big as you might think. The iGPU doesn't fully scale with increasing power constraints, which could indicate limits at the firmware or driver level.

The Z2 Extreme still feels like it's in the early stages of its life compared to the Z1 Extreme. Over time, driver and firmware updates will likely improve performance. For now, it is still a good APU for gaming on the go or at home, especially when used with FSR 3.1 and frame generation.

Overall, pushing the Z2 Extreme past its limitations shows that it has significant potential. Still, it also underscores the importance of good cooling and mature drivers. We can expect future improvements to make this strong, low-power gaming processor even better.

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