AMD Unveils Next-Gen Gaming Laptop Chips Using Previous Architecture

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors tailored for gaming laptops, headlined by the powerful Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips released earlier this year, these new processors leverage the previous Zen 4 architecture. Despite this, they promise to deliver top-notch performance for gamers seeking high-end experiences.

The lineup includes four new processors designed for high-performance gaming laptops. Leading the pack is the Ryzen 9 8945HX, which boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. On the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These processors closely mirror the specs of their last-generation counterparts, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also has 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, along with 80MB of cache.

These new chips are set to be paired with the latest and most powerful graphics cards in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile showed it struggling with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, even though it was based on the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured with a TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, which should significantly enhance performance. While a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would have offered even better results, the Ryzen 8000 series still promises impressive performance.

If you've been holding out for AMD's latest processors to upgrade your gaming laptop, you won't have to wait much longer. These new chips are expected to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops in the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of each new processor in the Ryzen 8000 series:

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX Specs

• CPU Cores: 16
• Threads: 32
• Boost Clock: 5.4GHz
• Integrated GPU: AMD Radeon 610M
• GPU Cores: 2
• Configurable TDP: 55W – 75W
• Total Cache: 80MB

AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX Specs

• CPU Cores: 16
• Threads: 32
• Boost Clock: 5.3GHz
• Integrated GPU: AMD Radeon 610M
• GPU Cores: 2
• Configurable TDP: 55W – 75W
• Total Cache: 80MB

AMD Ryzen 7 8840HX Specs

• CPU Cores: 12
• Threads: 24
• Boost Clock: 5.1GHz
• Integrated GPU: AMD Radeon 610M
• GPU Cores: 2
• Configurable TDP: 45W – 75W
• Total Cache: 76MB

AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX Specs

• CPU Cores: 8
• Threads: 16
• Boost Clock: 5.1GHz
• Integrated GPU: AMD Radeon 610M
• GPU Cores: 2
• Configurable TDP: 45W – 75W
• Total Cache: 40MB