AMD Unveils Next-Gen Laptop Chips Using Last-Gen Architecture

AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors designed specifically for gaming laptops, with the flagship model being the Ryzen 9 8945HX. These processors, however, are built on the previous Zen 4 architecture, unlike the newer Ryzen AI 300 series chips introduced earlier this year.

The lineup includes four new processors aimed at high-performance gaming laptops. At the top, the Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores and 32 threads with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. On the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These new processors share remarkably similar specifications with their predecessors; for instance, the Ryzen 9 7945HX from the last generation also featured 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock alongside 80MB of cache.

Despite using the older architecture, these Ryzen 8000 processors are set to be paired with the most powerful graphics chips available in high-end gaming laptops. In my earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, it paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, which utilizes the newer Zen 5 architecture, and struggled. The Ryzen 9 8945HX, with its configurable TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, should offer a significant performance boost. While a Zen 5 chip at the same power level would have provided even greater performance, the Ryzen 9 8945HX still promises impressive capabilities for gaming laptops.

If you've been holding off on purchasing a gaming laptop in anticipation of AMD's latest processors, you'll be pleased to know that the Ryzen 8000 series will soon be available in high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of the new chips to help you make an informed decision.

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