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

AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors designed specifically for high-performance gaming laptops, spearheaded by the powerful Ryzen 9 8945HX. While these processors are based on the previous Zen 4 architecture, rather than the newer Zen 5 architecture seen in the Ryzen AI 300 series, they are poised to deliver exceptional performance in gaming scenarios.

The Ryzen 8000 series includes four new processors tailored for gaming laptops. The flagship model, Ryzen 9 8945HX, boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. At the other end of the lineup, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. Notably, these new processors share similar specifications with their last-generation counterparts, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, along with 80MB of cache.

These processors are set to be paired with top-tier graphics cards in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted performance struggles when coupled with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 processor, despite its use of the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured with a TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, promising a significant performance uplift, even if a Zen 5 chip at the same power level would have offered even greater improvements.

If you're holding out for AMD's latest processors to upgrade your gaming laptop, you can expect to see them integrated into high-end gaming laptops in the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of the new Ryzen 8000 series 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