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

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors, tailored specifically for gaming laptops and spearheaded by the Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips that debuted earlier this year, these new processors leverage the previous Zen 4 architecture.

AMD is set to introduce four new processors for high-performance gaming laptops. The flagship 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 boost clock of 5.1GHz. These processors closely mirror the specs of their predecessors, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, alongside 80MB of cache.

These new processors are designed to be paired with the most powerful graphics chips found in high-end gaming laptops. My review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile earlier this year highlighted its struggles when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 processor, despite its newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can operate within a power range of 55W to 75W, promising a significant performance boost. Although a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would offer even better performance, the Ryzen 9 8945HX remains a formidable option.

If you've been holding off on purchasing a new gaming laptop in anticipation of AMD's latest offerings, you'll be pleased to know that these processors will soon be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've outlined the detailed specs for the new chips:

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