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

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 processors tailored for high-performance gaming laptops, spearheaded by the formidable Ryzen 9 8945HX. While these new chips are built on the previous Zen 4 architecture, unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series that utilized the newer Zen 5, they promise to deliver robust performance for gamers. AMD is launching four new processors in this series, with the top-tier Ryzen 9 8945HX boasting 16 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock up to 5.4GHz. At the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. These processors closely mirror their last-generation counterparts; for instance, the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock with 80MB of cache.

Despite being based on the older architecture, these Ryzen 8000 processors are designed to be paired with the fastest graphics chips available in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile showed it struggled when paired with a lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, which was built 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 its performance. Although a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would likely offer even greater performance, the Ryzen 9 8945HX still promises to deliver impressive results.

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 set to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops in the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of the new Ryzen 8000 series processors:

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