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

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 processors designed specifically for gaming laptops, with the flagship being the Ryzen 9 8945HX. These new chips, however, utilize the previous-generation Zen 4 architecture, unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series that was released earlier this year.

AMD is rolling out four new processors tailored 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. At the other end of the spectrum, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These new processors closely mirror the specs of their predecessors, with the Ryzen 9 7945HX also featuring 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, alongside 80MB of cache.

These processors are set to be paired with the most powerful graphics chips in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted its struggles when coupled with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, despite its newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to run at 55W to 75W, promising a significant performance boost. While a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would have offered even greater performance, the Ryzen 9 8945HX should still 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 expected to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've outlined the specifications of the new processors for a clearer picture.

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