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

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 processors, tailored for gaming laptops and spearheaded by the formidable Ryzen 9 8945HX. These processors, however, diverge from the Ryzen AI 300 series chips released earlier this year, as they are constructed on the previous-generation Zen 4 architecture rather than the newer Zen 5.

AMD is set to introduce four new processors designed 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, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes equipped with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. Notably, these new processors share strikingly similar specifications to their last-generation counterparts, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, complemented by 80MB of cache.

Despite utilizing the previous architecture, these Ryzen 8000 processors are poised to be paired with the fastest graphics chips available in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted its struggles when paired with a lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 processor, built on the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured with a power range of 55W to 75W, promising a significant performance boost. While this performance increase would have been even more substantial with a Zen 5 chip at the same power budget, the Ryzen 8000 series still stands 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 chips are expected to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of the new Ryzen 8000 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