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

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors, designed specifically for high-performance gaming laptops. Leading the charge is the Ryzen 9 8945HX, which, unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips released earlier this year, is built on the previous Zen 4 architecture. This new lineup includes four processors tailored for gaming enthusiasts, with the 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 the specs of their predecessors, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock with 80MB of cache.

These new processors are set to be paired with the most powerful graphics chips available in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted its struggles when paired 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 operate between 55W and 75W, promising a significant performance boost. Although a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would have offered even greater performance, the Ryzen 8000 series still promises robust gaming capabilities.

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 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