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

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors for gaming laptops, spearheaded by the formidable Ryzen 9 8945HX. These processors, while built on the previous Zen 4 architecture, are set to redefine high-performance gaming. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series, which was released earlier and utilized the newer Zen 5 architecture, the Ryzen 8000 series focuses on delivering top-tier performance with last-gen technology.

AMD is launching four new processors tailored 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 offers 8 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These processors share striking similarities with their last-generation counterparts, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, along with 80MB of cache.

These new Ryzen 8000 processors are designed to be paired with the most powerful graphics chips in high-end gaming laptops. My recent review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted some performance struggles when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, a chip built on the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to run with a TDP of 55W to 75W, which should provide a significant performance boost, although a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would likely offer even greater performance.

If you're holding out for AMD's latest processors to upgrade your gaming laptop, you can expect these new chips to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of the new Ryzen 8000 series:

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