AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 processors designed for gaming laptops, spearheaded by the powerful Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips released earlier this year, which were based on the newer Zen 5 architecture, these new processors utilize the last-generation Zen 4 architecture.
AMD is introducing 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 of the lineup, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes equipped with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. Notably, these processors share very similar specifications to their predecessors, with the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX also featuring 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, alongside 80MB of cache.
These new processors are set to be paired with the most advanced graphics chips available in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile showed that it struggled when paired with the less powerful AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, despite the latter's use of the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured with a TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, which should markedly enhance performance. Although a Zen 5 chip with a similar power budget would have offered even greater performance gains, the Ryzen 9 8945HX should still deliver impressive results.
If you've been holding out for AMD's latest processors before purchasing a gaming laptop, you won't have to wait long. These new chips are expected to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've outlined the specifications for the new 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
