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

AMD has recently unveiled its highly anticipated Ryzen 8000 series processors designed specifically for gaming laptops, headlined by the Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series launched earlier this year, these processors retain the previous-generation Zen 4 architecture.

The lineup includes four new processors tailored for high-performance gaming laptops. At the top tier is the Ryzen 9 8945HX, boasting 16 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. On the lower end, AMD introduces the Ryzen 7 8745HX, featuring 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These chips closely mirror the specifications of their predecessors; for instance, the Ryzen 9 7945HX also offers 16 cores with a 5.4GHz boost clock and 80MB of cache.

Despite the lack of an architectural update, these processors will pair seamlessly with cutting-edge graphics solutions in premium gaming laptops. As noted in my earlier review, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile encountered challenges when coupled with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, even though the latter was based on the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be set to operate within a configurable TDP range of 55W to 75W, potentially enhancing performance compared to its Zen 5 counterpart under similar power constraints.

Gamers looking forward to these processors should find them integrated into high-end gaming laptops in the coming months. Below is a detailed breakdown of the new Ryzen 8000 series specifications:

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX Specifications:

• 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 Specifications:

• 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 Specifications:

• 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 Specifications:

• CPU Cores: 8
• Threads: 16
• Boost Clock: 5.1GHz
• Integrated GPU: AMD Radeon 610M
• GPU Cores: 2
• Configurable TDP: 45W – 75W
• Total Cache: 40MB