AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 processors designed specifically for gaming laptops, with the flagship model being the Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips that hit the market earlier this year, these new processors are built on the previous Zen 4 architecture.
AMD is rolling out four new processors tailored for high-performance gaming laptops. At the top, the Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. On the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes equipped with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. These new processors share remarkably similar specifications with their last-generation counterparts, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also featured 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, along with 80MB of cache.
Despite being based on the previous generation architecture, these processors are set to be paired with the fastest graphics chips in high-end gaming laptops. My review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile earlier this year highlighted its struggles when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, which utilized the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to operate between 55W and 75W, which should significantly enhance performance. However, the performance boost would likely be even greater with a Zen 5 chip at the same power level.
If you've been holding off for AMD's latest processors to upgrade your gaming laptop, you'll be pleased to know that they will soon be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of the new chips:
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
