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

AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors designed specifically for gaming laptops, headlined by the powerful Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips launched earlier this year, these new processors are based on the previous Zen 4 architecture. This move by Team Red introduces four new processors aimed at delivering high-performance in 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 spectrum, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes equipped with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. These processors bear striking similarities to their last-generation counterparts, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock alongside 80MB of cache.

Despite utilizing the previous generation's architecture, these processors are set to be paired with the fastest graphics chips in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile revealed performance limitations when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 processor, which is based on the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to operate between 55W and 75W, promising a significant performance boost, though a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would have yielded even greater results.

If you've been holding out for AMD's latest processors before investing in a gaming laptop, you can expect to see these chips 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