AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors, designed specifically for high-performance gaming laptops. Leading the pack is the formidable Ryzen 9 8945HX, which, unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips introduced earlier this year, is based on the previous Zen 4 architecture. Despite this, the Ryzen 8000 series promises to deliver exceptional performance for gamers.
AMD is rolling out four new processors tailored for top-tier gaming laptops. The flagship Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, with an impressive boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. At the other end of the range, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These new chips closely mirror the specifications of 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 processors are poised to pair seamlessly with the most advanced graphics chips in premium gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile showed it struggling 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 with a TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, potentially enhancing performance significantly, though a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would have offered an even greater boost.
If you've been holding off on purchasing a gaming laptop in anticipation of AMD's latest offerings, you won't have to wait long. These new processors are expected to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've outlined the specifications of the new chips to give you a clearer picture of what to expect:
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
