AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors tailored specifically for gaming laptops, with the flagship model being the Ryzen 9 8945HX. These new processors, however, are built on the previous generation's Zen 4 architecture, unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series laptop chips that were introduced earlier this year with the newer Zen 5 architecture.
AMD is set to launch four new processors designed for high-performance gaming laptops. The lineup is led by the Ryzen 9 8945HX, which boasts 16 cores, 32 threads, and can achieve a boost clock of up to 5.4GHz. At the other end of the spectrum, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. Notably, these new processors have specs that closely mirror 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 be paired with the fastest graphics chips found in high-end gaming laptops. For instance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, which I reviewed earlier this year, faced performance challenges when coupled with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 processor, despite its newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to operate within a power range of 55W to 75W, promising a significant performance boost. Although a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would likely offer even greater performance, the Ryzen 9 8945HX should still provide a substantial improvement.
If you've been holding off on purchasing a gaming laptop in anticipation of AMD's latest processors, you won't have to wait much longer. These new chips are expected to start appearing in high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've outlined the detailed specs of the new AMD 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
