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

AMD has unveiled its latest Ryzen 8000 series processors, designed specifically for high-performance gaming laptops. The flagship model, the Ryzen 9 8945HX, is built on the Zen 4 architecture and features 16 cores and 32 threads, with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. Complementing this powerhouse, AMD is also introducing the Ryzen 7 8745HX, which comes equipped with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. Notably, these new processors closely mirror the specs of their predecessors, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also boasts 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, alongside 80MB of cache.

These processors are set to pair with the top-tier graphics chips found in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted its performance struggles when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, despite its newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured with a TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, promising a significant performance uplift, though a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would likely offer even greater performance gains.

If you're holding off for AMD's latest processors to upgrade your gaming laptop, you won't have to wait long. These new chips are expected to hit the market in high-end gaming laptops within the next few 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