AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors designed specifically for gaming laptops, with the flagship model being the Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips released earlier this year, these new processors utilize the previous-generation Zen 4 architecture.
AMD is introducing four new processors tailored for high-performance gaming laptops. The top-of-the-line Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores and 32 threads with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. At the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These new processors share strikingly similar specifications to their last-generation counterparts, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock along with 80MB of cache.
These processors are set to be paired with the most advanced graphics chips available in high-end gaming laptops. For instance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, which I reviewed earlier this year, faced challenges when paired with the less powerful AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, 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. While a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would have offered even better performance, the Ryzen 9 8945HX still stands to deliver impressive results.
If you've been holding out for AMD's latest processors to purchase a new gaming laptop, you can expect to see these chips integrated into high-end models 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
