AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors tailored for gaming laptops, with the flagship model being the Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips that debuted earlier this year, these new processors utilize the previous generation's Zen 4 architecture.
The lineup includes four new processors designed for high-performance gaming laptops. The Ryzen 9 8945HX stands out with its 16 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock up to 5.4GHz. At the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. These new processors closely mirror the specifications of their predecessors; for instance, the last-gen Ryzen 9 7945HX also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, along with 80MB of cache.
These Ryzen 8000 processors are poised to be paired with the top-tier graphics chips in premium gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted its struggles when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, despite the latter being built on the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured with a TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, which is expected to significantly enhance performance, although a Zen 5 chip at the same power level would likely have offered even greater gains.
If you've been holding out for AMD's latest processors to upgrade your gaming laptop, you won't have to wait much longer. These new chips are expected to be integrated into high-end gaming laptops over the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications for each of the new processors in the Ryzen 8000 series.
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
