AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors tailored specifically for gaming laptops, headlined by the powerful Ryzen 9 8945HX. Unlike the recently released Ryzen AI 300 series laptop chips, which utilized the cutting-edge Zen 5 architecture, these new processors are based on the previous Zen 4 architecture. Despite this, they promise to deliver robust performance for high-end gaming laptops.
The Ryzen 8000 series includes four new processors designed for high-performance gaming. At the top, the Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. On the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX offers 8 cores and 16 threads with a 5.1GHz boost clock. These processors closely mirror the specs of 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 new processors are set to pair with the most advanced graphics chips available in high-end 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 processor, despite its use of the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to operate between 55W and 75W, which should significantly enhance performance, even if a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget would have offered even greater improvements.
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 in the coming 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
