AMD Unveils New Gaming Laptop Chips Using Previous-Gen Architecture

AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors, tailored specifically for high-performance gaming laptops. Leading the pack is the Ryzen 9 8945HX, a powerhouse built on the last-generation Zen 4 architecture. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips that hit the market earlier this year, these new processors bring formidable specs to the table.

The lineup includes four new processors, with the Ryzen 9 8945HX topping the charts with 16 cores and 32 threads, boasting a boost clock up to 5.4GHz. At the other end, the Ryzen 7 8745HX offers 8 cores and 16 threads with a 5.1GHz boost clock. These processors share striking similarities with their predecessors, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also featured 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock alongside 80MB of cache.

These new Ryzen 8000 series chips are set to be paired with the latest high-end graphics solutions in gaming laptops. My recent review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted some performance limitations when coupled with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, despite its newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to operate between 55W and 75W, promising a significant performance enhancement. Although a Zen 5 chip within the same power budget might have offered even greater boosts, the Ryzen 9 8945HX should still deliver impressive results for gaming enthusiasts.

If you've been holding off on purchasing a gaming laptop in anticipation of AMD's latest processors, you'll be pleased to know they are expected to feature in high-end models over the coming months. Below, I've outlined the detailed specifications of the new chips to give you a clearer picture of what to expect.