AMD has unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 series processors for gaming laptops, with the flagship Ryzen 9 8945HX leading the pack. Unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips released earlier this year, these new processors are based on the previous Zen 4 architecture. Despite this, they promise to deliver robust performance for high-end gaming laptops.

AMD is introducing four new processors designed for high-performance gaming. The Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. At the other end of the lineup, the Ryzen 7 8745HX offers 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These new chips share striking similarities with their predecessors, such as the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which also features 16 cores and a 5.4GHz boost clock, along with 80MB of cache.

These Ryzen 8000 series processors will be paired with the most advanced graphics chips available in high-end gaming laptops. My earlier review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile highlighted some performance struggles when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, which utilizes the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can be configured to operate between 55W and 75W, promising a significant performance uplift, although a Zen 5 chip with the same power envelope would have yielded even greater results.

If you've been holding out for AMD's latest processors before purchasing a gaming laptop, you'll be pleased to know they will soon be 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