AMD has recently unveiled its next-generation Ryzen 8000 processors, designed specifically for high-performance gaming laptops, with the Ryzen 9 8945HX leading the pack. However, unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series chips that were introduced earlier this year, these new processors are based on the previous Zen 4 architecture rather than the newer Zen 5.

AMD is rolling out four new processors tailored for gaming enthusiasts. At the top tier, the Ryzen 9 8945HX boasts 16 cores and 32 threads, with a boost clock reaching up to 5.4GHz. On the other hand, the Ryzen 7 8745HX comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz. These new chips closely mirror the specifications of their predecessors, 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 latest and most powerful graphics chips in high-end gaming laptops. Earlier this year, I reviewed the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile, which struggled when paired with the lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370, despite it being built on the newer Zen 5 architecture. In contrast, the Ryzen 9 8945HX can operate at a configurable TDP ranging from 55W to 75W, promising a significant performance boost, though the increase would be even more substantial if it were based on the Zen 5 architecture with the same power budget.

If you've been holding off on purchasing a new gaming laptop in anticipation of AMD's latest processors, you can expect to see these chips integrated into high-end gaming laptops in the coming months. Below, I've detailed the specifications of the new 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