AMD’s Ryzen 8000HX refresh couldn’t come at a better time — Affordable gaming CPUs arrive as laptop prices rise

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AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 8000HX mobile processors might prove ideal for a 2025 landscape marked by tariffs and escalating technology expenses.

The updated “Dragon Range Refresh” series introduces four powerful CPU models specifically for laptops, being the upgraded versions of AMD’s initial “Dragon Range” Ryzen 7000HX mobile processors which debuted in 2023.

Individuals who find it off-putting to spend on a CPU that integrates a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for local AI tasks, which typically remains idle in gaming laptops, may find the following intriguing: Gamers who are skeptical about spending on CPUs with built-in NPUs, which are rarely utilized in gaming notebooks, will be captivated.

AMD’s “Dragon Range Refresh” mobile CPUs

People familiar with AMD’s laptop CPU series will easily notice the resemblance between the 7000 and 8000 models, as they share many common features; in essence, these chips are nearly indistinguishable from one another.

Despite the fact that AMD has progressed to Zen 5 architecture for its Ryzen 9000 processors, the latest 8000HX models continue to employ Zen 4 architecture. Moreover, they are still manufactured using a 5nm manufacturing process.

There’s also no change to the integrated Radeon 610M GPU, which boasts two RDNA 2 GPU cores.

Given that these chips are designed specifically for laptops equipped with their own dedicated graphics processing units (GPUs), the specifics you mentioned aren’t as crucial.

Here’s a look at how the two generations compare.

From what I can tell, the main distinction in the graph appears to be a 0.10 GHz increase in the maximum boost frequency for the Ryzen 9 8940HX.

To note, the initial release of the Ryzen 7000 HX series included two Ryzen 9 processors, a single Ryzen 7 processor, and one Ryzen 5 processor.

A portion of AMD’s reorganization for the 8000 HX model now includes the exclusion of the Ryzen 5, instead opting to feature a second Ryzen 7 8745HX CPU that boasts eight cores in its place.

Over time, AMD’s Ryzen 7000HX lineup expanded to a total of seven processors. The introduction of the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D marked the arrival of AMD’s impressive 3D V-Cache technology in high-end gaming laptops, leading to a substantial enhancement in gaming performance.

After the initial launch of its Ryzen 8000HX series with four chips, AMD may expand its product line if there is sufficient demand and popularity for these processors.

AMD’s lack of fanfare makes sense

AMD’s new Ryzen 8000HX mobile processors were unveiled with little pomp, a fact that becomes understandable upon examining their product lineup.

These “Dragon Range Refresh” chips from AMD appear to be more about cost-effectiveness rather than delivering significant upgrades compared to previous models.

For many gamers seeking a balance between top-tier performance and affordability, the Zen 5 HX mobile series, particularly models like the Ryzen 9 9955HX and Ryzen 9 9850HX, will deliver exceptional power. However, the 8000HX model might serve as a suitable and cost-effective choice for many in their pursuit of gaming excellence.

In this rapidly changing technology market, where tariffs have disrupted the norm and caused laptop prices to surge, it’s now more crucial than ever before.

Consequently, Acer increased the prices of their laptops, while Razer temporarily stopped selling gaming laptops in the United States.

Many laptop manufacturers based in China are currently trying to find solutions as tariffs could potentially increase up to 145%.

This way, the sentence is more conversational and easier for a layperson to understand.

You can find extensive details about the topic on our continuously updated Live Blog regarding tariffs.

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2025-04-11 17:11