AMD Quietly Launches New Hawk Point APU, Ryzen 7 8745H, Exclusively for Chinese Lenovo Laptops
Despite the recent launch of AMD's Strix Point APUs, a new Hawk Point processor has emerged in the Chinese market. The Ryzen 7 8745H makes its debut in Lenovo's Xiaoxin Pro 14 and Pro 16 laptops, offering a slightly less powerful but potentially more affordable alternative to the Ryzen 7 8845HS.
Here's what we know about the new APU:
- Cut-Down 8845HS: The Ryzen 7 8745H appears to be a slightly toned-down version of the 8845HS, with a 200 MHz lower boost clock speed (4.9 GHz vs 5.1 GHz) and a slightly slower Radeon 780M iGPU (2.6 GHz vs 2.7 GHz).
- No XDNA NPU: A key difference is the lack of AMD's XDNA AI engine, which is reflected in Lenovo's marketing materials.
- China Exclusive (For Now): Early indications suggest this APU might be exclusive to the Chinese market, similar to some of AMD's recent desktop CPU releases.
- Potential for Lower Cost: While direct price comparisons are difficult due to different laptop configurations, the 8745H's reduced specs could translate to a more budget-friendly option for consumers.
The launch of the Ryzen 7 8745H raises questions about AMD's strategy for the mobile APU market. It remains to be seen if this processor will see a wider release outside of China or if it signifies a renewed focus on the cost-conscious segment.
