Short Guide to Choosing an AMD CPU-Powered Laptop

Sep 7, 2023

When shopping for a new laptop, you will be comparing many specs to choose the best fit for your needs. For many users, the most important consideration will be the laptop’s processor, or CPU (Central Processing Unit). One popular CPU brand is AMD. This guide will help identify some of the benefits of AMD CPUs, and it will also help explain some of the options on offer.

AMD has a reputation for making power-efficient CPUs that tend to offer superior battery life. This is an important consideration for many users — especially those frequently on the go.

AMD Ryzen™ CPUs excel in multithreading, which is particularly useful for content creators. Many creative apps take advantage of multiple threads, for example when rendering videos or 3D content.

The latest-generation AMD CPUs with Zen4 architecture excel in power efficiency, as well as feature the AMD XDNA™ AI Engine that enhances usability by enabling better handling of many everyday and advanced artificial intelligence functions.

AMD also offers discrete GPUs. Some laptop makers take advantage of a combination of AMD components to deliver exceptional performance and attractive prices.

To choose a suitable processor, you will need to learn how to compare various specs. Below are some key specs to consider.

Clock Speed

Clock speed describes the operating frequency of the CPU. This translates into how many instructions the processor can run per second. Measured in gigahertz (GHz), generally the higher this number, the better.

Usually, you will find two numbers on the spec sheet: the base clock, and boost clock. The latter refers to the maximum frequency the CPU can reach temporarily to run especially heavy tasks.

Nowadays, most CPUs run at 2.0 GHz or more as a base clock, which is enough for most casual users. More advanced users, such as light content creators, casual gamers, or multitaskers would be more comfortable with 3.0 GHz or more. For power users, it’s best if the CPU can be boosted to above 5.0 GHz.

However, since so many factors contribute to the equation of the processor's performance, clock speed doesn't tell the whole story.

Core Count

Another important spec is the core count of the CPU. In general, the higher this number, the better the ability of the CPU to run multiple processes in parallel.

For most casual users, four or six cores would be adequate. More advanced users will probably be better off going with at least six cores. For power users, eight will likely prove to be the minimum. If needed, AMD offers up to 16-core CPUs.

Thread Count

The number of sequences a CPU can run at once is called a thread count. Many modern laptop CPUs can run more than one thread on each core. In the case of the latest generation of AMD processors, this number is usually double the core count.

Thread counts of at least eight are typically recommended for casual users. No fewer than 12 threads are the recommended minimum for more advanced users, and 16 threads or above for power users.

Built-In Graphics

Most laptop CPUs come with an integrated graphics processing unit (GPU) to handle the graphical tasks. Though not as powerful as the dedicated GPUs featured in performance laptops, the integrated graphics are capable of handling everyday tasks.

For many users, an integrated GPU is perfectly adequate. To determine how powerful the integrated graphics are, look at the GPU core count. The higher the number is, the better. However, you will notice that some of the most powerful integrated graphics processors will have a rather small number of graphics cores. This is true because it is understood that power users typically opt for more powerful laptops that support dedicated GPUs, so there is no need for robust integrated graphics.

Benchmarks provide valuable insights into CPU performance under real-life scenarios and even extreme conditions. They are primarily only useful for power users, since understanding them can be complex. Most typical users won’t need to bother with running such tests. If you are curious to learn about CPU benchmarking, however, visit the Geekbench website to learn more about one of the most popular, free benchmarking options. You can also research other benchmarks yourself — there is plenty of free info online.

AMD uses a tiered naming convention to help users easily choose the right CPU.

The most common line of AMD CPUs available in laptops Is the AMD Ryzen™ offering. It’s tiered into four levels: 3, 5, 7, and 9. As a rule of thumb, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU.

If you’d like to dig deeper, look into the other information provided in the specific product name. As of 2023, AMD CPU names are composed of five segments.

The first digit refers to the portfolio model year. AMD releases new CPUs every year or so, with the 2023 generation denoted by 7 in the first part of the name.

The second digit signifies the product tier. Ranging from one to nine, it reflects the market segment (e.g., Ryzen™ 5 CPUs will usually have number 5 in the second place of the product name).

The next digit reflects the processor architecture. AMD's latest proprietary Zen 4 architecture will have the number 4 as the third digit, for example.

The fourth digit helps further differentiate CPUs within the segment. The upper models within the segment will feature a number 5 in the fourth position, while the lower models will usually be denoted with 0.

Finally, there is a one- or two-letter code for the form factor and TDP (Thermal Design Power). For most Windows-based laptops, this will be U for Premium Ultrathin, HS for Thin Gaming or Creator, and HX for Max Performance. This letter code provides a good idea of what purpose the CPU was designed for.

If you’re still not sure which AMD laptop CPU is the perfect fit for you, below is a little cheat sheet.

AMD Ryzen™ 7 7730U mobile processor is a great option for casual users and on-the-go professionals. It’s an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a 16 MB cache that can be boosted to up to 4.5 GHz. This CPU was designed specifically for premium ultrathin laptops and strikes a perfect balance between optimal power and energy efficiency. You can find it in many ASUS laptops, such as the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED

AMD Ryzen™ 7 7735HS mobile processor is a good option for casual gamers. Its 8 cores and 16 threads handle everyday tasks and games very well, even when on the go. It has 16 MB of L3 cache and can be boosted to up to 4.7 GHz clock speed when you need a little extra push. Laptops like the TUF Gaming A16 Advantage™ Edition combine the power of this CPU with AMD’s own Radeon™ RX 7600S discrete GPU to give you a competitive. You can also choose the same laptop with an AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS mobile processor and AMD Radeon™ RX 7700S GPU for added power.

AMD Ryzen™ 7 7840HS mobile processor is a great example of a CPU well suited for light content creators and multitaskers. With 8 cores and 16 threads, as well as 3.8 GHz base clock speed that can be boosted to up to 5.1 GHz, it provides all the power you need to start a creative journey or multitask efficiently. One example of a laptop equipped with this CPU is an ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED. The same laptop is also available with a higher-tiered AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS processor, providing even more power.

AMD Ryzen™ 9 7945HX mobile processor is a beast of a laptop CPU, best fitted for serious gamers and professional content creators. This 16-core, 32-thread CPU offers 64 MB of cache memory and can be boosted to breathtaking 5.4 GHz clock speed for an ultimate edge — no matter whether in gaming or content creation. You can find this CPU in the ROG’s gaming laptop powerhouse — the ROG Strix SCAR 17.

Laptops with AMD CPUs prove especially suitable for on-the-go multitaskers and content creators. If this description fits you, be sure to check out the ASUS laptops powered by AMD Ryzen™ processors to find your next laptop.