AMD APU (CPU+GPU) Review: From 7840U to the Monster “Strix Halo” 395 AI Max+
I’ve been getting some comments lately about the current state of AMD’s mobile processors. It’s a bit of a jungle out there with the naming schemes (looking at you, AMD marketing department 😉), so I wanted to put together a guide as I regularly use these CPUs/APUs in my daily work.
Specifically, we are looking at the evolution from the popular “Thin & Light” 7840U (like in my trusty T14) all the way up to the beast, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (codenamed “Strix Halo”) which is currently living in my ultra compact Framework PC with 128GB or RAM. I’ve also slotted in the very common Ryzen 7 8845HS because plenty of you are seeing that in laptops like the Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legions right now.
Here is the “Need to Know” on specs, hierarchy, and what kind of frames you can actually expect in games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Black Myth: Wukong.
The Hierarchy: Where Does Everything Fit?
If you are shopping for a laptop today (or waiting for next year), there are really three main “buckets” of performance to understand.
1. The “Everyday Ultrabook” Tier (Zen 4)
- Ryzen 7 7840U (15-28W)
- Ryzen 7 8840U (15-28W)
- Ryzen 7 8845HS (35-54W)
J.D.’s Note: You might be wondering, “What is the difference between the 7840U and the 8845HS?”
Honestly? Not much in terms of architecture. They both use Zen 4 CPU cores and the Radeon 780M graphics.
The 8845HS is just the “high performance” version. It draws more power (watts), meaning it can sustain higher clock speeds for longer. It’s basically a 7840U on steroids (plus a slightly faster NPU for AI tasks).
2. The “Next-Gen Premium” Tier (Zen 5)
- Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 / PRO 370
- Ryzen AI 9 365
This is the new stuff launching now (late 2024/2025). We move from Zen 4 to Zen 5 CPU cores, and crucially, from RDNA 3 to RDNA 3.5 graphics. The efficiency jump here is real.
3. The “Workstation Monster” Tier (Strix Halo)
- Ryzen AI Max 385
- Ryzen AI Max+ 395
This is the holy grail we are waiting for. These chips don’t just have “integrated graphics”—they essentially have a PS5-class GPU glued to the CPU. They use a massive 256-bit memory bus (double the standard laptop width), which is the secret sauce for high-res gaming.
The Specs Table
I love a good table. Here is how the hardware actually stacks up.
| Chip Model | Architecture | GPU Model | Compute Units (CUs) | Memory Bus | Best Use Case |
| Ryzen 7 7840U | Zen 4 | Radeon 780M | 12 | 128-bit | Portable Office / Light Gaming |
| Ryzen 7 8845HS | Zen 4 | Radeon 780M | 12 | 128-bit | Gaming Laptops (Entry) / Creator |
| Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Zen 5 | Radeon 890M | 16 | 128-bit | Premium Ultrabooks |
| Ryzen AI Max 385 | Zen 5 | Radeon 8050S | 32 | 256-bit | Desktop Replacement |
| Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Zen 5 | Radeon 8060S | 40 | 256-bit | Mobile Workstation Flagship |
Real World Gaming Estimates (1080p)
Let’s get to the fun part. I’ve updated this list with some of the ultra-popular titles right now, including Black Myth: Wukong and Helldivers 2.
Estimates are average FPS. “Low” settings for 7840U/8845HS, “High/Ultra” for Max series.
| Game | 7840U (15W) | 8845HS (45W) | HX 370 (New!) | Max+ 395 (The Beast) |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | 35 (Low) | 45 (Low/Med) | 55 (Med) | 100+ (Ultra) |
| Helldivers 2 | 30 (Low/FSR) | 40 (Low) | 55 (Med) | 90+ (High) |
| Black Myth: Wukong | 25 (Low/FSR) | 35 (Low/FSR) | 45 (Low/Med) | 70+ (High) |
| Battlefield 6* | ~30 (Low) | ~40 (Low) | ~55 (Low) | 90+ (High) |
| StarCraft II | 120 | 145 | 165+ | 250+ |
| Fortnite | 70 (Perf.) | 90 (Med) | 100 (Med) | 165+ (Epic) |
*Note on BF6: Since this isn’t out yet, these are estimates based on the engine requirements of BF2042 and current Frostbite engine demos. It will likely be CPU heavy, so the 16-core Max+ 395 will shine here.
J.D.’s Takeaway
1. The “HS” Sweet Spot: If you are on a budget, don’t sleep on the Ryzen 7 8845HS. While it has the same graphics core as the older 7840U, the higher wattage allows it to stretch its legs. In a game like Helldivers 2, that extra 10-15 FPS is the difference between “playable” and “stuttery.”
2. Memory is Critical: If you plan on buying the upcoming Ryzen AI Max 395, you must pay attention to RAM speed. Because the GPU is so powerful, it needs to be fed data fast. Look for LPDDR5x-8000 or faster. If a manufacturer cheap out and puts slower RAM in, you will lose 15-20% of your gaming performance instantly.
3. The Verdict:
- Office/Travel: Stick to the 7840U or HX 370.
- Gaming on a Budget: Look for the 8845HS.
- The Dream Machine: Wait for the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. It’s basically a desktop RTX 4060 Ti squeezed into a laptop chip.
Hope this helps clear up the confusion! Let me know in the comments if you’re planning to upgrade this year.
-J.D.