On July 3, 2026, Notebookcheck published its review of the MSI Crosshair A16 HX E8WGK, a 16-inch gaming laptop that pairs AMD's last-generation Ryzen 9 8940HX processor with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. The surprise finding: in gaming tests, this older CPU consistently outperformed systems equipped with AMD's newer Ryzen AI mobile processors. For Windows gamers, the review challenges the assumption that the latest AI-infused chips deliver the best frame rates.

What the Notebookcheck Review Found

The MSI Crosshair A16 HX E8WGK is a mid-2026 release that opts for familiar silicon: a 16-core, 32-thread Ryzen 9 8940HX based on AMD's Zen 4 architecture, alongside an RTX 5070 with 8 GB of GDDR7 memory. Notebookcheck's test configuration included 32 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM and a QHD+ 16:10 240 Hz IPS display.

In the review, the Ryzen 9 8940HX posted higher frame rates than laptops featuring AMD's latest Ryzen AI 300 series processors (such as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) when paired with the same RTX 5070 GPU. While exact benchmark numbers were not provided in the summary, the publication noted that the older chip's brute-force core count, high clock speeds, and generous power budget allowed it to pull ahead in several demanding titles, including modern AAA games.

The result upends the narrative that AMD's newer Zen 5-based Ryzen AI chips—with their dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) and improved efficiency—are automatically superior for gaming. Instead, the high-TDP, desktop-derived Dragon Range silicon inside the 8940HX appears to remain a gaming powerhouse when given adequate cooling and power delivery.

What This Means for You

For Gamers Shopping for a Laptop

If your primary concern is gaming performance, don't be swayed by stickers touting \"Ryzen AI\" or \"Copilot+ PC.\" The NPU that enables Windows Studio Effects, real-time translations, or AI background blur does nothing for frame rates. The Ryzen 9 8940HX, despite its age, may deliver a smoother experience, especially at high resolutions where the CPU still matters for consistent frame pacing.

The RTX 5070 Laptop GPU benefits significantly from a strong CPU in competitive shooters, open-world games, and any title leaning on single-thread performance or large cache. MSI's decision to use the 8940HX suggests that brute-force processing still has an edge in gaming-focused laptops—at least until next-generation AI chips can match its raw throughput.

If you're considering a new gaming laptop this summer, look for reviews that isolate CPU performance in games, not just synthetic benchmarks or AI TOPS ratings. A laptop like the Crosshair A16 HX might offer better price-to-performance than a cutting-edge Ryzen AI system, especially if you catch it on sale.

For Everyday Users and IT Buyers

For mixed-use scenarios—browsing, office work, light content creation—the newer Ryzen AI chips are more than capable and bring tangible benefits like improved battery life and snappier AI-assisted features in Windows. However, if your fleet includes gaming or GPU-accelerated workloads, don't dismiss last-gen high-performance CPUs. They can be cheaper and more capable for demanding tasks.

How We Got Here: A Tale of Two Mobile Architectures

AMD's mobile strategy has split into two distinct paths. In 2023, the company introduced Dragon Range: desktop-class Zen 4 dies crammed into laptop packages, aimed at enthusiasts willing to sacrifice thinness and battery life for raw power. The Ryzen 9 7945HX, and later the 8940HX, exemplified this with 16 cores and a 55 W+ TDP. These chips lack an integrated NPU but deliver workstation-class CPU muscle.

Then, in mid-2024, AMD launched Strix Point—the Ryzen AI 300 series—built on Zen 5 with a revamped RDNA 3.5 iGPU and a 50 TOPS NPU. These were designed for Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative and emphasized efficiency, AI offloading, and all-day endurance. The trade-off: core counts were capped at 12 (4 Zen 5 + 8 Zen 5c), and top Turbo clocks were lower than the desktop-derived chips.

Gaming, however, still relies heavily on single-thread IPC and high frequencies. The 8940HX's 5.4 GHz boost and 32 threads give it an advantage in CPU-bound games. When paired with an RTX 5070, the 8940HX can stay fed with render commands faster than a Ryzen AI chip, resulting in higher average and minimum FPS.

Nvidia's RTX 5070 itself is a mid-range Blackwell GPU that supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation. That technology shifts more load to the GPU, but a swift CPU remains essential for input latency and frame pacing—areas where the 8940HX shines.

What to Do Now: Buying Advice for the Summer of 2026

If you're in the market for a gaming laptop, keep these points in mind:

  • Check gaming-specific benchmarks. Sites like Notebookcheck, Gamers Nexus, or Jarrod's Tech isolate CPU gaming performance. Do not rely on vendor marketing that emphasizes AI capabilities.
  • Consider last-generation flagships. Laptops with high-end Zen 4 or Raptor Lake-HX chips are often discounted and can still pair well with RTX 50-series GPUs.
  • The RTX 5070 is a capable 1440p card. It benefits from a fast CPU to avoid bottlenecking, especially at competitive settings.
  • Don't ignore the total platform. The Crosshair A16 HX, for example, offers a QHD+ high-refresh display, decent build, and robust I/O. Factor in cooling, upgradeability, and port selection.
  • If you already own a Ryzen AI laptop, don't panic. For most tasks, it's a fine chip. But if gaming is your priority, future upgrades might be better served by a high-TDP processor.

Outlook: The Gap May Widen Before It Closes

As Windows 11 24H2 and Copilot+ push AI features deeper into the OS, the divide between \"gaming\" and \"AI\" laptops could widen. We'll likely see more OEMs pursuing hybrid designs: pairing older but muscly CPUs with current-gen GPUs to cut costs while still delivering strong gaming. AMD's upcoming Fire Range or next Zen 6 mobile chips may eventually unify AI smarts with no-compromise gaming, but for now, the Ryzen 9 8940HX is proof that last year's flagship silicon is far from obsolete. For Windows gamers, it may be the smarter buy.