AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS
AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS: Power in a Compact Form Factor. Analyzing the Processor Five Years After Its Release
Introduction
Even five years since its release, the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS remains a benchmark for balancing performance and energy efficiency in the mobile solutions segment. Designed for thin gaming laptops and workstations, it has proven that high computational power does not require sacrifices in terms of short battery life or bulky cooling systems. In 2025, devices based on this chip are still relevant for certain scenarios, especially in the secondary market or in budget premium models. Let’s take a closer look at who should pay attention to it today.
Architecture and Process Technology: Why is Renoir Still Relevant?
The codename Renoir conceals a 7-nanometer TSMC FinFET process technology—a key factor in energy efficiency. The processor is built on the Zen 2 microarchitecture, which was a breakthrough for AMD in 2020.
- Cores and Threads: 8 cores and 16 threads—a configuration that is still not outdated for multitasking and professional applications. Base clock speed is 3.0 GHz, with a maximum turbo boost of 4.3 GHz.
- Integrated Graphics: Radeon Graphics with 8 compute units (512 stream processors) and a clock speed of up to 1750 MHz. For 2025, this is a modest figure, but sufficient for working with 4K video and undemanding games.
- Cache and Memory: 8 MB of L3 cache with support for DDR4-3200.
Despite Zen 2 giving way to Zen 4 in new processors, Renoir maintains its relevance due to optimized TDP and the absence of the "teething problems" of early 7nm chips.
Power Consumption and TDP: How to Maintain 35W Under Load?
The 35W TDP is the main asset of the Ryzen 9 4900HS. For comparison, the Intel Core i9-11980HK from the same period had a TDP of 45-65W, while the Apple M1 had just 15W (but with a fundamentally different architecture).
- Energy-Saving Technologies: Precision Boost 2 dynamically adjusts frequencies, and CPPC (Collaborative Power and Performance Control) optimizes task distribution between cores.
- Thermal Solutions: The chip is designed for compact laptops, such as the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. Even under load, temperatures rarely exceed 85°C due to a smart balance between frequency and heat generation.
Performance in 2025: What Can the 4900HS Do Today?
Geekbench 6 results (Single Core: 1452, Multi Core: 6443) show that the processor still outperforms many budget newcomers from 2024-2025, such as the Intel Core i5-1240P (Multi Core: ~5800).
- Office Tasks: Managing documents, a browser with 50+ tabs, and video conferences— the chip handles it all without slowdowns.
- Multimedia: Rendering 1080p video in DaVinci Resolve takes 20% longer than on the Ryzen 7 6800U (2022), but it’s still acceptable for hobby projects.
- Gaming: Paired with a mid-range discrete graphics card like the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (laptop version), the processor won’t be a bottleneck in games like Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, medium settings). Integrated graphics allow for CS:GO (100+ FPS) and Genshin Impact (30-40 FPS).
- Turbo Mode: Under short bursts of load (up to 3-5 minutes), the frequency holds at 4.2-4.3 GHz, then drops to 3.8 GHz to meet TDP.
Use Cases: Who Would Benefit from the Ryzen 9 4900HS in 2025?
1. Students and Freelancers: Multitasking + moderate battery life (6-8 hours of web surfing).
2. Budget Gamers: Laptops with this processor and RTX 3060 are currently priced around $800-$1000, which is 40% cheaper than new models with Ryzen 5 7640HS.
3. Amateur Designers: Work in Photoshop, Lightroom, or Blender (simple scenes) is feasible, but for 3D rendering, more recent APUs are recommended.
Battery Life: How Do 35W Affect Runtime?
With moderate usage (YouTube viewing, office tasks), laptops with the 4900HS and a 76 Wh battery run for 6-7 hours. This is worse than the Apple M1 (up to 18 hours) but better than most Intel laptops from 2020-2022.
- Power Saving Modes: Windows 11/12’s “Power Saver” lowers the frequency to 1.4 GHz and disables background processes.
- Hardware Optimizations: Infinity Fabric Control reduces memory latency, conserving up to 10% of charge.
Comparison with Competitors: Ryzen 9 4900HS vs. Apple M1 vs. Intel Core i7-1260P
- Apple M1 (2020): Better battery life and single-core performance (1700+ in GB6), but 8 cores vs. 16 threads for AMD. It falls short in multi-threaded tasks (video conversion, archiving).
- Intel Core i7-1260P (2022): 12 cores (4P+8E), higher single-core performance (1580 in GB6), but a TDP of 28W leads to throttling in ultrabooks.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (2023): Zen 3+ architecture, +25% in multi-threaded performance, but laptops start at $1200.
Pros and Cons of Ryzen 9 4900HS in 2025
Strengths:
- Value for money for used devices ($500-$700).
- Support for PCIe 3.0 and 64 GB DDR4—sufficient for upgrading older systems.
- Reliability: The chip does not suffer from degradation problems like early 5nm processors.
Weaknesses:
- No support for PCIe 4.0 and DDR5.
- Integrated graphics are weaker than the Radeon 680M (Ryzen 6000).
- Higher temperatures in compact chassis (requires cleaning of the cooler every six months).
Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop
- Device Type: The chip performs best in compact gaming models (ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14) or workstations (Lenovo Legion 5).
- What to Look For:
- Cooling: At least two fans and four heat pipes.
- Display: 100% sRGB for design, 144 Hz for gaming.
- Battery: At least 70 Wh.
- Prices: New laptops with the 4900HS in 2025 are rare, but leftovers sell for around $800. Used ones are priced at $500-$600.
Final Conclusion: Should You Buy a Laptop with Ryzen 9 4900HS in 2025?
This processor is an ideal option for those seeking a powerful "workhorse" laptop at a reasonable price. It is well-suited for:
- Gamers: In combination with a mid-range discrete GPU.
- Remote Workers: For working in "heavy" IDEs, virtualization.
- Content Creators: Video editing, photo processing.
Main Benefits: You save $300-$500 compared to new models while getting 80% of their performance. However, if battery life and the latest technologies (Wi-Fi 7, PCIe 5.0) are critical for you, it’s better to consider the Ryzen 5 8640U or Intel Core Ultra 5.
Conclusion
The Ryzen 9 4900HS has demonstrated that a successful architecture and proper optimization can extend the life of a chip for years. In 2025, it remains a wise choice for pragmatic users who value balance over chasing trends.