AMD Ryzen series processors now dominate the CPU market as they offer the most value for money. And to be honest, at this moment, Intel is lacking so far behind that it has become a one-horse race for AMD. At this point, they are just competing against themselves.
So, if you are planning to build a rig for your video editing projects, then Ryzen CPUs are the ones you should choose from. That being said, finding the best AMD Ryzen CPUs for video editing can be tough as there are a lot of great options out there.
But don’t worry, because this article will help you find the best Ryzen CPU for your needs. So, let’s dive into the details without further ado, shall we?
REVIEWS OF THE BEST AMD RYZEN CPUs FOR VIDEO EDITING
So, now that you know what factors you should look for when picking a Ryzen CPU, here are our top picks for the best AMD Ryzen CPUs for Video Editing:
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970x
| PROS | CONS |
| Great Performance with Fastest Speed Results. 32 cores and 64 threads ensure that multi-tasking is not an issue. It is created to withstand and undergo extreme workloads. Will provide faster video rendering and compile time. | Cost is higher than any other AMD Ryzen CPUs in the market |
If you are looking for the best-performing CPU for video editing from the Ryzen series, there is no better option than the Threadripper 3970x. This TRX40 socket CPU is the best there is.
It comes with a base clock of 3.7 GHz that can easily go up to 4.5 GHz with boost settings. If you want more performance out of it, you can overclock this CPU up to 5.2 GHz, but this is only suggested if you have the cooling system to back up the extreme heat that comes with overclocking.
The core count of this CPU is 32, with a thread count of 64. So, you can be assured that no matter what type of file or video you are rendering, this CPU can withstand that challenge and will deliver you the fastest results at any given time.
Compared to its competition in the market, the TDP or total power draw of this CPU is 280 watts. The processors’ L1, L2, and L3 cache s as follows: 2 MB, 16 MB, 128 MB.
So, if you want the best AMD Ryzen CPUs for video editing and don’t have any problem spending time in the market, then the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970x is the CPU you are looking for.
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
| PROS | CONS |
| Faster Clock Speed than a Threadripper. Unlocked CPU, therefore no issue with overclocking. Can take heavy workloads and can utilize all 16 cores at the same time. Zero-latency issues. Affordable high-end price. | Don’t come with a cooler. It can get extremely hot after mid to long sessions of video editing with a low-end cooler. It can’t work optimally with older versions of AM4 motherboards. |
Now, if you don’t want to break the bank and get the Threadrippers from Ryzen, then the highest performing CPU after a Threadripper from AMD is, without any doubt, the AMD Ryzen 5950x.
This unlocked CPU unit comes with a few of the best stats in the entire CPU market. This processor has a base speed of 3.9 GHz and boosts the speed of 4.9 GHz without overclocking. The 5 GHz mark can easily be crossed with overclocking with this CPU.
And that’s not all; this CPU also delivers in the core and thread count department as the 5950x offers 16 cores and 32 threads that offer gamers and content creators to run their programs at optimal speed even under heavy workloads.
It is also 72 MB for memory cache so that you won’t have to face any latency or delay when you are using this CPU in your system. With the TDP of 105 watts, you don’t need to break your budget for getting out of the world power supply units for this CPU.
That’s why if you want the best of both worlds while having the best CPU in your system, then the AMD 5950x is the one that you should pick as the best AMD Ryzen CPU for video editing.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
| PROS | CONS |
| Good base clock and boosted clock speed. Offers solid performance. Can withstand a heavy workload. | TDP is 105 watts which are higher than the competitions. Don’t come with a stock cooler. |
Another great pick for a high-end CPU for video editing from AMD is the Ryzen 5800x. If you want to do professional video work but don’t need the extra cores and want to save some cash, this CPU is the best option for you.
This CPU has a base clock of 3.8 GHz and can be boosted up to 4.7 when maximum power settings are selected. With 8 cores and 16 threads, this CPU is a beast in its price and specs range. It can deliver optimal performance in premiere pro, final cut, and other video editing software.
So, if you are looking for a solid option and have a mid to low-high budget, then this CPU is perfect for you!
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
| PROS | CONS |
| Great value for money. 6 core 12 thread ensures good processing speed. It comes with a stock cooler. | True potential depends on other components like RAM and GPU. |
The ‘Budget King’ of CPUs, the AMD 5600x, offers great performance while being at an affordable price point. That’s why many who want to have optimal performance but don’t want to spend a lot of money tend to pick this CPU. And this CPU doesn’t disappoint in the performance department.
With the base clock of 3.7 GHz and 4.6 GHz of boost clock, this unlocked GPU has the potential to rival the 5800x if it receives proper cooling and hardware support in its overclocked state.
Paired with proper hardware, a 5600x run system can easily render 8K video footage and provide great time results. What’s more, unlike the top of the line Ryzen CPUs this CPU does come with a stock cooler, and unless you are pushing the 5600x to the limit, the cooler does a great job as far as cooling is concerned.
So, if you are on the budget but still want the best Ryzen CPU for video editing, very few CPUs can beat the value and performance the Ryzen 5600x offers.
WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A RYZEN CPU FOR VIDEO EDITING?
Before taking a look at our top picks for the best AMD Ryzen CPUs for video editing, you should understand what the core factors you will need to look out for to get the most optimal performance in your video editing sessions.
Because maybe your work won’t require the extra thread count or cores, then you can save a few bucks while having the most optimal performance for yourself. Therefore, here are a few factors that you will need to look out for when picking a Ryzen CPU for video editing:
Core and Thread Count
If video editing and CPU performance are concerned, the first thing that you should factor in is the core and thread count of a CPU. Video processing requires more cores and threads. So, the higher the core count, the better.
Cores help increase the processing speed of any CPU, and threads work to ensure that cores can multitask when they are active. Ryzen CPUs have shown excellence in this field as they have maximized their CPUs’ore and thread usage. Especially if you look into the Threadripper series by AMD Ryzen lineup.
While that’s true, you should opt for higher core and thread count if you know your video editing will require them. For example, if you want to work on VFX or 3D video editing or 4k-8k video editing, then a higher core count is a must.
But if you are doing a few minor edits or just cropping and adding, many of the cores will be unused, and you would’ve paid for a performance boost that you don’t need.
To be safe, you should always go for the higher core and thread count, especially for Ryzen. Because the high core Ryzen CPUs are a beast when it comes to processing and editing performance.
Chip Size and Cache Flow
If you are picking from Ryzen CPUs, then one thing that you might mix up is the chip size. AMD offers their Ryzen CPUs in two different chip sizes: 11 nm and 7 nm. The motherboard choices will also differ depending on the chip size. The 7 nm chipset is the best for video editing as the cache flow and speed are higher than the 11 nm.
That being said, if you can get your hands on an 11 nm Ryzen Threadripper then without any doubt it will outperform most mid to low-high Ryzen CPUs.
Cache memory helps to retrieve and process data faster for a CPU. This also has a great influence over latency. So, higher cache memory is always preferred if you pick a CPU that will work for video editing purposes.
For better cache support going with the newer generations of the AMD Ryzen CPUs is what we recommend. 3rd generation Ryzen chips have exceptional cache memory and are the ones you should get if you want to get the best Ryzen CPU for video editing.
Compatibility and Synergy
Just picking the best Ryzen CPU for video editing won’t result in great performance if it isn’t compatible with the other hardware from your system. The biggest problem that many video editors face after purchasing a high-end CPU is compatibility and bottleneck issues.
Bottlenecks occur when the CPU outperforms the GPU, or the GPU can’t support the processing speed of the CPU. This makes the video editing process troublesome and frustrating at the same time.
As most capable Ryzen CPUs don’t come with integrated graphics, you will need to purchase or own a graphics card to use an AMD Ryzen processor for your video editing work. So, you should look out for Ryzen CPUs that are compatible and synergize well with your GPU before purchasing.
The same goes for motherboard and RAM choices. Keep in mind that Ryzen CPUs love higher bus speed when it comes to RAMs. And the higher ram speed will also improve your overall video editing experience. Therefore, when you pick RAM or CPU, keep the RAM bus speed in mind before purchasing.
The same goes for motherboards as well. While almost all AM4 motherboards are backward compatible, a cheaper motherboard with poor heatsink and locked RAM speed won’t do your Ryzen CPU justice. It will deliver only a portion of its true capability.
Therefore, picking a good motherboard that compliments your CPU is always suggested. For suggestions, picking x570 or B550 motherboards is the best. If you have to compromise, don’t go lower than the B450 series because the A series motherboards can’t handle the intense pressure of video processing and might result in blue screens during renders and compiles.
Overheating and Cooler
A video editing CPU will have higher temperature counts than a normal or regularly used one. And while the stock coolers that come with the AMD Ryzen CPUs are good, they are not made to withstand a high amount of work. So, if you plan on 4+ hours of video editing, then getting a Cooler for your CPU is recommended.
Liquid or stock can work; your case design also comes into play. But for AIOs, it is best to go with at least a 240 mm dual fan design. Or if you want to go with air coolers, then picking a good cooler from Noctua will do just fine.
Overall Price
Last but not least, one of the most important factors that you need to look out for is the overall cost. Your CPU will need additional parts to provide the most optimal support in your video editing gig. AMD CPUs are known for providing the best value for money, so if you plan everything right, you will find a CPU that will do wonders for you!
OUR VERDICT
In the current CPU market, there is almost no competition against Ryzen CPUs as far as video editing is concerned. But if you have come this far from the article, we are positive that you have found the best AMD Ryzen CPUs for video editing. Best of luck!
