Editing videos when done locally on a PC can often be a demanding endeavor in terms of hardware requirements, given how much processing power is required to do so at higher resolutions with most software out there.
While some solutions such as DaVinci Resolve tend to leverage the GPU more than the CPU (with the CPU still dictating speeds to a certain degree), most others have a performance bias that is directly influenced by how fast one’s CPU is. Some examples of software that can be used for video editing include Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere.
This does result in many users upgrading or building a video-editing rig hunting for a viable CPU option and the team at Game Rant has them covered with some of the best options in the business as part of a tiered list below.
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Octa-core Zen 4 Player
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700x is an excellent octacore processor with 16 threads in tow. It is quite similar to the fastest gaming CPU on the market, the Ryzen 7800X3D and offers similar productivity performance even as the latter takes the lead in games thanks to its larger L3 cache.
For most users looking to edit video, the octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 7700X seems to be an excellent no-brainer choice that delivers on its performance promise thanks to its 8 ‘Zen 4’ cores that handle up to 16 threads simultaneously.
AMD’s offering comes at a palatable price tag despite its positioning in the performance segment versus its competition that does come in core heavy but more or less equivalent in core count for the same price. It also offers entry-level Radeon graphics as a de-facto option, not offering an ‘F’ series CPU for those who do not need it.
On the efficiency front, the Ryzen 7 7700X offers a much better value-centric play compared to its alternatives from Intel, resulting in users being able to limit their spend on a beefier cooler or higher power costs and/or a suitably powerful PSU for those who render regularly.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is unlikely to win any performance awards given its positioning currently even as the 9700X aims to supplant its predecessor, but a mix of value for money and plenty of upgrade options down the road contribute greatly to it being picked as Game Rant’s best overall CPU for video editing thanks to it being more than adequate for all, but some of the most demanding of use cases.
Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU
Value-Centric Raptor Lake Play
The Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is a powerful mid-range CPU that replaces the last generation Intel Core i5 13600KF with higher clocks on both its performance and efficiency cores.Like all its siblings, it does offer better performance out-of-the-box versus its predecessors but replaces them at the same price points they sold last year. Unlike the Intel Core i5 14600K, this model trades at a small discount thanks to it skipping out on integrated graphics.
For those looking to go Intel this generation or spend a bit more, the Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is an arguably better choice thanks to it offering a mammoth 14 cores and 20 threads at a price tag that sits under $300.
As with all LGA-1700 based CPUs, users get a chance to bring older DDR4 RAM from older PCs (with a compatible motherboard choice) to their new PC, which could save a considerable amount of cost, or alternatively, go for a new DDR5-based PC build entirely.
The 14600KF offers superior multi-threaded performance than the 7700X above but does run warmer and consume more power per unit of performance on average even as it skips on a stock cooler and an iGPU alike, which could add to costs for users who do not already have a capable AIO for the Rocket Lake Refresh chip.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
16 Cores Of Zen 5
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X desktop CPU is the top-of-the-line offering in the latest Ryzen 9000 series of processors. It comes with 16 cores, 32 threads, and a boost clock speed of 5.7 GHz. The CPU has 64MB of L3 cache and a TDP of 170W. It delivers considerably higher multi-core and single-core performance than the Ryzen 9 7950X at the same power draw, which is a testament to its efficiency and IPC count gain claims.
Users wanting the very best when it comes to video editing from a CPU perspective can opt for the highest end variant of the recently released Zen 5 CPU lineup from AMD.
The Ryzen 9 9950X is a massive 16-core, 32-thread CPU that delivers on its performance promise with better IPC counts, overclocking headroom and power efficiency alike, making it a great, future-proof play for those who can pay the premium it currently comes at.
The Ryzen 9 9950X offers better performance with AVX-512, which can translate to faster video editing performance in general, even as it continues to be edged by last-generation X3D CPUs in gaming benchmarks.
All in all, for those not intending to do both, game and work on the same CPU, the Ryzen 9 9950X is simply a superior option versus its peers - if you are willing to pay its somewhat high ask.
Intel Core i5-12400F
The Intel Core i5-12400F 6-Core 12-Thread Processor is no slouch when it comes to delivering on performance, commanding a sweet spot in terms of capability and price point as it generally takes on and defeats AMD’s offerings under $200 comprehensively.
The Intel Core i5 12400F is core-for-core one of the cheapest CPU options covered by this guide, offering the best value-for-money CPU option for video editors on a strict budget.
Despite its sub-$100 price tag, the 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake CPU is no slouch, offering excellent performance that is adequate for mild editing and is better than other sub-$100 options with ease.
Intel’s offering can work with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, allowing users to save on RAM costs for users upgrading on a budget even as the CPU comes with a thermal solution as part of its offerings, further allowing for savings versus all other CPU options currently being recommended by the team at Game Rant.
It does skip on an iGPU however, to keep costs low and does not employ faster, more recent Raptor Lake cores that are reserved for higher-end Intel CPUs currently.
AMD Ryzen™ 9 7950X3D 16-Core, 32-Thread Desktop Processor
Zen 4’s Core-Heavy Gaming Hurrah
The 16-core, 32-thread desktop AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor is AMD’s answer to a resurgent Intel 13th generation processor lineup as it attempts to wrest back the gaming crown with the same technology that made the last generation 5800X3D such a powerful CPU.With 128MB of L3 cache on offer, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D leverages its 3D V-Cache muscle in gaming as well as its powerful new Zen 4-based cores in productivity to make for a potent enthusiast-grade CPU in the offing.
For those looking for a video-editing CPU that can game quite well, the AMD Ryzen™ 9 7950X3D 16-Core, 32-Thread Desktop Processor is undisputedly the best option available to them.
The 3D V-Cache infused CPU offers excellent multicore performance, a lower TDP than its non-X3D sibling and some of the best gaming performance money can buy on a CPU currently.
It is, however, slower than AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X CPU for productivity tasks in general but does trade slightly cheaper than AMD’s fastest 16-core or 32-thread CPU currently, while being a better all-round option for creators doing more than just productivity-based workloads on their CPUs.
Intel Core i9 14900KF 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU
A 24-Core Juggernaut
The Intel Core i9 14900KF 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU is Intel’s highest-end 14th generation CPU sans an iGPU and offers the highest boost clocks for a consumer-grade CPU from Intel to date, clocking in at an impressive 6 GHz natively.It trades at a small discount over the 14900K while skipping an iGPU under the hood, requiring a discrete solution for system builders and end users to provide a functional PC experience.
The Intel Core i9 14900KF 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU is Intel’s fastest CPU to date at the time of writing for productivity-based tasks.
It offers excellent single-core performance thanks to its high clock speeds in play and a mammoth 32 threads at the disposal of video editors looking for some serious CPU muscle for their needs.
The 14900K does have its issues. It is considerably less power efficient than its competition and runs considerably hotter, requiring users to invest in adequate cooling.
It also happens to be mired in a bit of controversy thanks to issues cropping up for existing unlocked 13th and 14th generation CPUs that can degrade when paired with motherboards with older BIOS/micro-code that push voltages higher than desired.
Intel offers an impressive 5-year warranty to counteract this issue, which can also be seen as a benefit for most users looking for a safe, reliable CPU for their productivity needs in 2024.
Things to Consider When Buying a CPU for Video Editing
Video Editing is often both CPU and GPU-intensive but nearly all software utilized to do so recommends, if not outright, requires a powerful CPU to be able to do so at acceptable speeds by modern standards. Some of the key factors to consider when picking a CPU for the purpose of video editing or rendering content are:
Core And Thread Counts: Video editing is a resource-intensive endeavor in general and larger clips or those that are rendered at higher resolutions can often require surprising amounts of computing power. Most modern applications, as a result, split this load across multiple CPU cores and leverage their capabilities into large multithreaded applications.
Underlying Architecture: More modern CPUs offer better multi-threader performance, significant efficiency gains, and support for newer instruction sets, many of which are leveraged to get the most out of multi-core CPUs. Newer current-generation CPUs are nearly always, as a result, better than their equivalent last-generation alternatives.
Clock Speeds: Higher clock speeds on CPUs generally translate to higher performance, something that is crucial for video editing given how crucial a component of its requirements CPUs generally are; performance scales directly with an increase in clock speeds for most architectures.
Value For Money: Video editing is a resource-intensive endeavor and often involves more than 1 PC to do so. Having a CPU that offers better value for money or more performance per watt consumed and dollar spent procuring it alike can result in immediate and sustained savings that continue to stack up over time.
FAQ
Q: What CPU is needed for 4K video editing?
While all modern CPUs can edit 4K video in principle, it is recommended to go for at least a 6 or 8-core CPU for video editing endeavors. The team at Game Rant recommends the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X for most mid-range users.
Q: How many cores do I need for 4K video editing?
Most video editing software can use multiple cores to accelerate its performance. As a result, both the latest-generation Intel processors – such as Core i7 14700K and Core i9 14900K- and AMD’s more recent Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPUs have adequate options for the task.
Q: Is Intel or Ryzen better for video editing?
This can vary based on the tools being used and the CPUs being compared. AMD’s newer Zen 5 9000 series CPUs do have a small lead currently, backed by their higher IPC count, which makes it a superior option to most of their peers.
