Best workstation cpu 2022: Best CPUs for Workstations 2022

These are best Workstation CPUs you can buy in 2022

Workstations, by definition, are special computers that are designed for technical and more resource-intensive applications. These computers offer high performance than mainstream personal computers and are often fitted with more powerful CPUs, GPUs, among other components. While there are a ton of powerful processors out there that can be used inside workstations, both Intel and AMD make dedicated workstation-grade CPUs that are better suited for heavy workloads. There hasn’t really been a lot of updates in the workstation CPU space, so your options — at least for now — are fairly limited. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best workstation CPUs you can buy in 2022.

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Best overall workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper 3990X
- Alternate best workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX
Best value workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper 3970X
Best Intel workstation CPU: Intel Xeon W-3365
- Alternate best Intel workstation CPU: Intel Xeon W-3175X
Best high-performance value CPU: AMD Ryzen 5950X

Best overall workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper 3990X

AMD Threadripper 3990X processor

It’s been a while since AMD released its Threadripper 3990X processor, but it’s still holding up pretty well. In fact, we think it’s the best overall workstation CPU on the market right now. That’s not really a surprise since the workstation CPUs aren’t upgraded as often as the mainstream ones that are on the annual upgrade cycle. The Threadripper 3990X comes with 64-cores and 128 threads paired with 256MB of L3 and 32MB of L2 cache.

The Threadripper 3990X is based on the EPYC Rome 7702P CPU that’s designed for single-socket servers. These CPUs share a lot of similarities, but the difference largely comes down to the clock speeds, memory channels, and PCIe lanes. As far as the clock speeds are concerned, the Threadripper 3990X is significantly faster than the EPYC Rome 7702P with a base clock of 2.9GHz and a boost clock of 4.3GHz. We’re looking at an improvement of around 1GHz, which is pretty great. It’s particularly impressive since these core-heavy processors don’t always boast such high clock rates.

The 3990X supports up to 256GB of quad-channel DDR4-3200 memory. This is essentially a downgrade when compared to EPYC’s eight channels of memory support, but you can easily overclock them as they feature the same memory controller as the Ryzen 3000 series chips. You want to consider buying the eight-channel EPYC Rome CPU if you are dealing with workloads that benefit from higher memory throughput.

The AMD Threadripper 3990X also supports 64 lanes of PCIe 4.0 to provide twice the throughput per lane of the PCIe 3.0 interface on competing Intel chips. Coupled with a TRX40 chipset, you get 16 GB/s of throughput between the processor and the chipset thanks to eight PCIe 4.0 lanes. Intel, in case you are wondering, supports 4 GB/s of throughput over its DMI link through the PCIe 3.0 interface.

AMD’s Threadripper 3990X packs Zen 2 microarchitecture but the company is expected to launch new HEDT CPUs based on a new architecture soon. The 3990X is best suited for workloads such as rendering, VFX, compilation, and more. Unless you are dealing with heavy rendering tasks or VFX tasks that take hours to render, it might be best to pick up either the Threadripper 3970X or 3960X. The Threadripper 3970X will cost you significantly less money but you’ll also be giving up as much as 32-cores. There’s definitely a need for a 48-core chip to bridge the gap between the two, and we hope to see some new CPU to fill that void.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the Threadripper 3990X processor. It offers competitive per-core pricing and excellent performance in a selection of workloads to blow the competition out of the water. It’s also overclockable and supports 64 lanes of PCIe 4.0 to provide twice the throughput per lane of the PCIe 3.0 interface on competing chips from Intel. It goes without saying that this is an expensive processor that also demands equally powerful and expensive supporting components to yield the best results.

AMD Threadripper 3970X

AMD Threadripper 3990X processor

The AMD Threadripper 3990X is one of the most powerful workstation CPUs out there on the market right now.

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Alternate best workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX

AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX processor

AMD’s Threaripper 3000 series processors absolute dominate Intel’s HEDT lineup. As if the Threadripper 3990X wasn’t enough to wreak havoc, AMD decided to go ahead and launch the Threadripper Pro 3995WX processor to make things more obvious. The Threadripper Pro 3995WX is slightly more expensive but it brings a couple of improvements to the table, making it a solid alternative. As such, this one’s also our pick for the best overall workstation CPU you can buy on the market in 2022.

While the Threadripper 3000 processors got a lot of things in the performance department. they did fall short in one key area — they didn’t enable all eight memory channels or the full set of PCIe lanes. Well, the Threadripper Pro fixes that and how. The Threadripper Pro 3995WX is the cream of the crop in the TP series with as many as 64-cores and 128 threads. The lineup extends all the way down to the 12-core processors too, so there’s something for all. The Threadripper Pro processors were exclusive to Lenovo’s ThinkStation P620 workstations at launch but AMD has since launched a few of them in retail for consumers to buy.

As far as the specs are concerned, the Threadripper Pro 3995WX comes with a bunch of bells and whistles to earn the powerful workstation CPU on the market. We’re looking at 64-cores that handily beats the 28-core chips from Intel in the HEDT space. In fact, threaded workloads, the Threadripper Pro 3995WX is known to outperform even some of the dual-socket Intel workstation CPUs that sports up to 56-cores. The 3995WX also brings eight DDR4-3200 memory channels to the table, thereby providing an increased memory throughput over its own quad-channel CPUs in this space. It also goes without saying that they leave Intel’s six-channel Xeon W models behind in this regard too.

Additionally, AMD also bumped the memory capacity to 2TB for a system that supports two DIMMs per channel. This is a huge leap from 256GB supported models in its Threadripper consumer lineup. Intel’s competing Xeon W chips also only have a 1TB limit, so we’re looking at double the memory support. AMD also increased the PCIe 4. 0 support from 72 lanes with the vanilla Threadripper models to 128 in the Pro series. This is yet another significant upgrade that leaves Intel chips behind with just 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes. The Threadripper Pro 3995WX is just a no-brainer for those who are looking to take advantage of the fastest high-performance storage and networking components.

As is the case with other Threadripper processors, it’s worth pointing out that the Threadripper Pro series is aimed at professionals dealing with heavily-threaded workloads. We’re talking designers, VFX artists, data scientists, and more. These Threadripper processors have received rave reviews from the get-go, and they’re currently the best options for those who are looking to build a high-performance computer for some resource-intensive applications.

AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX

AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX processor

The AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX is slightly more powerful than the Threadripper 3990X that offers better performance and more features.

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Best value workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper 3970X

AMD Threadripper 3970X processor

While there are better performing Threadripper processors on the market right now, there’s no denying that the Threadripper 3970X was once the crème de la crème of the high-end desktop market. This was the go-to option for those who needed as many as 32-cores and 64-threads for resource-intensive programs. This particular chip excels in both single as well as multi-threaded workloads to come out as a worthy successor to the Threadripper 2970WX. It’s not the best most powerful Threadripper out there right now, but it certainly is one of the best value workstation CPUs that you get your hands on.

In terms of specification, the AMD Threadripper 3970X comes with 32-cores and 64-threads running at a 3.7GHz base clock and a 4.5GHz boost clock. Just to put things into perspective, its predecessor, the Threadripper 2990WX, had a 3GHz base and a 4.2GHz boost. The Threadripper 3970X also features 144MB of L2/L3 cache, and it demands up to 280W of power to offer the best performance. This particular drops in the new TRX40 chipset motherboards with an sTRX4 socket. This new setup allows as much as four times the amount of bandwidth to flow between the CPU and the chip.

Additionally, there are some other differences in the way it handles the PCIe lanes. This is one of the first Threadripper CPUs to support PCIe 4.0. It came out around the same time PCIe 4.0 debuted with the X570 chipset for the mainstream Ryzen parts. This is a significant upgrade over the Intel chips that can only handle PCIe 3.0 lanes. The third-generation Threadripper moves up to 56 direct PCI Express 4.0 lanes and 16 PCI Express 4.0 lanes for devices. This sort of setup is ideal for those who are running, say, a system with multiple GPUs and maxed-out PCI Express storage.

All the differences aside, the third-generation Threadripper 3970X does share some similarities with the previous Threadripper processors like the 2990WX. For instance, the core count remains the same. We’re looking at the same 32-core chip with support for up to 64-threads. The new chips also support only support quad-core memory channels, which is similar to what we saw in the generation before that. The Threadripper Pro 3995WX that we saw earlier is perhaps the best choice for those who want more memory throughput.

That being said, the new Threadripper 3970X offers a lot of upgrades over the previous-gen Threadripper parts. The upgrades, however, carry an eye-watering price tag of $1,999. Add the additional cost of the compatible components including new TRX40 motherboards, a high-end cooler, more memory sticks, etc., and you’re easily looking at an expensive PC build. The Theadripper 3970X is more suited for those who want slightly more raw performance than AMD or Intel’s mainstream parts. 32-cores are still a lot more than anything an average mainstream processor offers, even in 2022, so keep that in mind. More advanced users can always consider checking out the more powerful Threadripper Pro 3995WX with as many as 64-cores.

AMD Threadripper 3970X

AMD Threadripper 3970X processor

The AMD Threadripper 3970X is a mid-range workstation CPU that offers a good set of features and performance at a relatively affordable price.

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The Intel Xeon W-3365 is a part of the Xeon W-3000 family that’s outlined by the ever-so-popular Xeon W-3175X processor based on the Skylake family. Intel followed the original W-3100 family with 3200 series with more PCIe lanes and increased frequencies, but the latest W-3300 family offers a sizeable gen-on-gen bump performance improvement against the older Intel chips on the market. The Xeon W-3365 isn’t the most powerful chip in the series, but it comes close to the W-3375 in almost every metric. It manages to do so for a significantly less price, which is why we think it’s worth considering if you’re looking to buy an Intel-based workstation system. As such, this is our pick for the best overall Intel workstation CPU on the market right now.

In terms of specifications, the Intel Xeon W-3365 offers as many as 32-cores and 64-threads with a base frequency of 2.7GHz and a turbo boost frequency of up to 4.0GHz. For to put things into perspective, the top-of-the-line chip in the W-3300 family offers 38-cores and 76-threads with a base frequency of 2. 5Ghz and a boost frequency of 4,0GHz. We’re looking at the same 270W TDP for both the chips, yet a price difference of over $1,000.

The Intel Xeon W-3365 processor supports 64 lanes of PCIe 4.0, eight-channel DDR4-3200 memory with 256 GB LRDIMMs up to 4 TB per socket. All chips in the W-3365 also get 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core. These chips all use the same LGA4189 socket as the mainline Xeon Scalable platform but they require the new generation of C621A chipset for select features like WiFi 6E and Thunderbolt 4 expansion on the motherboard. In terms of performance, the Xeon W-3365 comes close to the general performance of the AMD Threadripper Pro 3975WX.

Without getting into many details, it’s safe to say that this is one of the best options from Intel in the workstation space. You also step up t the more powerful W-3375 processor, although that’ll cost you an additional $1,000 for a slither of more performance on the table. It’s also worth pointing out that the Xeon W-3365 pushes ahead of the general performance of the Skylake W-3175X processor in most of the tests. We’re not looking at a huge difference but it’s convincing enough to put the new chip under the spotlight for those looking to shop for Intel chips in the workstation space.

Intel is yet to make any new announcements in the HEDT space. We’re expecting the company to launch some new processors soon, so we suggest you keep an eye on this list for more info. In the meantime, if you’re looking to build a new workstation-grade PC, then we recommend checking out the Tghreadripper options from AMD as they’re bound to offer better performance and more features. Alternatively, you can also consider buying the Xeon W-3175X, which is yet another fantastic unlocked processor that can be overclocked to achieve more performance.

Intel Xeon W-3175X processor

While AMD has superior workstation CPUs on the market, Intel has a couple of options that are worth a mention in this collection. Intel is expected to make some new announcements in the HEDT space, so we highly suggest for the new chips come out. But if you’re hellbent on checking out the available options right now, then we think the Intel Xeon W-3175X is the one to look for. This may not be as powerful as a lot of other Threadripper chips on the market, but we think it still packs enough punch to keep up with some of the competing chips from AMD.

The Intel Xeon W-3175 offers a couple of interesting features including support for ECC memory, Intel’s vPro management suite, and advanced RAS (Reliability, Availability, Serviceability). It also has an unlocked multiplier which means you can overclock this particular chip, just like you would overclock a mainstream part. In terms of specification, the Xeon W-3175X has 28-cores with support for Hyper-threading technology. This allows this particular chip to operate on 56 threads at any given point in time.

Another interesting thing about the Intel Xeon W-3175 is that it features a familiar Skylake-SP microarchitecture, Mesh Topology, support for AVX-512, and more too. We’re also looking at a six-channel memory controller that supports up to 512GB of DDR4-2666 memory. This is also available in both ECC and non-ECC flavors, so that’s good. AMD’s second-generation Threadripper platform supports up to 1TB memory but it’s limited to a quad-channel memory controller, which is no match to the Hexa-channel controller on the W-3175X.

The Threadripper processors, however, have an advantage when it comes to the PCIe lanes, though. While AMD Threadripper exposes 60 native PCIe lanes, Intel fires back with just 52 native PCIe 3.0 lanes. Out of them, four are dedicated to the DMI 3.0 connection between its PCH and CPU, so you’re essentially getting access to around 48 native lanes. The Intel Xeon W-3175X has a TDP rating of 255W, which is the main reason why it has a higher base and turbo frequency when compared with some other chips like the 205W Platinum 8180. The higher core clocks should yield better results in different workloads.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the Intel Xeon W-3175X processor. Intel has launched a few new workstation CPUs after the W-3175X, but this one continues to remain one of the top chips in this category. The Xeon W-3175X is one of the best chips in the Xeon W family, and we think it’s here to stay on this collection, at least until Intel brings some new workstation CPUs to the market. That being said, AMD’s Thgreadripper processors, especially some of the new ones offer far better performance and feature-set compared to this particular chip. So unless you are hellbent on buying an Intel chip for your new workstation PC, then we recommend checking some of the Threadripper options out there.

Intel Xeon W-3175X

Intel Xeon W-3175X processor

The Intel Xeon W-3175X offers decent performance in both lightly threaded as well as multi-threaded applications.

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Best high-performance value CPU: AMD Ryzen 5950X

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor

There’s no doubt that all the HEDT (high-end desktop) processors — like the ones we’ve mentioned above — offer incredible performance. However, they’re often way more expensive than a mainstream part. You get the ultimate performance with the workstation processors as long as you are ready to pay the price. In addition to the processor cost, you also have to consider buying compatible high-performance components including motherboards, more memory sticks, a high-end cooler, and more. All these components add up to further increase the overall cost of the build. This is where we think some of the mainstream parts like the Ryzen 9 5950X enter the scene.

The Ryzen 9 5950X enters the fray with as many as 16 cores and 32 threads to offer similar performance as some entry-level workstation CPUs. It’s safe to say that it brings HEDT-like performance to the mainstream motherboards, thereby reducing the overall entry cost. The Ryzen 9 5950X is already a part of a lot of our best CPUs collection articles. This is, without a doubt, one of the best AMD chips on the market right now.

The Ryzen 9 5950X, as we just mentioned, carries16-cores and 32-threads. We’re looking at a base frequency of 3.4GHz and a Turbo max frequency of 4.9GHz. The 5950X brings 64MB of L3 cache and 8MB of L2 cache. It’s rated for a default TDP of 105W but this particular CPU is known to burst above the 105W mark to pump out more performance. It goes without saying this is also an unlocked CPU which means you can overclock the 5950X as long as it stays under the 90-degree mark.

Another advantage of the Ryzen 9 5950X is that it continues to remain one of the most accessible mainstream chips, unlike the new Alder Lake processors. It uses DDR4 RAM and it also drops right into the older 500-series or even 400-series mainboards. This essentially eliminates the need to invest in new and expensive components including motherboards, DDR5 RAM kits, and more. That’s perfect because we’re recommending the Ryzen 9 5950X as an alternative to the high-end workstation CPUs to keep the overall entry-cost low.

While AMD’s Threadripper processors are significantly better in terms of general performance, we think the Ryzen 9 5950X will serve enough performance for most users out there. Not to mention, it will also save you a lot of money in comparison to, say, a workstation CPU from both Intel and AMD. The Ryzen 5950X’s $799 pricing places it a tier above Intel’s current mainstream halo parts. We’re expecting AMD to add more processors to the mix by the end of 2022, so we suggest you keep an eye on this list. We’ll update it with new and more powerful processors when they’re ready to ship to the consumers. But in the meantime, we think the Ryzen 9 5950X is also a solid processor that has a lot of potential to keep up with many other powerful processors on the market.

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is the flagship product of 5000-series. It brings a HEDT-class performance to mainstream motherboards.

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That brings us to the conclusion of this particular list of the best workstation CPUs you can check out in 2022. A lot of the processors mentioned in this collection may not readily available on the market for the consumers. The availability of some of these workstation CPUs is also limited to just partner OEMs, so keep that in mind. That being said, we think the AMD Threadripper 3990X is one of the best workstation CPUs around in 2022. The AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX is also a great option, but it cost you significantly more money, thereby increasing the overall cost of the final build.

The list, as you can see, is also heavily crowded with AMD options with very limited processors from Team Blue. We’re expecting Intel to come up with new HEDT chips soon, so keep an eye for any additions to this list in the future. Workstation processors, unlike the mainstream parts, don’t get upgraded as often. The options are also fairly limited in the workstation space. If you are looking to build a new PC, then we suggest you check out some of our other collection articles including the best CPUs and the best motherboards list. And if you are on the lookout for more Intel chips, then be sure to stop by our collection of the best Intel CPUs page to see what Intel’s been cooking in the mainstream category.

The Best Workstation CPUs for 2022 (Budget, Midrange, High-end)

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Last Updated: October 20, 2022

Not everyone who buys a CPU wants one that’s specifically tailored towards gaming. Despite this being a huge market, there’s also a ton of scenarios in which more powerful, HEDT processors become more desirable.

As the market finally starts to calm down, we take a closer look at some of the most powerful HEDTs it has to offer. We’ll be running down the best workstation CPUs out there, comparing price, performance, and specifications as we go. So, whether you’re looking to do UltraHD video editing, high-end streaming and recording, 3D rendering, or CAD work, the following guide will have a processor that suits your exact requirements.

So, without further ado, let’s jump into the best workstation CPU guide!

Our Top Picks

Best Workstation CPU

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Best Value Workstation CPU

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Best mid-range Workstation CPU

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Workstation Processors: Specifications Worth Knowing

Like any PC component, learning and understanding the fundamental specification that affects its performance can be some of the most important steps you can take before entering the purchasing process. With workstation CPUs, that ideology couldn’t be any more important – and not just for cost reasons either.

For this reason, we’ve outlined some of the most important features of a HEDT processor below. Learning what each does will ensure the next workstation CPU you buy is the correct one for your specific needs.

Cores And Threads

At the heart of every CPU, whether it’s an APU or the latest Threadripper, lies a set of cores and threads. The cores are a physical processor within the CPU. A thread, on the other hand, is a virtual core – specifically designed to help the CPU with more demanding multitasking scenarios.

As things stand, processors have reached a place many may not have thought possible. Consumer-grade desktop CPUs, for example, can boast up to 16 cores (AMD Ryzen 3950X) and 32 threads – which, off the bat, sounds great. That being said, it’s nothing compared to the latest high-end desktop processors, some of which are equipped with 64 cores and 128 threads.

As a general rule, the following guidelines are recommended when purchasing a new processor:

4 Cores – General use, light browsing, and very light gaming

8 Cores – Decent for gaming, moderate multi-tasking, and all general-use purposes

16 Cores – Entry-level workstation CPU. Can handle moderately demanding tasks if coupled with good RAM and decent clock frequencies.

32 Cores – Mid-range workstation CPU. Handles fairly demanding tasks including rendering, CAD, and all kinds of streaming. At this level, we start to enter into the higher end of the price spectrum.

64 Cores – High-end workstation CPU. Handles the most demanding workstation tasks. At this range, you’re looking at extremely expensive hardware, expect to fork out well above $2,000.

Clock Speed

Next up we have clock speed (also known as core frequency or cycle speed depending on how you look at it). This refers to how many cycles your CPU can execute every second and is measured in GHz (gigahertz). So, for example, a CPU that has a 3.8GHz clock speed will be able to perform 3.8 billion cycles per second. Easy.

Whilst the general rule regarding CPU clock speed is faster is always better, it isn’t the only thing to consider when purchasing a CPU. Furthermore, modern CPU manufacturers will advertise three or four different clock speeds, indicating base, boost, all core boost, and single-core boost speeds. Whilst this does get a little confusing, it is always important to understand your CPU’s capabilities:

Base clock speed – The speed your CPU will operate at when in idle

Boost clock speed – The maximum speed your CPU can reach under its own overclock

All core boost – The maximum speed all the cores can be boosted to – simultaneously

Single-core boost – The maximum speed a single core can be boosted to

So, if you’re building a workstation computer, what should you be looking for? Well, Single-core speed and single-core boost speed are really only relevant to certain applications and gaming. All core boost, on the other hand, is much more relevant, as its the overall working speed of your CPU.

All-in-all, you should be looking for maximum core count and highest all-core clock speed.

Socket Types
Socket type is a fairly easy concept to understand, it’s the mounting point on your motherboard that holds the CPU in place – theoretically allowing your PC to work. For first time builders, you’re going to want to pay particular attention to this section, because not all CPUs are compatible with all motherboards.

Every motherboard and CPU comes equipped with its own socket type. To make things even more confusing, Intel has its own unique socket type that differs dramatically from AMDs. Whilst finding a motherboard that is compatible with your CPU isn’t the hardest thing in the world to do, it’s still something that should be understood before entering the purchasing decision.

The easiest way to find out what socket your CPU is using is to locate the product page on the manufacturer website. Once found, simply go to the specifications section of that CPU, and it will show you what socket type that CPU is using. Once you have found this, simply pair it with a motherboard that uses the same socket.

In this particular scenario, the AMD CPU uses an sTRX4. Intel, on the other hand, is utilizing the FCLGA2066 socket.

TDP

TDP is a pretty important factor to understand, even more so when you’re putting a workstation PC together that handles extremely demanding workflows. TDP stands for thermal design power and refers to the maximum amount of heat that the CPU generates on its own.

Basically, TDP tells the consumer what kind of cooler the CPU is going to need. A CPU that has a TDP of 100 only creates half the amount of heat as a CPU with a 200 TDP – meaning a smaller CPU cooler can be utilized for the lower TDP. Most of the time, the cooler will have a TDP rating, referring to how much physical heat it can dissipate off the CPU. When choosing a CPU cooler, simply choose one that has equal (or greater) cooling performance than the CPU’s output.

In-depth Review

Best Workstation CPU

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Editor’s Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5

By far the most powerful processor in this guide, the 3990X dwarfs everything in its wake – even equaling Intel’s $20,000 premium enterprise CPUs. If you’re looking for lots of cores to help run virtual machines and highly taxing workloads, there is no better option than AMD’s 3990X Threadripper.

The latest flagship Threadripper from AMD comes equipped with 64 cores and 128 threads – yep, that’s right, 128 threads. It has a base clock speed of 2.9GHz and a boost speed of 4.3GHz respectively. It also gives you 56 lanes of PCIe 4.0, with an additional 8 lanes for the chipset. That makes this one of the most powerful processors ever built.

As far as performance goes, the 3990X tops the Corona 1.3 and Blender charts, beating out Intel’s Xeon range of CPUs quite easily – a monstrous feat when you consider the difference in price. Whilst it falls short of the 3970X for base, all-core, and single-core frequency, the 3990X offers double the cores and threads, making it far superior for those multi-tasking scenarios.

This CPU is really tailored towards render farms, game developers, and even film studio production crews where every second counts. Whilst it can be used for lesser intensive workflows, this CPU is really tailored towards companies running the most demanding of workflows.

All being said, from a technical sense, this CPU is a fantastic achievement from AMD, to say the least. It firmly puts them back on the map, leaving Intel well in their wake.

Best Value Workstation CPU

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Editor’s Rating

★★★★★ 4. 8/5

Another new entry into the AMD Threadripper ranks is their 3970X – a CPU many are calling (including ourselves) the best value high-end desktop processor out there. Whilst it isn’t on the same level as the 3990X, it can boast impressive figures that outperform the similarly priced Intel 10980XE.

At the heart of the 3970X lies 32 cores and 64 threads, effectively making it half as powerful as the 3990X. However, with higher base/boost clock speeds (3.7GHz/4.5GHz), the 3970X is still extremely capable. When comparing to the 10980XE, Intel’s current flagship HEDT processor, it’s safe to say the 3970X wins out in almost every field. Higher core count, higher base frequency, more L3 cache/DRAM capacity/DRAM Frequency, and more PCIe lanes. All coupled together, it’s no surprise that the 3970X beat the Intel counterpart in almost every benchmark – apart from gaming which saw a 3% increase in Intel’s favor.

From a performance standpoint, the 3970X did extremely well in our benchmarking – seeing off the 3960X and the 10980XE easily. We recorded some pretty staggering figures in the Blender, Corona, and LuxMark tests, with the 3970X almost doubling the score of the 10980XE. This was pretty much the standard for most tests, unless the workload was AVX512 accelerated – in which Intel’s chips would come out on top.

Overall, the 3970X is a fantastic chip, however, like all the chips in this guide, you need to consider the price implications that come with purchasing a processor of this caliber. Not only does it come with a staggering price tag, but you’ll also have to fork out for a $500 motherboard, $150 CPU cooler, and probably $500 worth of RAM. All being said, it’s still another fantastic contribution by the guys in red.

Best mid-range Workstation CPU

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Editor’s Rating

★★★★★ 4. 8/5

Next up we have our midrange pick, AMD’s 3960X Threadripper. This well-priced HEDT processor is the perfect choice for individuals looking to perform highly taxing workflow scenarios, without having to splash out of the eye-watering price tags that come with the top two picks. That being said, this is still a processor that makes the 3950X (AMD’s flagship desktop CPU) look incredibly cheap.

With 24 cores and 48 threads, the 3960X comes into direct competition with the 10980XE – in both price and core count. It’ll be interested to see how AMD’s midrange offering stacks up. That being said, for all intents and purposes, the 3960X is basically the same CPU as the 3970X, only with few cores. It comes with the same base/boost clock frequency (well, 100MHz great base clock), same L3 cache, DRAM IDPC, PCIe lands, and TDP. So, overall, still more advanced than the 10980XE.

Looking at performance and we see that the 3960X is much closer to the 10980XE – in the benchmarks – than the 3970X was. That being said, it still outperforms the 10980XE in most multi-tasking scenarios – including Blender, Corona 1.3, and LuxMark. However, and like the 3970X, any scenario that can be accelerated by AVX512 sees the Intel chip come out on top. The price to performance of the two chips is extremely close, giving consumers a real headache when it comes to deciding which is best for their needs. However, if you’re purely looking for multi-tasking performance, the 3960X just edges it – albeit slightly more expensive.

Best Intel Workstation CPU

Intel i9-10980XE

Editor’s Rating

★★★★★ 4.6/5

As for the Intel pick, there was really no other choice than the 10980XE – as far as affordability goes. The i9-10980XE is a refresh of the 9980XE, bringing greater clock speed and a few other tweaks to the table. With Ryzen performing so highly in most of the multi-tasking workstation benchmarks, it’ll be very interesting to see what fields the Intel excels in.

The Intel i9-10980XE is Intel’s latest 18core/36thread HEDT processor, bringing to the table a base clock frequency of 3.0GHz and 4.6GHz boost frequency – across all cores. It’s Intel’s attempt to re-capture some of the workstation consumer markets, albeit falling short of the AMD counterparts quite dramatically. That being said, it’s still the best Intel’s best offering as far as a domestic-consumer level CPU goes.

As we’ve already mentioned, the 10980XE doesn’t do that well in the benchmarking when comparing to the AMD powerhouses. That being said, there are still certain fields in which it does actually perform extremely well – one being AVX512 supportive Softwares.

Whilst AVX512 is fairly sporadic when it comes to consumer software – and only utilizes in some unique scenarios – it’s still worth mentioning the difference in performance when comparing Intel to AMD. Intel’s have been pushing its AVX512 support for some time now, in an effort to boost things like DLBoost and AI throughput. That being said, when it comes to performing tasks supported by AVX512 acceleration, the Intel chip leads the benchmarking over the AMD counterpart.

That being said, for all other scenarios, it’s fairly conclusive that the AMD is far greater value for money. Overall though, this is the best Intel has to offer.

Best Budget Workstation CPU

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X

Editor’s Rating

★★★★★ 4.5/5

Last up we have our budget pick, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X. Whilst it’s tough to call any Threadripper a “budget” offering, this one certainly falls into a category that is considered much more affordable than everything else in this guide. It also offers up more cores than many other similarly priced alternatives that reside in the desktop CPU category.

Being a 1st gen Ryzen Threadripper, the 1920X is nowhere near as advanced as the third-gen of today, only bringing 12cores and 24threads to the table. That being said, it does offer high capacity memory support, lots of PCIe lanes, and (what I like to call) excellent overall build affordability – Ie, the cost of the supporting hardware. Alongside these features, the 1920X offers up a 3.5GHz base clock and 4.0GHz boost clock frequency – more than enough to handle less intensive workflow scenarios like video rendering and streaming/recording.

At the time of writing this, the 1920X is currently retailing for well under $350, making it a real prospect for budget builders looking to build a workstation PC. When you take the reducing cost of low-end Threadripper motherboards into the equation, it’s easy to see why this is the preferred choice over say, the 3950X.

Final Word

So, there you have it guys, our complete breakdown of the best workstation processors currently available in 2021. Whilst the market isn’t exactly flooded with options, the choices that are available are <em>by far</em> the most powerful we’ve ever encountered. If you were to tell me a couple of years ago that AMD would be head and shoulders above Intel in the race for HEDT processing power, I’d of told you to take a day off the hard stuff. However, here we are, 2021 and that is exactly what has happened.

Hopefully this guide has made your next workstation CPU purchase that little bit easier, however, if it hasn’t, why not leave us a comment in the section below and we’ll answer any questions as soon as we can. Better still, why not head on over to our <a href=”https://www.wepc.com” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Community Hub</a> where you can discuss any workstation-related hardware with like-minded individuals.

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Best computer processors in 2022

Table of contents

What is the best processor to buy in 2022?

What to look for when choosing a processor?

Best CPU Overall: Intel Core i5-12600K

Second Best CPU Overall: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Best CPU for Gaming: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

Best High Performance CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K
Second Best high performance processor: AMD Ryzen 95950X

Best Budget Processor: Intel Core i5-12400

Best Entry Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

Second Best Entry Processor: Intel Core i5-11400

Best Workstation Processor: AMD Threadripper Pro 39008 9008WX

What is the best processor to buy in 2022?

Choosing the right processor is always as difficult as choosing other major PC components. Almost all models from both AMD and Intel are available on the market.

Choosing the right processor is the most important step in the PC build process. Even though it only boils down to two manufacturers — Intel or AMD — you still have to comb through dozens of positions.

In addition, there are other factors to consider, such as CPU overclocking potential, your main workload, etc. Your options will also differ depending on whether you are planning a new build or upgrading an existing one.

To make it easier for you to choose, we decided to make our selection of the best processors you can buy.

What to look for when choosing a processor?

Before we start with the specific options in our review, we managed to come up with a list of important things to consider when buying a processor.

Generation Verification: Both AMD and Intel update their processors every year with new architectures and advanced computing features. It is important to understand the difference in order to get the most bang for your buck. The first digit of the four-digit model number indicates the generation. For example, 9in Core i7-9400 or 3 in Ryzen 5 3600.

Understanding workloads: it is important that your budget matches what you plan to do with your PC. You don’t need a high-performance processor for basic day-to-day tasks, but you can’t rely on a budget chip to have enough multi-threaded workloads to run complex programs.

Overclocking: Overclocking helps the CPU reach significantly higher clock speeds than originally intended. However, not all processors support overclocking, and not all processors need to be overclocked for best results. It comes down to your requirements, really. Also, don’t mess around with CPU overclocking if you don’t know what you’re doing.

CPU sockets: Not all CPUs can be used on every motherboard available on the market. You will need chipsets and a socket that matches the processor you choose, so wire it accordingly. If you already have a motherboard and don’t have the money for a new one, buy a processor that matches your motherboard’s socket.

Pair with the Right Components: While CPUs are critical to your build, it doesn’t make sense to pair a high performance chip with a weak GPU or slow storage type. Before making a purchase decision, make sure all of your components will work together properly.

Core clock or number of cores: Higher clock speeds provide high performance for simple everyday workloads. However, having more cores will help you get through complex and time-consuming tasks faster.

Best overall processor: Intel Core i5-12600K

The new 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12600K was our pick for the best processors you can buy on the market today. This chip replaced the Ryzen 5 5600X and was our top pick. It costs almost the same as the Ryzen 5 5600X and is ahead of the competition when it comes to performance.

The

Core i5-12600K wins in almost all single-threaded and multi-threaded tests, losing to the more powerful Ryzen 5000 series chips. The Intel Core i5-12600K has a hybrid architecture that allows the chip to work more efficiently. Like the Core i9-12900K, the 12600K has both P-cores and E-cores, and Intel Thread Director automatically distributes tasks between these cores.

The

Intel Core i5-12600K offers 6 P-cores and 4 E-cores. With just two fewer P-cores than the 12900K, it matches the overall performance of high-end processors in certain applications. Games, for example, will benefit from such a distribution of cores.

You see up to 19% performance improvement in single-threaded applications such as games compared to the 11th generation equivalent. What’s more impressive about this particular processor is that it outperforms the Core i9-11900K in almost every gaming test.

It’s also worth noting that the 12600K also supports DDR5 memory cards. This further raises the performance ceiling as other competing processors on the market still use DDR4 RAM kits.

You can also use DDR4 RAM modules with the Core i5-12600K, but you cannot use both modules on the same board. Notably, the Core i5-12600K also works well with PCIe 5.0 peripherals. While you can’t take advantage of this particular feature just yet, we think it’s always great to have the prospect of an upgrade, new graphics cards, and other PCIe 5.0 expansion cards.

In terms of performance, the Core i5-12600K delivers consistent performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications. 12600K single core performance comparable to 12900K. In multi-core performance, it managed to outperform both the 11900K and the Ryzen 7 5800X.

This is great considering how powerful both of these processors actually are. The gaming performance of the Core i5-12600K is also great, but you’ll need a dedicated GPU to take full advantage of it. You will need a separate CPU cooler as the Core i5-12600K does not come with one.

The only thing you need to worry about is the additional costs associated with accessing the platform. You will need a new motherboard with Z69 chipset0, as well as new CPU coolers compatible with socket LGA 1700.

You can do without DDR4 memory, but remember that you will have to upgrade your motherboard later when you plan to install new DDR5 modules.

Overall, the Intel Core i5-126000K is an excellent processor today. You might choose the Ryzen 5 5600X if you’re upgrading from an old Ryzen processor to save some money, but we think the 12600K is the best choice for those looking to build a new PC.

Second Best Overall Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Intel’s new Core i5-12600K may have beaten AMD in the best processor race, but there’s no denying that the Ryzen 5 5600X is also one of the best processors you can buy. This is still arguably one of the best AMD 5000 series processors based on the Zen 3 architecture.

This CPU provides reliable performance in both games and other applications. Whether it’s everyday workloads, gaming, or even creative applications, the Ryzen 5 5600X is capable of handling them with ease. This is largely due to AMD’s Zen 3 architecture, which delivers an impressive 19-percentage increase in IPC.

The

Ryzen 5 5600X is the reason we didn’t add the Ryzen 7 5700X to this list. It matches the overall gaming performance of the 5700X at a lower price point. We believe that after the Ryzen 5 5600X it is better to immediately switch to the Ryzen 9 5900X.

The

Ryzen 5 5600X offers six cores and twelve threads in the midrange processor battle. In addition, the Ryzen 5 5600X brings other improvements, including an optimized overclocking algorithm, improved memory overclocking, an updated cache topology, and more.

The

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X has a base clock of 3.7GHz and a boost clock of 4.6GHz. Pair it with the right motherboard and powerful cooling solution, and you can expect higher short-term clock speed gains.

The

TDP of 65W keeps it quieter and cooler than other processors in its class. For reference, the latest generation Ryzen 5 3600X had a TDP of 95W. Even the competing Intel processor in its class has a higher TDP.

The

5600X matches the gaming performance of its more expensive siblings in this series. In fact, it also outperforms the Intel Core i9-10900K. It’s also one of the most energy efficient desktop processors out there right now.

The included CPU cooler is powerful enough to run at stock settings, but we recommend purchasing a secondary unit for better results over time. A basic air cooler or even a compact AIO cooler will do the trick.

One of the best things about the Ryzen 5 5600X is that it’s perfect for 400 and 500 series motherboards. Existing AMD users will find it easier to save extra money on other major components including RAM, motherboards and more.

Best Processor for Gaming: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X

The

Ryzen 9 5900X is AMD’s high-end mainstream processor, and we’ve chosen it as the best gaming processor you can buy right now. There’s more focus on the word «gaming» here, as there are other processors in this collection that you might find useful outside of gaming.

The

Core i5-12600K should be enough for all your gaming needs, but it’s a good alternative choice if you want something close to a high performance chip. It’s not the best product in the 5000 series, but it still packs 12 cores and 24 threads with a base clock of 3.7GHz and a potential boost clock of 4.8GHz.

Anything above an 8-core, 16-thread configuration is still considered overkill for gaming, but the very idea of having a few extra cores at your disposal when you need them makes Ryzen 95900X reliable chip.

Having more cores will not only help you with other workloads like streaming, but it will also ensure that your PC has a headroom when games start using more cores. Pair the Ryzen 9 5900X with one of the best graphics cards on the market and your PC will easily outlast PS5 and Xbox Series X. It’s obviously more expensive than consoles, but this PC can do so much more.

If you are interested in budget options, check out our selection: Best Cheap PC Processors 2022

We recommend pairing the Ryzen 9 5900X with at least an RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 for best results. The RTX 3060 Ti is also a good choice, but we think the Ryzen 5 5600X is a better fit for this card.

The

Ryzen 9 5900X has 64MB of L3 cache, supports PCIe 4.0, and has the same 105W TDP as its predecessor. It outperforms high end 10th gen processors and loses out to even the newer Rocket Lake with its gaming prowess.

You can also overclock this processor to achieve higher clock speeds under favorable conditions. A powerful air cooler like the Noctua NH-D15 will work well with this CPU even under heavy load. Just don’t choose a smaller air cooler or compact AIO to cool this CPU.

The

Ryzen 9 5900X isn’t the most affordable processor on the market, but it offers great gaming performance and more. If your budget does not allow you to buy Ryzen 95950X, to enjoy 16 cores and 32 threads, the 5900X will suit you. It is enough for both games and creative tasks and it is significantly cheaper.

The only drawback of this processor is the lack of a complete cooler. AMD has stopped shipping coolers for its processors above 65W.

Best High Performance Processor: Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel has finally made a difference in the desktop processor space with the release of the new Alder Lake chips. Intel Core i9The -12900K is currently the best high performance mainstream processor you can buy now.

It managed to beat the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X to take first place and become our pick of the best processor today. The Intel Core i9-12900K delivers performance we’ve never seen from an Intel chip. It takes advantage of the new hybrid architecture by offering a combination of performance and efficiency cores.

The

Intel Core i9-12900K has 8 P cores and 8 E cores. They work together to unlock a new level of performance, making the chip more power efficient than its predecessor. That’s right, Intel Core i9-12900K is more powerful and power efficient than Core i9-11900K.

The high power consumption of the 11900K was one of the biggest problems of the last generation, and Intel has addressed this issue with this new processor. That being said, it still draws more power than the Ryzen 9 5950X, so keep that in mind. But the Core i9-12900K outperforms the Ryzen 9 5950X in both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications. It doesn’t win by a huge margin, but it still outperforms the Ryzen processor.

9The 0003 12900K also supports both DDR5 RAM kits and PCIe 5.0 slots. DDR5 memory modules are already available on the market, but they are still hard to come by and will cost you a lot of money. PCIe 5.0 support, on the other hand, is nice, but you can’t take advantage of it just yet. However, we expect PCIe 5.0 based SSDs to arrive next year.

As with the Core i5-12600K, you’ll have to put up with high platform entry costs when it comes to the Core i9-12900K. You will need a new motherboard with Z690 chipset and LGA 1700 socket to run this processor. Not to mention, you’ll also need an LGA 1700 CPU cooler since it’s not included in the box.

By adding DDR5 modules to the assembly, you get a really very expensive setup. But if you have that kind of money, then this is the best high-performance mainstream processor you can buy right now. You can also upgrade to Ryzen 95950X to avoid some of those initial costs, but you’ll still end up with a relatively expensive build.

Second Best High Performance Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

The

Ryzen 9 5950X is AMD’s flagship processor in the 5000 series. It’s our second-best pick for the best high-end processor — after the Core i9-12900K — mainly because it delivers HEDT-class performance. It boasts 16 cores and 32 threads based on the Zen 3 microarchitecture.

Its base frequency is 3.4 GHz, and under favorable conditions, it can reach a peak frequency of 4.9 GHz. However, it has been proven to break the 5GHz barrier with AMD Precision Boost Overdrive — the first to do so for AMD.

The

Ryzen 9 5950X provides a significant performance boost not only over previous generation AMD Ryzen processors, but also over Intel’s flagship Rocket Lake processor. This is suitable for both gaming and other creative tasks such as 3D rendering, video editing and more.

The

Ryzen 9 5950X with a TDP of 105W outperforms even the Intel Core i9-10980XE with a TDP of 165W, also by a significant margin in multi-threaded tests. And since it’s an unlocked processor, you can even overclock it to boost its performance.

We also like how the 5950X fits in with existing 500-series AM4 motherboards on the market. This makes the 5950X chip more accessible to the mainstream market. As far as cost competition goes, Intel really doesn’t have an answer for Ryzen 95950X.

Rocket Lake chips have 8 cores. The Intel Core i9-10980XE is close in performance, but it is more expensive and has other drawbacks such as high power consumption, higher thermal output, and more.

You’ll need your own cooler for the Ryzen 9 5950X as AMD decided to drop the bundled cooler on higher TDP models. The company believes that most users use non-standard cooling with high performance processors and recommends at least a 280mm AIO liquid cooler (or equivalent air coolers) for Ryzen 95950X.

Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5950X is the best high performance processor you can buy on the market. It’s nimble enough to provide unmatched performance for content creators with massive amounts of multi-threaded computing.

Of course, it’s also a good gaming chip, but we recommend the Ryzen 9 5900X if you’re only interested in gaming. The Ryzen 5 5950X is your best bet if you want a workstation-class processor without the inevitable trade-offs like expensive workstation components, performance degradation in low-threaded apps and games, and more.

Best Budget Processor: Intel Core i5-12400

Intel unveiled its full line of Alder Lake desktop processors at CES 2022 with a total of 22 new SKUs. In addition to high performance components including the 12600K and 12900K, the Alder Lake family now has several low power mainstream processors.

We think the Intel Core i5-12400 is one of the best processors, especially for those looking for budget processor options. At MSRP 19The $2 12400 processor is definitely not the most affordable processor on the market, but we think it offers the best value for money.

The

Intel Core i5-12400 comes with six cores, all of which are high performance. This means the Core i5-12400 lacks E-cores, as we’ve seen in many other high-end Alder Lake chips. The lack of a hybrid architecture allows this processor to run independently of the new Intel threads. As a result, 12400 generally works just as well on Windows 10 systems as it does on Windows 11 systems.0004
The

Core i5-12400 is also a good gaming chip that easily outperforms many competing AMD processors. In fact, this particular chip ended up being faster than the Ryzen 5 5600X in games, which is pretty impressive. When tuned properly, the Core i5-12400 is said to outperform the latest generation Core i9-11900K in games. Overall, it’s safe to say that the 12400 is a great budget chip that also handles games well.

One of the best things about this CPU is that it comes with its own CPU cooler. Intel has decided to bundle its mainstream processors with the new Laminar line of CPU coolers. The Core i5-12400 is one of the main chips running the new Laminar Rh2 cooler out of the box.

However, the Core i5-12400 requires a new chipset and a new processor socket. To run this processor, you will need one of the new Intel 600 series chipset motherboards with an LGA 1700 socket. expensive Z690 motherboards to use Alder Lake chips.

The

Core i5-12400 also comes with Intel UHD 730 graphics, allowing it to be used without a discrete graphics card. However, if you already have a graphics card, we recommend choosing the Core i5-12400F version, which does not have integrated graphics, to save money.

Best entry-level processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

The

AMD Ryzen 5 5600G with integrated GPU is our pick for the best entry-level processor. It hit the market during the biggest graphics card shortage in history.

All graphics cards are either out of stock or on sale at a higher price, so we think this is a great option for many who want to build a PC now. The Vega Ryzen 5 5600G graphics will work well enough if you’re willing to sacrifice some visual fidelity.

The six-core Ryzen 5 5600G has a base frequency of 3.7GHz and a clock speed of 4.4GHz. It also has 16MB L3 cache and seven Radeon RX Vega CUs running at 1.9GHz. It has a configurable TDP (cTDP) from 45W to 65W, although you can expect it to run at 65W for the most part.

However, it does this without generating too much heat. Compared to the more expensive Ryzen 5 5500X, the 5600G gets the Radeon RX Vega graphics engine in exchange for 200MHz of CPU peak frequency and half the L3 cache. You’ll also have to live with 24 PCIe 3.0 lanes instead of PCIe 4.0, but you’ll get support for the DDR4-3200 interface.

The

5600G should be good for 720p gaming in many games. We noticed that this APU struggled even at fairly low settings when running at 1080p. However, outside of gaming, it delivers consistent performance in standard desktop applications.

The

Ryzen 5 5600G also gets points for excellent power consumption and efficiency. The 5600G also cuts costs significantly with a bundled Wraith Stealth cooler and compatibility with AM4 motherboards.

Second Best Entry Processor: Intel Core i5-11400

The

Intel Core i5-11400 is the second Intel processor in our collection, and we think it’s a very good entry-level processor. It crushes the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and robs Ryzen of its dominance in budget gaming. The Ryzen 5 3600 is also relatively hard to find on the market (at least at the suggested retail price).

The

Intel Core i5-11400 reaches 4.4 GHz in turbo mode on a single core and 4.2 GHz on all cores thanks to Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology. The processor comes with a stock cooler that will help you hit those peak frequencies without any issues, but you might want to invest in a better cooler to make room for the fuss. Such an entry-level processor will work fine even with a conventional air cooler.

The

Intel Core i5-11400 comes with a PL1 rating of 65W and a PL2 rating of 154W, significantly better than the 125W PL1 and 251W PL2 11600K. However, you are still running into significantly higher power draw, resulting in more thermal output compared to some Ryzen alternatives. That doesn’t make it a bad choice though. There are some useful features such as support for 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes, of which four are dedicated to a single M.2 slot.

The

Core i5-11400 is also arguably better than the Core i5-11600K if you’re only interested in gaming. The 10th Gen Core i5-10400 is also a great money-saving alternative, but we think you’ll benefit from having 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes on the new Rocket Lake processor.

It performs better than the Ryzen 5 3600 in both single-threaded and multi-threaded operation, making it a good option for other workloads such as streaming. The Core i5-11400 also comes close in performance to the Ryzen 5 5600X, which is just 7 percent faster.

Best Workstation Processor: AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX

In addition to a good mix of mainstream processors, we’re adding the AMD Threadripper Pro 3995WX to the collection as a performance workhorse.

The

is currently the best CPU for anyone looking to build a high performance rig that can handle multi-threaded workloads quickly. It’s more powerful and much more expensive than any other mainstream processor on our list for a number of obvious reasons.

The

Threadripper Pro 3995WX as the best workstation processor is an obvious choice given that Threadripper 3000 processors lead the HEDT market and this is due to Intel’s delay in moving to the 10nm node. Intel will most likely introduce something of its own in this category very soon with its new processors.

The

AMD Threadripper 3995WX is a block with 64 cores and 128 threads. It also supports up to 2TB of memory spread across eight memory channels, 128 PCIe 4.0 lanes, and more.

According to AMD, the Threadripper 3995WX is «a highly specialized processor that delivers incredible performance in a narrow range of workloads, but at an extremely attractive price given its capabilities.»

The company’s decision to combine 64 cores and 128 threads with higher Boost frequencies makes it one of the best silicon processors on the market for creative workloads. Threadripper Pro 39The 95WX can deliver more performance than even dual socket servers, which is pretty impressive.

Higher core overclocking frequencies provide high performance in everyday tasks. Games are also available for this processor, however we do not recommend this processor for gaming only. This would be redundant, since current-gen games aren’t designed to take advantage of that many cores anyway.

AMD Threaripper Pro processors automatically adjust performance based on available thermal and electrical headroom, so they also need one of the most powerful air or liquid cooling solutions on the market.

Best video encoding processor 2022 — how to choose

What makes the best video encoding processor? In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about processor video encoding, including what to look for in a video encoding processor and how other components can affect your encoding experience.

Let’s dive into it!

Basics of Video Processor Encoding

What distinguishes encoding from rendering and exporting

First, let’s talk about what is video encoding, because there is a lot of confusion around this topic.

It doesn’t help that some of the rendering and export processes involve encoding themselves, but for now I’m going to focus on encoding .

In essence, video encoding is the process of converting a video file (sometimes raw, uncompressed) into another, more convenient file format for your specific needs.

If the file in question is already encoded in another format, this process is called transcoding , but the essence is the same.

For example, you might want to transcode an MKV file into an MP4 container file with H.264 codec or an AVI container file with WMV9 codec, which is easily compatible with a large number of devices.

Or let’s say you have raw footage that you want to use in your video project, but it’s not compatible with your editing software.

Encoding this raw video footage into a usable compressed format is another common use for video encoding software.

Also, whenever you use video editing software, chances are high that your final rendering and export process will involve some form of encoding or transcoding.

For example, if you’re making a video for YouTube, you’ll likely want to encode it into one of YouTube’s supported file formats.

Video rendering, export, encoding, saving — what does it all mean

These all mean very similar things, but there are some key differences that we need to talk about.

Let’s start with the simplest:

Saving a project file

You can save a project file . This could be a Photoshop file, a Premiere Pro project file, an After Effects file, and so on. The common denominator is that you store application-specific settings in this file that cannot normally be opened with other software. Saving is usually a quick process that takes no more than a few seconds.

When you save a project, you package the application settings into a file and save it to the repository. This usually does not require any form of conversion between formats. However, it may include source material (eg, footage in its original form) for a particular application.

Exporting a project

When you export a project, it usually means that it is being converted to a non-native (project) application format . This is done either to make the resulting file compatible with other applications, or to smooth out and get rid of some information that is not needed for the intended purpose of the file (eg playback, viewing, streaming).

When you export a project, you flatten and remove application-specific information from it (eg layers, effect settings) and/or add compatibility for viewing in other applications, players, image viewers, etc.

Project export also includes the following two tasks: rendering and encoding .

Project rendering

Rendering is part of the export process in visually demanding applications and workloads. The rendering process involves calculating the final image for each video frame by applying effects, transformations, color correction, stabilization, and so on. to your frames, overlaying frames, adding graphics and text, or, in more complex cases, ray tracing the physical reflection of light to calculate 3D objects and environments.

These tasks are very demanding on your hardware and can take a long time. The goal is to calculate any footage changes you have configured in your project and create a final uncompressed image for each frame.

These last frames allow you to proceed to the next step:

Encode/Transcode

Encode is the process of taking the final uncompressed frames (after rendering them), encoding them and packaging them into a container format file (e.g. MP4, MOV, AVI ), which includes encoded (H.264, AAC, etc.) video and audio streams.

In this article we are talking about which processors are best for encoding and not for rendering . Luckily, they often go hand in hand:

Why great video editing processors are also great video encoding processors

As you might guess, video encoding and transcoding are pretty closely related to other video editing tasks.

You will often do a bit of everything, especially if you work with uncompressed footage on a regular basis.

Fortunately, all of these tasks share one key feature: they are heavily CPU-bound and scale fairly well across multiple CPU cores and threads.

This means that if the processor is good for video editing, it will most likely also be good for video encoding and transcoding.

Even if you have a great graphics card to help speed up these workloads, a powerful processor will drastically reduce the overall rendering time while maintaining the high quality of the final project.

So let’s talk about what makes the CPU attractive for video encoding and similar CPU intensive workloads.

What to look for in a video encoding processor

Lots of cores with modern CPU architecture

The main advantage of video editing and other professional rendering software over something like a video game is that these applications are extremely scalable . In this context, scalability refers to the ability of an application to use more than one processor core.

Just a decade ago, processors with 4 cores or more were considered a luxury in the consumer space, and with good reason.

Just over a decade ago the CPU didn’t even have «cores» to speak of, since one processor core used to represent the entire CPU.

We’ve come a long way since , but you’d be surprised how many apps (especially games)… don’t use it.

As it turns out, programming an application to use more than one CPU core can be quite difficult , and in the game space, effectively using more than 4 cores at the same time is still a challenge for many game engines.

However, here, in the field of video encoding, video editing and performance, everything is much better than .

Because these workloads don’t necessarily run in real time, as they do in a game, it’s easier to split and share tasks across all available CPU cores and threads.

When you can get your whole system working this way, you have a lot more incentive to invest in advanced processors with more cores and threads, because doubling the number of cores can sometimes mean doubling the performance of .

Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) or Hyperthreading (HT)

Speaking of cores, it’s also important to talk about SMT or Simultaneous Multithreading . Intel processors call this Hyperthreading in their marketing, but SMT is the technology’s own name.

What is SMT?

I mentioned earlier that the CPU once had no «cores» because one core represented the entire CPU. In the early days of multi-core processors, multi-core processors were considered CPUs with two or more processors in one, and for the most part, they were, since very few applications were created using more than one core.

At the time, «thread» corresponded directly to the number of cores you had: think of «thread» as a virtual representation of a core in your operating system.

But, with simultaneous multithreading, the rule 1 core = 1 thread can be violated. In fact, with SMT enabled, the rule becomes 1 Core = 2 Threads .

But, SMT doesn’t suddenly multiply the processing power of the processor by 2, no matter how cool it is. What the really does is it allows it to multitask and it’s very good manage scalable workloads . So if you want to maximize your encoding or rendering power, using an SMT capable CPU is a really good way to do it.

High clock speed with modern CPU architecture

Clock speeds are a bit more complicated because they are quite often misunderstood.

If you’re unfamiliar with CPU technology, you might assume that something like 3 GHz is a direct measure of speed, and that any particular 3 GHz 4-core processor will perform about the same as any other.

Due to the ever-changing nature of CPU architectures, especially between different generations or different brands, is almost never the correct .

The high clock speeds of the are great, don’t get me wrong: it’s just as important to make sure these high clock speeds are achievable on modern CPU architectures.

The current generation of 3 GHz is very different from the new generation of 3 GHz, not to mention the 3 GHz of three generations ago.

Generally speaking, 3 GHz and above is good for a processor, and many high-performance processors released today can be overclocked to 5 GHz even without manual overclocking. (If your motherboard, power supply and cooling are suitable for this)

A note about P-cores and E-cores

If you buy a modern Intel processor (and who knows, maybe AMD will start doing this too), you can see mentions of P-Cores and E-Cores. In essence, they correspond to performance cores and efficiency cores .

performance cores are almost the same as CPU cores for generations. High performance cores that can double the number of threads when SMT is enabled.

The efficiency cores of are slightly different. They are still powerful on their own, but they are designed to reduce power consumption and heat, not to achieve the highest raw power possible. As a result, even with SMT enabled, these efficiency cores remain at 1 core = 1 thread.

Video encoding benchmarks

Before we dive into CPU selection, let’s take a look at some benchmarks on which to base our CPU recommendations:

Techgage ran several video encoding tests on both Threadripper and AMD Ryzen processors, and we can already say that there seems to be the best performance per dollar ratio. The Threadripper 3960X, 3970X, and 3990X processors show greatly diminishing returns as more cores are added, while the 16-core 59The 50X seems to scale well thanks to its higher clock speed.

Pugetbench compares the latest 12th generation Intel Alder Lake processors with AMD’s 5xxx series processors in its Premiere Pro-based benchmark.

We see that the high-frequency Intel processors are significantly ahead. The 10-core 12600K outperforms the 12-core 5900X. Please note that these estimates include not only encoding, but also exporting/processing any layers and edits in the project file, so we will take these results with a grain of salt.

Intel processors also like to consume a lot more power than their competitors’ processors, so this doesn’t necessarily mean their technology is up to par.

Tom’s Hardware also tested 12th generation Alder Lake and AMD Ryzen 5xxx series processors in Handbrake and LAME, which are pure audio and video encoders.

LAME favors Intel processors while Handbrake works better with AMD offerings. However, overall scaling is what we expect.

For now, let’s move on to what you’re after: what are the best video encoding processors you can get right now?

Today’s best video encoding processors

Note . When comparing prices for Intel and AMD processors, be sure to consider how much you will spend on a compatible motherboard and RAM.

Best high-end processor — Intel Core i5-12600K

The best choice for most people would be the recently released Intel Core i5-12600K.

The

Intel Core i5-12600K with 6 performance cores with SMT support and 4 efficiency cores capable of running up to 4.9 GHz without overclocking does not let you down in terms of performance.

In the CPUAgent Handbrake 1080p60 test, the HEVC 12600K scored one of the highest scores at 263.

At the time of writing, only the Ryzen 9 processor beats it in this testand Intel Core i9-12900K. The 12900K tops out at just 275, which isn’t much more than the i5 at all.

This is a processor that is ridiculously far beyond its weight class.

In comparison, the previous generation Intel Core i5-11600K scored only 168 on the same test.

Add to that the fact that the is cheaper than every other choice on this list, despite the fact that performance is a distance away from all of them, and the Core i5-12600K becomes an almost unbeatable value in current market conditions.

It makes fun of the latest generation Core i7 and Ryzen 7 processors by outperforming them at a lower price point.

Cheaper than the best high-end — Ryzen 7 5800X

Before Intel’s 12th generation processors took the market by storm in all their glory, the high-performance Ryzen 5000 processors seemed almost unbeatable. And to be honest, their performance is still quite strong in video encoding and transcoding workloads.

A look at Anandtech’s benchmarks shows the clear superiority of these processors when pitted against the 10th gen Intel, and the 11th gen Intel performed nearly as well, if not worse in some cases.

I would still recommend the Core i5-12600K because the processor is actually that good, but if you can find the 5800X cheaper then it’s definitely a worthy alternative to the .

No compromise — Intel Core i912900K

If all this talk of Intel’s 12th generation superiority in video encoding sounds good to you, the Intel Core i9-12900K is more than just that.

However, you will spend a lot more money on this perk, and you won’t always get an upgrade that directly scales to all the new cores you got to upgrade.

This is the «No Compromise» choice because if you want the fastest video encoding processor is currently on the market and you don’t care how much you have to spend on it, this is the choice for you.

No Compromise Alternative — AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

The

Ryzen 9 5950X won’t necessarily have the same raw encoding performance as a 12th Gen Intel processor, but it will come pretty damn close.

In other high performance core dependent workloads, the 5950X remains one of the best choices in the entire industry in terms of performance.

Where current generation AMD processors suffer compared to their Intel counterparts is in price, because Intel had a significant jump in performance without such a big jump in price.

If you can find this processor cheaper than the Intel Core i9-12900K, it’s definitely a worthy alternative for heavy workloads.

What about Threadripper?

Encoding requires processors with high clock speeds, enough cores and fast cache access, and Threadripper processors do lead in many tests, they are significantly more expensive than conventional processors that perform not much worse.

If all you want is top performance for video encoding, no matter the cost, and you don’t plan on doing any editing or related workloads, Threadripper might be an interesting choice.

Since most coding professionals also want to be able to seamlessly edit or run applications on the same workstation, choosing a primary CPU with higher single-core performance is the best solution, even if it has fewer cores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Things to remember about building a PC for video encoding

If you are going to do a lot of video encoding, editing, rendering, etc., you need to make some concessions when building your PC, in addition to buying the most powerful CPU and video cards within your budget.

Namely, your PC build is likely to run at fairly high temperatures unless you invest in a lot of case fans and a good cooler to keep things running optimally.

Applications like Handbrake and your regular video editing software can use up your CPU very quickly if you tell them or remember to tell them not to.

Running the CPU at full power for a sustained workload is a surefire way to run into some thermal throttling unless you compensate with a properly cooled and ventilated PC build .

Does RAM affect video encoding

As with most RAM issues, if you’re running in dual-channel mode with at least two sticks of RAM, you’re probably fine.

Generally speaking, the amount of RAM will have the biggest impact (compared to other RAM specs) on how well your workload runs.

Because the purpose of RAM is to store whatever the CPU is actively working on, you should have enough RAM to manage your project files without having to page them out to a much slower HDD or SSD swap file.

Increasing RAM capacity, increasing RAM speed, and reducing RAM latency are other good ways to increase RAM-related performance. Generally, you don’t have to worry too much about this, just remember to enable XMP.

Does the GPU affect video encoding performance

Yes, if the video encoding or editing application in question supports GPU acceleration .

Most of them work and I especially recommend Handbrake to anyone looking for a GPU accelerated video encoding app.

It takes a bit of know-how to use Handbrake effectively, but once you get the hang of it, it’s free and provides superior encoding performance to get the most out of your hardware.

We have come to the end of the article. I hope you now have a better understanding of CPU performance and how it relates to video encoding.

Even if you don’t use one of the recommendations listed above, I sincerely hope that this article has armed you with the knowledge you need to make an informed buying decision when you may need it in the future.