The Best Workstation CPUs Today
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The Best Workstation CPUs Today
Published: 8-15-2022
The competition for the best CPU in your next workstation is always red-hot, but perhaps never hotter than it is right now. There are so many different CPUs to choose from, and the best CPU is often highly-specific to your needs and budget.
That being said, some CPUs are undeniably impressive in any context. Weve put together a list of the best workstation CPUs you can buy today and perhaps put into your future custom-built Titan workstation computer!
What to Look for in a Workstation CPU
A few things make a workstation CPU right for the job. First, we want lots of CPU cores and threads. Since most workstation workloads are highly-threaded, it makes sense to have many individual cores working on the problem. Thats not always the best way, of course, since some workstation applications such as CAD have traditionally not made good use of more than a handful of threads. In which case you should focus on a CPU that offers fewer cores, but great per-core performance.
Then there are professional features such as high-end integrated data security and support for error-correcting RAM. If youre working on sensitive scientific or engineering jobs or requiring very high levels of precision, these types of CPUs are crucial.
However, if youre a video editor, sound engineer, CAD professional, or do other professional work that doesnt strictly need these features, you can get away with using high-performance consumer CPUs instead, which is why weve included some of the best examples of those processors in this list.
The Best Workstation CPU Overall: AMD Threadripper Pro 5995WX
AMDs latest flagship workstation CPU comes with a mighty price tag but has similarly mighty performance numbers to back it up. If money is no object and you absolutely must crush that workload in the least amount of time possible, then theres no substitute for this 64-core, 128-thread, 280W behemoth.
The main downside, at least at the time of writing, is that getting your hands on one isnt simply a matter of having the money in your bank account. This apex chip is being rolled out to corporate clients and companies like Industrial Light and Magic first, however, it wont be long before anyone can buy a 5995WX to put into their own build.
Independent benchmarks of the 5995WX show it absolutely crushing its predecessor, the 3955WX, so it certainly merits its top spot on this list!
The Best Mid-range Workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper Pro 5965WX
If youre looking at the asking price of the 5995WX and getting that sinking feeling, dont despair because the latest range of Threadripper Pro CPUs also includes a CPU thats a fraction of the flagships price but offers massive amounts of performance nonetheless.
The Threadripper Pro 5965WX packs 24 cores, but with the same total TDP of the 64-core flagship. That means higher boost clocks and performance on a per-core basis.
If your intended workload wouldnt benefit from having more than 24 cores (and many dont) then the 5965WX could be just the right tool for the job.
The Best Bang for Buck Workstation CPU: AMD Threadripper Pro 3955WX
Just because the 5000-series Threadripper Pro CPUs have arrived doesnt mean that the 3000-series has suddenly disappeared. In fact, the 3955WX is now a fantastic deal for workstation users on a budget.
This 16-core, 32-thread CPU costs substantially less than the 5965WX and it offers nearly two thirds of the performance, so it remains a great choice for mid-range workstation builds while still offering professional features such as ECC RAM support.
The Best Prosumer CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K
If you dont need workstation CPU features in particular, then youd be foolish not to consider some of the higher performance consumer-grade CPUs. The 12900K is Intels desktop CPU flagship.
While it has 16 cores, only half of them are high-performance, hyper-threaded cores. These processors can clock up to 5.2Ghz, while the efficiency cores can only reach 3.9Ghz and have a lower performance per clock to boot. However, that may be perfect for mant professional users who can appreciate a cool and quiet workstation during day to day use which can nonetheless smash multithreaded workloads when required.
As a K desktop CPU, the 12900K has an unlocked clock multiplier making it possible to tap even more performance from the chip assuming you can provide adequate power and cooling,
The Best Budget Workstation CPU: Intel i5-12600K
The i5-12600K has a similar arrangement to the 12900K, but with fewer total cores. You get six performance cores and four efficient cores, for a total of ten cores and 16 threads.
The 12600K provide plenty of processing power for real-time applications such a video editing and CAD, while still offering enough multi-threaded performance to complete multi-threaded renders in usable timeframes.
If your time is worth money, but you still have a more of the formet than the latter, the 12600K represent incredible value atthe budget end of the high-performance spectrum.
The Best CPUs for Workstations
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When you’re working on heavy tasks like video editing, virtual reality gaming, and the like, the workstation can be bottlenecked by its central processing unit (CPU). A CPU is a computer chip responsible for carrying out all of the instructions that make your system run. Choosing the best CPU for your workstation can seem like a confusing task. You want to get the most out of your money. But simultaneously, you don’t want your workstation to be obsolete in 2 years. We’ll break down what you should look for when choosing a CPU for your workstation.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
AMD has been making waves in the CPU world with its latest line of chips, and the company’s latest flagship is no exception.
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is a monster of a processor that offers incredible performance at an affordable price. It features 64 cores and 128 threads, making it an excellent choice for anyone who needs to run multiple demanding applications simultaneously.
It can handle any workload you throw at it without breaking a sweat. This is it if you’re looking for the best CPU for workstations.
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a processor built for creators and enthusiasts. Armed with 16 cores and 32 threads, the Ryzen 9 5950X is capable of tackling a diverse range of workloads. With a base clock of 3.9GHz and a boost of nearly 5GHz, it’s a well-balanced CPU for just about anyone with enough money to spare. It’s also a good choice for the Bitcoin casino list as it has been shown to perform well in gaming as well. Because of its excellent multi-threaded performance, this CPU would be perfect for video editing or software development work.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is a powerful CPU with a high price.
It’s one of the best CPUs for workstations, though, and it can handle any workload you throw at it.
AMD’s Ryzen 9 3900X has been around for about a year, but it remains one of the best CPUs for workstations thanks to its combination of high performance and relatively low price. Although it’s not cheap, it’s more affordable than most other high-end workstation CPUs today.
The Ryzen 9 3900X features 12 cores and 24 threads with a base clock speed of 3.8 GHz and a boost clock speed of 4.6 GHz. That makes it one of the fastest CPUs on the market today, but it also draws quite a bit of power — 125 watts — which can be problematic if you’re using an older power supply unit (PSU).
The 3900X has plenty of room for overclocking thanks to its unlocked multiplier and sizable L3 cache memory (32MB). You can also overclock its integrated graphics card (IGP) by adjusting the core frequency or voltage; however, since this is a workstation-class CPU
Conclusion
For most users, a workstation is designed for high-end content creation and editing, especially in design and engineering.
As such, the idea on how to stop procrastination is to get a workstation that can handle intense workloads and still remain stable; this line of thought has shifted to favor GPUs and Intel’s Xeon chips. While there is no guarantee that this will continue indefinitely, the best CPUs for workstations today are those that combine performance with processing power versatility.
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Choosing a workstation in 2020
From the point of view of the device, a workstation is a familiar system unit of a personal computer, inside of which there is a motherboard, processor, memory modules, drives and all other components.
Unlike a conventional PC, the workstation is a professional tool for scientific and engineering research and calculations, audio and video processing, design and simulation. The power and functionality of the workstation is overkill for everyday tasks, but perfectly suited for the demanding tasks listed above.
In this article, we will analyze in detail the difference between a workstation and a PC and consider which specific workstations are suitable for your tasks.
How is a workstation different from a PC?
Workstation is more productive. Workstations are assembled for specific tasks that require high performance: video editing, 3D modeling, design. Comfortable work with such tasks is provided by a powerful central processor, a large amount of RAM, a professional video card, and a network controller with a high data transfer rate.
The workstation supports error correcting memory (ECC). This memory automatically detects and corrects bit errors, reducing the risk of malfunction and failure. ECC memory modules are most often used where equipment must work flawlessly 24/7 — that is, servers and workstations.
Workstation supports multiprocessor systems. Workstations often have Intel Xeon processors that support multiprocessor systems. Sometimes powerful Core i5, i7 or i9 are installed in workstationswithout such a feature.
The workstation is backing up data.
They use RAID technology: data is written to several disks at once — even if one disk fails, the data will not be lost.
Professional video cards are installed in workstations. These graphics cards (such as the nVidia Quadro) differ from regular gaming graphics cards in that they have relevant application certifications, more stable drivers, and optimizations for workloads.
What accessories are used in the workstation?
Let’s move on to the specific components of the workstation.
Processor . In most cases, one or two Xeon processors of different lines are installed in the workstation. The line is indicated as a prefix in the name: the E series is designed for entry-level systems, W for mid-range workstations, Platinum for high performance. Xeon has the advantage of supporting multiprocessor systems.
Workstations also use other processors, such as Intel Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9. They, in turn, are not multiprocessor.
RAM. Modern workstations use DDR4 or SODIMM DDR4 memory modules. The minimum recommended size is 8 gigabytes. Usually workstations contain a sufficient number of RAM slots for an upgrade.
Data storage. Most workstations have both hard drives and solid state drives (HDD and SSD) installed at the same time. The first stores information, the second ensures the speed of the operating system and applications.
Graphics processing. Like PCs, workstations use two ways to process graphics — through the graphics core built into the processor and through a separate discrete graphics card.
How to choose a workstation depending on the tasks?
The key feature of workstations is that they are tailored to your specific tasks. Next, we will look at three types of tasks for workstations — design, photo / video, and sound processing.
For CAD systems
The most essential design component is the nVidia Quadro professional graphics card.
A processor with a frequency of 3 GHz or higher and at least 16 gigabytes of RAM is also installed — 8 gigabytes for design and another 8 gigabytes for the browser and other tasks.
Let’s start with the Compact Design Workstation, the HP Z2 G4 6TX12EA Desktop SFF with an Intel Core i7 9700 processor. It comes pre-installed with a 4 GB nVidia Quadro P1000 discrete graphics card and a 512 GB SSD.
There are two more suitable models in the Tower case:
— Lenovo ThinkStation P330 Gen2 30CY002TRU based on Intel Core i7 9 processor700. Pre-installed nVidia Quadro P620 discrete graphics card with 2 GB of memory and 256 GB SSD.
— Lenovo ThinkStation P330 Gen2 30CY002JRU based on Intel Core i9 9900 processor. Pre-installed nVidia Quadro RTX 4000 discrete graphics card with 8 GB memory and 512 GB SSD.
For video editing and photo editing
For comfortable work in Adobe Premiere Pro, Pinnacle Studio, Sony Vegas Pro and other popular programs, models with the maximum number of cores are recommended.
For Adobe Photoshop and applications with similar functionality, a budget dual-core processor with a frequency of 2 GHz or higher is often enough.
Also, at least 16 gigabytes of RAM is suitable for editing (or 32 gigabytes if you plan to work with 4K). An integrated chipset is sufficient for graphics processing. You can complement such a station with a combination of storage: SSD for fast work and a large HDD for storing photo and video sources.
HP Z2 G4 9LM05EA and HP Z2 G4 6TX15EA based on an Intel Core i7 9700 processor with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 are suitable for mounting. They differ in SSD capacity — 256 and 512 gigabytes, respectively.
A similar model to the previous ones is Lenovo ThinkStation P330 Gen2 30CY000RRU based on an Intel Core i7 9700K processor with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630. This is a similar processor to previous models, but with an unlocked multiplier. 512 GB SSD installed.
Also fits Lenovo ThinkStation P330 Gen2 30CY005KRU based on Intel Core i9 9900 processor with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630.
Installed 2 terabyte HDD and 256 gigabyte SSD.
Audio
To work with sound, it is recommended to choose a model with high arithmetic power, depending on the number of cores. You also need at least 8-16 gigabytes of RAM, a quiet graphics card with passive cooling, and a combination of HDD and SSD drives. Suitable for working with sound:
— Lenovo ThinkStation P330 Gen2 30CY003QRU based on Intel Xeon E 2244G processor with integrated Intel UHD Graphics P630. 256 GB SSD installed.
— HP Z2 G4 8JJ71EA based on Intel Xeon E 2274G processor. Pre-installed discrete graphics card nVidia Quadro P2200 with 5 GB of memory. Installed SSD 256 gigabytes as in the previous model.
In 2020, workstations support up to 64 processor cores, 1 terabyte of RAM, 20 terabytes of storage and 4 video cards
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How can a designer, architect and planner increase productivity? You will need a suitable workstation that will reduce design complexity and reduce time costs.
We figure out what parameters a computer should have for CAD — an automatic design system.
Workstation Settings: General Guidelines
- Processors must have the highest core clock speed. Pay attention to the standard indicators, and not those that are typical for Turbo Boost — in this mode, the machine will not be able to work continuously. The optimal performance solutions on the market are the Intel Core i7-7700K and Intel Xeon W-2125 CPUs.
- Choose the amount of RAM according to the following principle: 4 GB or more of memory per processor core. Distribute the total volume between several planks. For example, the Intel Xeon W processor supports four memory channels.
- Allocate separate workstations for different tasks. Design, rendering and analysis require different resources.
- Install fast SSDs instead of slow hard drives. PCI NVMe SSDs are at their best speed today, four times faster than traditional SSDs.
- Do not skimp on the video card.
The P2000 or GTX1060 graphics solutions can handle 3D design, while the P5000 and GTX1080 can handle rendering well. Two video cards will be needed for a machine that simultaneously designs and renders.
Below we will consider these recommendations in detail, so that you decide what compromises are worth making, and where savings are unacceptable.
Individually configured for each task
Architecture and design specialists work in three main areas: CAD, Render and CAE. Each of them affects the choice of configuration. In design tools (we call them CAD), a digital model of an object is created and automated as much as possible, Render is a visualization of an object, and CAE is a system for analyzing and verifying design decisions, which helps to eliminate possible errors at the design stage.
Many CAD applications additionally offer Render and CAE functionality as part of a package or as separate plug-ins. But there are highly specialized solutions that remain single-threaded.
AutoCAD, which is popular with us, uses four cores, but uses only a quarter of the functionality. For this software, you should choose processors with a top frequency and Turbo Boost mode.
Rendering is performed on the resources of the CPU or video card. Autodesk 3ds Max and Navisworks products require processors with 4 cores or more and 3.0 GHz or faster. If rendering is needed on an ongoing basis, it is rational to allocate separate cores for it. iRay, Vray RT, Enscape, OctaneRender and Maxwell applications are best run on machines with 1-2 powerful graphics cards. The maximum rendering performance will be demonstrated by a pair of NVIDIA Quadro GV100 graphics modules, combined via NVLink. For two, they will have more than 10,000 CUDA cores.
CAE tools need more cores and more RAM. Comsol Multiphysics, which performs strength calculations, requires 24 cores and a minimum of 96 GB of RAM on 12 channels to run efficiently. In large projects, the system will feel comfortable with 56 physical cores and 512 GB of RAM.
CPU
When working on a small project in a CAD system, where the file size does not exceed 300 MB, the Intel Core i3-7100 3.9 CPU will perform wellGHz. But keep in mind that on this machine it will no longer be possible to run other resource-intensive applications in parallel. Higher performance is demonstrated by Intel Core i7-7700K (4.2 GHz) and Intel Xeon W-2125 (4.0 GHz) with support for turbo mode at 4.5 GHz.
Multi-processor rendering requires many cores, which are offered by the Core i9 family, W-2145 (8 cores 3.7 GHz) and W-2155 (10 cores 3.3 GHz) processors. The last option is the most interesting: the processor demonstrates high performance in multi-threaded rendering and accelerates to 4.4 GHz. It will also be a good option for rendering on a video processor when you need to work with 1-2 graphics cards.
Comparative analysis of design and render times on different generations of HP workstations
Video card
For most CAD applications, graphics cards integrated with the Intel Xeon E3 are certified.
A more advanced option is Quadro or Radeon Pro professional graphics solutions. Products intended for the gaming market should be used with caution. Gaming graphics cards will handle a small project, but if you need to render a large scene, be prepared that the working model will not fit in video memory. Two more arguments speak in favor of specialized solutions: they have better anti-aliasing performance and all software products will definitely run on them.
Small-scale CAD applications work well on the NVIDIA Quadro P600 and its updated version, the P620. In resource-intensive processes, a more powerful tool such as the P1000 will be required. All three graphics solutions support single or dual-monitor Full HD resolution and handle 3D modeling tasks in AutoCAD, Revit and other similar applications.
An NVIDIA Quadro P4000, Radeon Pro WX7100 or GTX1070 will help in the intermediate rendering, and for the final one it is better to choose the GTX1080 8 GB or P5000 16 GB.
These high-memory graphics cards have built-in ECC error correction, which professionals will need during long renders.
Disk Subsystem
As a replacement for SATA HDDs, designers and architects often use SSDs and PCI SSDs. They are faster and more reliable, work great with hot project files and allow you to speed up rendering when there is an active data exchange with RAM.
The optimal system will be, in which the possibility of increasing memory is initially laid down. If speed is a priority, then choose PCI SSD, you need maximum reliability — stop at MLC SSD.
Comparative analysis of read and write speeds in ATTO Benchmark v3.05
RAM
CAD requires a lot of RAM to run quickly and efficiently. The lower bar of 8 GB is the minimum allowable volume. Simple calculations prove this: 2 GB will be required by the operating system, 2 GB will be occupied by the application itself, a similar amount will be required by the video card (its video memory works through RAM), and 1–2 GB are needed by open browser tabs.
Displaying an image on each monitor adds another 1 GB, and in addition there are working draft files and background applications that consume computer resources. To make finding the sweet spot easier, multiply the maximum project file size by eight to get the required amount of RAM. If you save on RAM, invest in fast PCI SSDs — they will make frequent access to RAM invisible. In systems with Core i3 processors, one SSD drive is desirable to install to increase throughput.
Complete CAD hardware solutions
There is no one-size-fits-all configuration for design and rendering, as various factors influence the optimal settings for a workstation. This includes professional software requirements, file sizes, granularity, project output requirements, and more. Focus on specific working conditions, personal wishes for the speed of operations and financial opportunities, which often limit the level of productivity. The solutions proposed below are not universal, but are popular among designers and have proven themselves on the good side.
We are talking about HP Inc workstations, which has been providing professional solutions for various industries for more than three decades.
Workstation line HP Z
HP Z4 G4
This single processor workstation impresses with its performance, compact size and quiet operation. It involves the installation of Intel Xeon W processors from 4 to 18 cores or Core i9. They also determine the amount of RAM, limited to 256 GB. The motherboard supports up to 2 fast PCI NVMe drives and 2 graphics cards, suitable for NVIDIA Quadro P6000, GP100 and the new GV100. A 1000W power supply is used.
The HP Z4 G4, with its wide range of processors, RAM and graphics cards, allows you to assemble the optimal configuration for modeling, rendering and analysis on a single workstation. For CAD applications, the recommended build is: Intel Xeon W-2125 4 cores 4.0/ 32 Gb ECC (4×8)/ Quadro P620 2 GB/ 256 PCI TLC/ 1TB SATA HDD, Win 10 Pro for Workstation.