Best CPU For Video Editing in 2023

The AMD Ryzen 7950X is our top choice for the best CPU for video editing. This is because of the 16 cores and 32 threads which comprise the flagship Zen 4 processor. What does this mean for you? Leading single-core and multi-threaded performance when hardware rendering. Simply put, though pricey, there’s no CPU right now that performs as efficiently and confidently as the 7950X for the asking rate. 

Because the AMD Ryzen 7950X exclusively utilizes DDR5 RAM, you’re getting the most available bandwidth here, too. Keep in mind that you’ll need an AM5 motherboard and compatible memory to use this chipset, though. There’s no backward compatibility here. However, given the leading performance on display, that could be a justifiable feat when all is said and done.

For those on the other side of the fence, the Intel Core i9-13900K is hard to argue against. The recently released flagship Raptor Lake model excels with its 24-cores and 32 threads. The new hyperthreaded E-cores mean that this chipset is able to overclock to 5.8 GHz, too. That’s a feat we haven’t previously seen from either company, excelling far passed the previous ‘world’s fastest processor’ (the 12900KS) for a solid price.

That’s what makes the Intel Core i9-13900K the definitive alternative option for those with the budget to spare. Keep in mind that leading single-core and multi-core performance doesn’t come cheap. This model carries an MSRP of $589. If you’ve got the cash to spare then this option has it all.  

Much has been said about the 13600K as it’s somewhat of an anomaly with its price point of $339. That’s because it’s a 14-core (20 threads) processor which overclocks to 5.1 GHz, a previously unheard-of achievement at this price point. It goes to show the refinements made with Raptor Lake’s newly revised E-cores.

All those extra cores and threads over the competing Ryzen 5 7600X, 6-core and 12 threads is why this chipset makes the cut. and the latter doesn’t. Having that extra overhead is going to help with rendering times and encoding for streaming and VOD content. At a touch over the $330 mark, that’s a hard act to follow.

You can save yourself a little bit of money and get a similar performance with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X. In essence, this 12 core 24 threads processor still hits a lot of the same notes as the leading R9 CPU, but with slightly less to work with. The trade-off with performance is represented in the pricing. Whereas the former will run you $699, this model can be yours for a more palatable $549. 

That’s not to take away from what the high-end Zen 4 chipset is capable of. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X blitzes any Intel equivalent right now, and this is largely down to the 5nm process. Team red is really going all in on the smaller silicon here. If you want insane performance with an easier price tag to swallow, you may be better served here.