Picking CPU
Picking CPU
I'm still getting used to technology lately. Looking into upgrading my CPU or building a new computer has left me puzzled about CPUs from six years ago. Back then I had an AMD 12-core processor, which offered the best performance for its price compared to Intel. Now I'm finding many Intel CPUs with 20-24 cores, which are significantly more powerful than the 12 cores I was using at that time. This makes me wonder what happened to AMD and how it compares. Could anyone help me choose a CPU and give some advice? Thanks!
Core numbers usually don’t compare well between different designs, particularly after Intel added efficiency cores. The 24 cores in the 285K are similar in performance to the 16 cores in the 9950X, since the 16 AMD cores are far more capable than the 16 E-cores on the 285K. The key is that cores aren’t the same thing. Overall speed depends on many factors beyond just a single number. What will you be using the machine for?
Even increasing from twelve to sixteen cores wouldn’t make much difference in my opinion. I’m still seeing only sixteen cores on AMD, and I understand you’re suggesting course isn’t the main factor, but for me, it’s always been about choosing the best CPU with the most cores and threads.
What processor are you using right now? I think it's likely the 3900X. The 7950X or 9950X would represent a significant improvement over that model. They offer more than double the multicore capabilities. If you prefer Intel, that's perfectly acceptable. The 285K or 14900K are also notable upgrades compared to the 3900X, though they don't consistently outperform the AMD alternatives—the performance varies based on the task. Don't overly focus on core count for video editing. A contemporary 8-core CPU such as the Ryzen 7 7700X would surpass the 3900X in nearly every use case you mentioned—video editing, gaming, and web browsing. Each core operates much more efficiently.
You don’t require thousands of cores for video editing—recent CPUs handle it well, and a better GPU would be preferable. In this scenario, an Intel chip fits because its integrated graphics can assist with the workload. The rest of your tasks don’t demand six cores either. What’s your budget? Also, how much RAM do you need (since it’s DDR5 now)?
I might not require additional core, but I aim to boost my performance fully—upgrading CPU, GPU, RAM, and even the motherboard. I’ve always thought AMD offers better value and power efficiency, but so far I haven’t found anything better than what I currently have, which is the Ryzen 9 3900X.
In general, no. When the 3900X performs well, its advantage isn't huge, and when the 7700X is quicker, the difference becomes substantial. Each individual core operates at a higher speed, but adding 50% more cores usually doesn't compensate for the 3900X's limitations under multicore tasks. It occasionally works, but its strongest results were around 5% in 7-Zip compression, 24% better in compression speed, 20% faster in Adobe Premiere, and a 58% edge in Photoshop. Ultimately, overall performance counts more than the number of cores.
I know what you mean, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I always believed adding more cores and threads would boost performance, which is exactly what I’m aiming for. I’m after something that could surpass the 3900X by a huge margin—like 3900 times better. I was checking out the 1995-core option, but if you could suggest a chip that would really push it beyond that, I’d appreciate it. I’ll take a closer look. I’m counting on your advice.