Different parts of the process demand other classes of performance that are often difficult to combine.
At least to the highest number of cores available today.
Downscaling the scrubbing preview window even benefits from a modern integrated GPU.
Finding the right balance can be tricky.
Especially when you have to factor in budget considerations.
The best possible option is two computers.
The other would be a pure rendering powerhouse with a huge core count.
This is the professional approach.
With editing happening on workstations and rendering being pushed to a render farm.
Of course, all that high-end hardware doesnt come cheap.
Finding the middle ground to balance a budget can be tricky.
Its generally worth remembering that while time is money, your time is costly.
If you have to optimize for one process, its best to optimize the editing process.
Its also worth considering your actual needs.
If you only render short 1080p clips, you dont need a very expensive workstation.
Additionally, not all software is available on all operating systems.
While youll have to balance your budget and workflow considerations.
Recommending CPUs can be tricky because of how often new models release and the changing price points.
Which may offer significant performance benefits over the current Intel line-up.
A little later, Intel is also scheduled to release its latest CPUs.
The latest high-end CPUs are generally the best bet for high-end performance.
AMDs flagship 64 core 128 thread Threadripper is unchallenged in the market.
While AMD also offers EPYC server CPUs with the exact core count, those are even more expensive.
While the official price is around the $7000 mark.
The 12thgeneration CPU introduces an entirely new hybrid architecture.
There are 8 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores.
The performance cores are hyperthreaded and designed to run fast.
The efficiency cores are single-threaded and designed to be more power-efficient and handle background tasks.
However, that can be pushed further with overclocking and adequate cooling.
The new architecture also brings in new connectivity.
There are 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes and an extra 4 Gen 4 lanes for an M.2 SSD.
DDR5 RAM is also supported.
For these latest connectivity options, youll need a new high-end motherboard.
you could go for a lower-end motherboard.
But this will lock you into DDR4 and PCIe Gen 4.
Either way, you will need a new motherboard as this CPU uses a new socket.
The integrated graphics chip on the 12thgeneration CPUs offers excellent performance in workloads it can assist in.
As for performance difference, there is a slight boost for DDR5 in video editing performance.
But the connectivity is mostly future-proofing.
If youre looking to upgrade shortly to the next generation.
The relatively low core count will mean it will struggle more in rendering tasks.
The Intel Core i7-12700K
The Intel Core i7-12700Kis similar to the 12900K, having lost just 4 efficiency cores.
This also comes with a slight frequency reduction, as the chips are from a slightly lower bin.
This may leave more overclocking headroom, though your exact luck will be down to the classic silicon lottery.
As some chips perform better than others.
With the same connectivity as the 12900K, the 12700K has much power at its fingertips.
Its worth noting, however, that the connectivity may be difficult to make the most of.
PCIe gen5 offers double the bandwidth of gen4.
However, there are still relatively few gen5 SSDs.
The loss of four efficiency cores should result in slightly worse render times.
The Apple M1 Ultra
The Apple Mac Studiois the only rig to offer Apples top-of-the-line M1 Ultra CPU.
This makes direct stat comparisons difficult, as seen with the clock speed to single-threaded performance.
This design choice also means that some software wont be compatible.
However, most video editing software that previously ran on macOS has been updated.
The M1 Ultra offers excellent single-threaded performance and high-end multi-threaded performance.
Many design choices are made to make the M1 Ultra excellent at workstation tasks.
These include several hardware video encoders and decoders, which will help in video editing workloads.
This is undoubtedly the best choice if you prefer macOS.
However, better Windows systems can be designed, especially if youre open to having a pair of machines.
At this point, you may consider the Mac Studio as the editing box.
That was our roundup of the best CPUs for video editing in 2022.
Have you recently bought a CPU for video editing?
What sold you on it, and what has your experience been with it so far?
Let us know down below.
