Are 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper CPUs good for video editing?

Posted on September 21, 2018 by Matt Bach | Last updated: September 21, 2018

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AMD's new 2nd Gen Ryzen Threadripper processors are absolute monsters, with the 2990WX in particular having 32(!) cores. However, as we've seen time and time again in our testing, more cores is not always better. In fact, in many applications having more cores can actually result in lower overall performance depending on how the software is coded and the type of computations being done.

After extensively testing and benchmarking these new CPUs, we have publishing in-depth articles comparing the 2nd Gen Threadripper CPUs to Intel's X-series processors in a number of video editing applications:

With the data gained in those articles, we now have an excellent idea of how the 2990WX and 2950X stack up against similarly priced CPUs from Intel.

Is the Threadripper 2990WX better than the Core i9 7980XE for video editing?

In both Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, most users are unlikely to notice a difference between the AMD Threadripper 2990WX and the Intel Core i9 7980XE. However, for motion graphics work in After Effects the i9 7980XE is significantly faster. Due to this, we would in general recommend going with the Core i9 7980XE over the Threadripper 2990WX.

Is the Threadripper 2950X better than the Core i9 7900X for video editing?

Unlike the 2990WX, the Threadripper 2950X is a great choice for many video editors. It lags behind the similarly priced Core i9 7900X for motion graphics work in After Effects, but is overall faster in both Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Especially if you work with RED media, the 2950X is a great choice for a video editing workstation.