Choosing the Right CPU for Unreal Engine: Ryzen X3D vs Threadripper

Introduction

When it comes to game development, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all CPU. Unreal Engine workflows, in particular, can vary wildly depending on your role and the size of your project. Tasks like compiling shaders, source code, or baking lighting can be either a daily frustration or a rare occurrence, and how much those tasks matter to your productivity depends on whether you’re an artist, a programmer, or managing a build server. So when something like the new AMD Ryzen X3D CPUs come out and are touted as “great for game development,” what does that mean, and how can a studio best utilize them? 

CPU Options for Artists

Every Unreal Engine user knows the pain of waiting for shaders to compile. For some, it’s an occasional delay. For others, it’s a daily time sink that can stretch into hours every week on large projects. While techniques like on-demand shader compilation or using a shared Derived Data Cache (DDC) can help optimize this, there’s no getting around the fact that shader compilation is a demanding, cache-sensitive task.

Here, the AMD X3D processors like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D shine. Thanks to its 3D V-Cache, it completed our shader compilation benchmark 15% faster than the standard Ryzen 9 9950X and Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K. That’s a substantial time savings for artists working with complex environments or large material sets.

The X3D CPUs also feature very fast single-core performance. While this isn’t reflected in the Unreal Engine benchmarks, it is important for 3D modeling and animation programs such as 3DS Max, Maya, and Blender. Most artists want to be able to work on a model in their DCC of choice and periodically examine it in the game engine to make sure everything is working together. The 9950X3D provides a good middle ground. Its 16 cores/32 threads accelerate shader compile while also having fast single-core performance, making sure all modeling and texturing tasks are smooth.

That is not to say that artists should never use a Threadripper CPU with 32 or 64 cores. These extra cores will help with shader compilation, light baking, or some other miscellaneous tasks, but have slower modeling and animation potential. In practice, most wouldn’t notice the single-core performance difference. The difference that would be noticed is the price. Upgrading from a 16 core Ryzen to a 32 core Threadripper can add a few thousand dollars to the system. But, if an artist needs to wait 30+ minutes every day before they can start working, cutting that time in half could save quite a lot of money in the long run. 

CPU Options for Programmers

For programmers, the story is a little different. Compiling source code tends to be the single most time-consuming task—especially during large builds or when packaging a project for testing. While the Ryzen 9950X3D processor also showed a 9% improvement in source compile times over the 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 285K, even bigger gains are possible with a Threadripper-class CPU with their higher core counts and massive memory capacity.

If a developer spends hours each day waiting for code to compile, the jump to a 32- or 64-core Threadripper system makes a lot of sense. It’s even more compelling if you’re managing a dedicated build server, which can handle nightly builds. That’s precisely the environment where heavy investment in raw CPU power pays off.

Some programmers prefer to work on lower-power computers or even laptops, where they only need to compile the changes they made, not the full game package. These users can be well suited to the Ryzen X3D CPUs, especially when paired with a build server that will do the larger compile tasks. Again, the choice depends on your specific workflow.

Conclusion

In Unreal Engine development, the best CPU choice depends entirely on what kind of work you’re doing. Artists and generalists who frequently deal with modeling tasks and occasional shader compilation will benefit from AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D, thanks to its large 3D V-Cache and strong single-core performance. It’s a compelling middle ground—faster than standard desktop CPUs in critical areas without the steep cost of Threadripper platforms. Only those who face much more frequent compile times can see a long-term return on the investment in Threadripper. 

On the other hand, programmers may benefit more from high-core-count CPUs like Threadripper, especially when dealing with large-scale builds or managing a build server. While the Ryzen X3D chips still offer noticeable improvements, the extra cores and memory bandwidth of a workstation-class system can dramatically cut down compile times on major projects.

Ultimately, there’s no silver bullet CPU for every use case. Studios should carefully evaluate their workflows, pain points, and bottlenecks to determine where extra performance will yield the biggest return on investment. Whether you’re pushing polygons or debugging builds, the right processor can help you spend less time waiting and more time creating.

---

Finding the perfect workstation doesn’t have to be complicated. Explore our solutions page for a curated selection of recommended systems for a multitude of applications and workflows, or visit our custom configuration page if you already know the ideal hardware for your needs. If you need assistance with tailoring a system to a unique workflow or have any other questions, we encourage you to reach out to our dedicated technology consultants.