… for Random Weirdness

Tip #019: Pick the Right CPU for Video Editing

Larry Jordan – https://LarryJordan.com

All CPUs are not created equal.

Much of technology has become very opaque. CPUs now range from i3 to i9. GPUs range from 560 to Vega whatever. Is an editor’s life over if they get an AMD 570 instead of a 575X? Is an i5 really THAT bad?

NOTHING IS PERFECT

No matter how fast your computer, you can easily design a project in any NLE that will bring it to its knees. No computer can play every possible codec, frame size, frame rate, bit depth and effect perfectly in real-time. None. At some point, rendering or proxies will become necessary.

CPUs

• There is no noticeable performance difference between a CPU running at 3.0 GHz or 3.5 GHz for the same class of chip (i3 vs. i3, i5 vs i5, i7 vs. i7).
• CPU speed is less important than support for multiple cores and hyper-threading.
• More cores makes for a faster CPU.
• As video bit depth increases, i7 and i9 CPUs become mandatory.
• An i5 CPU will feel slower than an i7, but an i5 will be fine for smaller, shorter, or HD, projects.
• Import, edit, trim, playback, and speed changes rely principally on the CPU.
• Video compression and transcoding also benefit from faster CPUs

GPUs

• Effects, color grading, rendering and export rely principally on the GPU.
• Faster GPUs do not provide higher quality, only faster render times.
• Apple Final Cut Pro X uses the GPU more than Adobe Premiere Pro CC. However, Adobe is actively working to use more GPU resources in future releases.