If you are a music producer and looking to build a high-end CPU for music production, then you have to rely on a processor with more cores and clock speed.
Multimedia softwares use a lot of processing power to render your music and videos. And if you have a lot of tracks on your list, this will take a lot of time to complete.
Multicore CPUs can save you a lot of time editing your favourite music and videos. Processors from AMD are popular among music producers due to their low cost and high performance.
On the other hand, Intel Core generation CPUs pack more powerful computing and clock speeds. However, we cannot ignore the higher price tags that come along with them.
Keep in mind that while editing or making music, the power that is needed comes from the CPU, not the GPU. Therefore, a CPU with more cores and speed will perform better in rendering your multimedia files.
To help you out, we have created a list of some of the best CPU for music production from both Intel and AMD. So you can choose the right one according to your budget.
Top 4 Best CPU for Music Production
Below are some of our top picks when it comes to the top of the line processors for music creation.
1. AMD Ryzen 3 2200G | Best Budget CPU for Music & Video Production
Number of Cores: 4
Clock Speed: 3.7 GHz Max
CPU Socket: AM4
As discussed earlier, if you are looking for a low budget processor to create high-quality music, there is nothing better than AMD. The Ryzen 3 2200G is a quad-core processor clocked at 3.7 GHz.
It comes with built-in Radeon Vega 8 graphics, eliminating the need for an external graphics card to produce music or edit videos. The Radeon built-in graphics provide a smooth experience to render videos.
Thanks to the Multi-threaded technology, which delivers amazingly fast processing power for multitasking or multimedia editing. It uses AMD SenseMI technology to handle tasks more efficiently.
The Stealth Wraith Cooler fan on the top keeps the CPU stable under heavy loads. Moreover, you don’t need any third-party liquid coolers to stabilize the temperature of your CPU.
It’s a low budget CPU for music production under $150. It packs a powerful built-in GPU and supports an affordable motherboard (AM4). The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G’ performance is similar to Intel’s Core i3-8100. Lastly, many music producers use Ryzen for audio production when for faster rendering.
Pros
- Affordable Price
- Built-in Vega Graphics
- AM4 CPU Socket Support
Cons
- Overclocking
- Driver Incompatibilities
2. AMD Ryzen 9 3950X | Most Powerful CPU for Music Production
Cores: 16 Cores /32 Threads
Clock Speed: 4.7 GHz Max
CPU Socket: AM4
Ryzen 9 3950X is one of the most reliable and fast processors for music production from AMD. With 16 cores and thirty-two threads, it’s an ideal CPU to run multiple music composition software at one time.
It comes with a max clock speed of 4.7 GHz that can be overclocked as well. However, when it comes to CPUs built for DAW software, overclocking does not matter at all.
Ryzen 9 3950X is recommended by many YouTubers and music producers for rendering music and videos. Ryzen 9 3900X series is one of the best series for gaming and music at the same time.
Like if we walk about a real AMD processor that has given a tough time to Intel’s top of the line CPUs, then it’s AMD Ryzen 9 3950X.
However, the performance comes with a high price, but still, AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is priced lower than the Intel’s high-end processors with the same performance.
Ryzen 9 3950X is a true performer when it comes to editing music or play games. With sixteen cores and a combined cache of 72 MB, it’s the best music CPU for the money.
Pros
- Fast & Reliable
- Overclocking
- Supports AM4 Socket
- Powerful Computing
Cons
- High Price
3. Intel Core i9-9900K | Best Intel Processor for Music Production
Cores: 8 Cores/16 Threads
Clock Speed: 3.6 GHz (Overclocked to 5.0 GHz)
CPU Socket: LGA 1151
Intel’s 9th generation of Core Series processors has taken the computing to the next level. High clock speeds and turbo boosts up to 5 GHz have caught the attention of many in the year 2020.
Core i9-9900K from Intel is the latest in the series with a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz. And if you are a gamer and music producer at the same time, you can overclock this CPU up to 5 GHz.
You can expect a next level performance with this 8 cores and 16 threads processor. Even at peak performance, this chip stays cool and stable, thanks to the STIM technology.
Technologies like these suck the enormous amount of heat from the CPU and transfer it to the heat sink for more efficient performance under load.
The good thing about i9 CPUs is that they draw less power as compared to the older processors in the Intel Core family. Moreover, each core on i9-9900K can be overclocked to 5.0 GHz to achieve high results.
CPUs that are more powerful on each core are best for music production and video editing. With integrated UDH Graphics 630, i9-9900K saves you a lot of money for buying an external graphics card.
Intel i9-9900K for music production is truly a game-changer at this point. It comes with 8-cores with hyper-threading enabled and an advanced integrated graphics chip.
Pros
- Excellent Single & Multicore Performance
- Supports Ram up to 128 GB
- Overclock up to 5 GHz on each single core
- Intel Optane Supported
Cons
- Supports only 300 Series Chipsets
- No Stock Cooler
4. AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | Best CPU for Audio Production
Cores: 8 Cores /12 Threads
Clock Speed: 3.7 GHz (Boost up to 4.3 GHz Max)
CPU Socket: AM4
Though Intel latest generation processors might have an edge for multitasking, we’ve found that AMD’s Ryzen 7 Series has no parallel when it comes to audio and video production. Indeed, the 2700X is the best ryzen CPU for music production in the market in terms of price and value.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X CPU is excellent at handling editing music and photos, encoding, multitasking and handling power demanding applications.
Ryzen 7 2700X comes with a base speed of 3.7 GHz that can be overclocked to 4.3 GHz without any problem. Again, it’s not the GigaHertz that matter to produce high-quality music from your PC.
The thing that matters the most is the cores that a CPU has to work smoothly and efficiently. Ryzen 7 2700X CPU comes with eight cores to work simultaneously for higher performance.
The 2700X is one of the best CPUs from AMD for music production that comes under an affordable price tag. It’s the most efficient CPU for audio content creation and intensive multitasking.
Pros
- More performance & cache
- All Rounder Performance
- CPU Cooler Included
- Overclocking
- Affordable Price
Cons
- No Integrated Graphics
- More energy consumption on load
- Limited overclocking room
Which CPU is Best for Audio Content Creation? AMD or Intel?
For many years, Intel processors have been rocking the world of computing. With the arrival of AMD CPUs that are cheaper, Intel has been facing tough competition.
Still, Intel processors are one of the most sold CPUs on the planet. However, AMD has adapted to more advanced technology as compared to Intel.
AMD 7nm chips are cheaper and deliver the same performance as compared to the Intel’s high-end generations. This is the reason Intel chips are more power-hungry when compared to AMD’s.
So which is the best option when it comes to music and video creation?
The answer is AMD. Because, the AMD CPUs come with more cores and threads on a competitive price. Intel processors on the other hand come with less cores for the same price.
If you create music or video for fun, then you may choose Intel over AMD. Apart from that, AMD processors are best for audio and video content creation if you are a professional content creator.
Unless you are looking for a CPU to max out your gaming performance, you can stick with AMD for content creation.
How many CPU cores do you need for music production?
The more cores you have, easier it will be for the CPU to process the information. The older generation of CPUs like Intel Dual Core and Core 2 Duo had two cores that were enough for music creation.
As most multimedia software like Ableton Live & Personus has set the minimum requirement of the processor to dual-core. However, with two cores it will take a long time to render a music track or video.
We recommend a minimum of 4 cores for content creation if you are on low on a budget. However, a CPU with 8 to 16 cores is excellent for music production and multitasking.
Single-Core Performance Matters
Instead of having a CPU with 12 cores clocked at 3 GHz, it is worth buying the one with 8 cores clocked at 3.6 GHz. Unlike DAW, not every content creation software makes use of all cores of a CPU.
Therefore, a multicore processor with a lot of single cores clocked at high speed is a better option for creating music. Check out some of the best CPUs with single-core performance here.
How many GHz is good for audio production?
CPU with clock speed over 2 GHz is good enough for content creation.However, we stress on having more cores instead of Giga Hertz.
Also, don’t let yourself fool with the term ”Turbo Boost” that comes mostly with Intel processors. That is a boost for a short period of time to help you do important stuff like reading emails or opening a website.
For music production, you need a constant clock speed over the time.
What is a good CPU for music production?
Any CPU with at least four cores is good enough for producing music. Another thing to keep in mind is the clock speed of the CPU, it should have a minimum of 2.4 GHz clock speed. The faster clock speed helps in faster rendering of audio files.
