Best CPUs For Music Production In 2022

Music production is a great hobby and profession as well. However, it needs expensive equipment to produce high-quality music. If you plan to start a unique studio in 2022, one of the most vital components is getting the best CPU for music production. A deep understanding of the CPU for music production is required to choose the best when you are out on the hunt.

While looking for the best AMD CPUs for music production, you need to keep price and performance in mind. An expensive CPU doesn’t ensure good performance. Therefore, we are writing this guide to help you with your purchase. This guide will help you choose the ideal CPU for music creation.

Sadly, the most recent DAW software doesn’t fully use multicore CPU efficiency. However, processors having single-thread performance are recommended, but core count remains essential. For music production, you will require at least a quad-core processor while looking for the latest CPU. However, a dual-core processor may be ideal for doing simple jobs, but an AMD Ryzen 5 processor is required at least.

A dual-core processor can be enough for popular DAW software like Ableton Live, but Pro Tools need at least an i7 processor having 32 GB RAM. The clock speed needs to be more than 2.4 GHz; having a quicker will be better.

What Processor You Need for Music Production

When it comes to music production, the basic rule is simple, the more powerful processor you own, the more complex work you can perform.

Multicore processing is highly preferred for music production. Having more cores will help you to have more simultaneous tracks, sound effects, and multiple sampled instruments that you can mix at a time.

A simple quad-core processor will be enough if you are new to music production. However, you need a powerful processor to work on more complicated projects.

Intel vs. AMD

A few great CPU producers are available on the market, but Intel and AMD are two major players. They both are best for regular users and gamers. So, first, you will need to choose between these two options.

AMD was an underdog before the introduction of its popular Ryzen series. However, it is now in the competition and outperforming Intel often. It also offers some amazing defensive patches.

However, Intel is great for 1080p gamers, and it offers excellent performance when paired up with ideal graphics hardware. The thing is that you won’t be dissatisfied with both of these providers. You can choose the finest CPU to perform your music creation jobs.

RAM

RAM is an essential factor to consider while building a PC for music production. Here, you will need to consider the size and speed of the RAM. You can go for a balance between efficiency and affordability. However, 16 GB, DDR3 1600 MHz is recommended for first-time purchasers. But, if you are going to run various programs on it, you need to go for faster RAM.

SSD or HDD

It may seem clear that large internal storage is essential while building a PC, but often newcomers avoid it. If you go for onboard storage, you will have limited storage to perform as many projects as you want.

Storage needs are higher for music production. However, external hardware is a great storage option, and it is starting to be increasingly affordable. The convenience of connecting a large SSD or HDD is unmatched. We suggest you go for a 2 TB HDD, and it will serve your purpose well in music production. It depends on your taste and requirements.

Our Recommendations of The Best CPUs For Music Production In 2022:

Let’s check out the best CPUs for music production in 2022.

10 best CPUs for music production

1. AMD Ryzen 5 3400G

AMD Ryzen 5 3400G is known as a powerful processor for gaming and music production.

Key Features

• 4 Cores & 8 Threads
• 2 GHz Max CPU Frequency
• 65W TDP
• AM4 Socket

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Overview

If you have a plan to buy a good CPU for music production but don’t necessarily have a high budget to get an expensive one, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G is highly recommended. It is known as the best CPU that you can find under the $200 range. It is an amazing CPU that supports some high-end features. You can get a bundled cooler with this CPU. Moreover, it also comes with integrated graphics that helps to make it a great entry-level choice for building a PC.

This CPU isn’t only good for music production, but it is more of a CPU for rigs that don’t have separate graphics. Without discrete graphics, you won’t be able to achieve a good music production experience. However, having a CPU with integrated graphics can be a great choice to build a super entry-level music production. This unit is the upgraded version of the Ryzen 5 2400G.

Furthermore, it also offers multi-threading, which is good for superb performance. This unit’s multi-threading feature helps boost the performance while running modern tasks and programs that need CPU intensity. It is suitable for rendering 3D images, transcoding videos, music production, and so much more. It comes equipped with 8 threads and 4 cores to deliver excellent processing speed.

You can expect to get a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz and a boost clock speed of 4.2 GHz. However, the speed of this unit can be higher than its cheaper counterpart, and it offers excellent performance that helps to save plenty of your time while multitasking. It comes with a built-in AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 GPU. Overall, it is an excellent choice than Intel when it comes to building a great PC for entry-level music production.

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2. AMD Ryzen 5 3600

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a decent choice for music production.

Key Features

• 6 Cores & 12 Threads
• 2 GHz Max Boost Frequency
• 65W TDP
• AM4 Socket

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Overview

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is another excellent entry-level CPU for music production. You can definitely go for this one if you want to build an entry-level music production PC. You can expect great value from this unit for the price. It comes with a great graphics unit and fulfills all of your needs. You can expect outstanding performance for gaming and music production without any hassle.

This unit is far better than its predecessor. It offers something that not a lot of people expected from this unit. It is based on the new Zen 2 architecture and capable of doing some great things. This CPU doesn’t have a 12nm manufacturing process, but it works on a 7nm process. It allows the CPU to get better efficiency and boost instructions per clock.

Another great feature of this CPU is its increased memory immediately. It comes with the specs that are available on the more expensive counterpart of this unit. More cache of this CPU will be helpful to boost the overall music production performance. It comes with the X570 chipset that is capable of supporting the new standard of PCIe 4.0.

The features of this unit are capable of handling bandwidth for PCIe SSDs and newer Navi graphics units. This is a feature that is essential for gamers and productivity users. The base clock speed of this unit is 3.6 GHz, and it can offer a boost clock speed up to 4.2 GHz. It comes with 6 cores and multi-threading features to offer outstanding performance for music production.

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3. AMD Ryzen 7 2700X

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X is known as the best CPU for your money.

Key Features

• 8 Cores & 16 Threads
• 3 GHz Max CPU Frequency
• 105W TDP
• AM4 Socket

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Overview

For a long time, the Intel Core i7-8700K offered the best value for your money, but it has been outranked by the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. AMD Ryzen 7 2700X offers the best value for your money. It offers excellent upgrades, new architecture, incredible clock speeds, bundled cooler, and great software. Overall, it has effectively ended the dominance of Intel in the CPU department.

This unit is the flagship CPU offered by AMD. It is built with the 12nm manufacturing process that helps to boost the speed. You can expect excellent performance for the price. It is a great CPU, and users are happy with the performance.

It comes equipped with 16 threads and 8 cores and offers multi-threading. It offers the same configuration as its predecessor. However, it offers a faster 3.7 GHz base clock speed, and you can get a boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz. It is based on the Zen+ architecture with 12nm construction, making it a great performance choice.

It comes with the X470 chipset that is great in terms of efficiency and performance that we can expect in all second-generation Ryzen CPUs. It also offers some great advancements like the Precision Boost 2, which helps to push higher frequencies across all the threads. The overclocking performance is also improved. Overall, it is an excellent choice for building a decent PC for music production.

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4. Intel Core i9-9900K

Intel Core i9-9900K is known as the best CPU for streaming.

Key Features

• 8 Cores & 16 Threads
• 5 GHz CPU Speed
• 95W TDP
• LGA 1151 Socket

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Overview

Many gamers turn to live video streaming to earn decent revenue and offer great content. This CPU offers some great features, tight energy consumption, great cooler performance, and superb hyper-threading. If you are looking to step into streaming, it is a great choice to serve your purpose.

This is the company’s first i9 chip that offers some great features to make it a fan favorite. It is one of the first octa-core processors in the company’s lineup. It is a bit expensive, and many gamers don’t like it for its price.

The best thing about this CPU is it combines all the cores and threads to deliver performance. It offers great hyper-threading, which is better than most Ryzen second-generation processors. It has a clock speed of 3.6 GHz base and a boost clock speed of 5.0 GHz with a single core. However, it offers 4.7 GHz with multiple cores. Overall, it is a great choice to build a reasonable music production PC.

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5. AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is known as the best overall CPU for music production.

Key Features

• 16 Cores & 32 Threads
• 7 GHz CPU Frequency
• 105W TDP
• AM4 Socket

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Overview

This CPU is on top of our list. It is the best option to build an excellent PC for music production. It is capable of handling CPU-intensive tasks. It is an excellent choice for building a workstation-grade CPU because it offers heavy specs and is a fan favorite. It is a cheaper option when it comes to high-end workstation-grade CPUs.

This unit is built on the amazing Zen 2 7nm architecture. As far as consumer processors are concerned, this is the most impressive choice. If you are looking for a better one, you need to go for the HEDT range, which doesn’t offer any real music production performance.

Moreover, the 7nm architecture of this unit offers an extra cache that will help you in several cases. It is an excellent choice for productivity. The beast comes with 16 cores and 32 threads, but it still has the standard AM4 socket. It also hits a TDP of 105 watts.

This CPU is a perfect choice for power-hungry users. It offers a base clock speed of 3.5 GHz and a boost clock speed of 4.7 GHz. The cores and threads of this CPU are combined to offer great multi-threading performance. More cores offer great performance in most cases.

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6. AMD Ryzen 3 2200G

AMD Ryzen 3 2200G is known as the best budget CPU for Music & Video production.

Key Features

• 4 Cores Unlocked
• 7 GHz Max
• AM4 Socket

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Overview

If you are looking to build a low-budget processor for creating high-quality music, there is nothing better than AMD. This unit is a quad-core processor that offers 3.7 GHz. It comes with integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics that eliminate the need for an external graphics card to edit videos or produce music. The built-in graphics of this unit offers a smooth experience for rendering videos.

Thanks to the multi-threaded technology of this unit that offers high-speed processing power for multimedia editing or multitasking. It comes with AMD SenseMI technology for handling tasks more efficiently.

The Stealth Wraith Cooler fan helps to keep the CPU stable while performing CPU-intensive tasks. Moreover, there is no need for any third-party liquid coolers to stabilize the CPU temperature.

You can buy a low-budget CPU for music production for under $150. The performance of this unit is similar to Intel Core i3-8100. It comes with an excellent built-in GPU that supports an affordable AM4 motherboard. Finally, many music producers use Ryzen for music production and faster rendering.

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7. AMD Ryzen 3 3100

AMD Ryzen 3 3100 is known as an excellent choice for newbies.

Key Features

• 4 Cores & 8 Threads
• 9 GHz CPU Frequency
• 65W TDP
• AM4 Socket

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Overview

If you have a plan to buy something on a budget, maybe you are a newbie and looking to get your hands on music production, then this is the most affordable and minimum CPU that you can get to serve your purpose.

It is an entry-level Ryzen processor. However, it is not as low-performing as the Intel Celeron, AMD Athlon, or Pentium processors. When it comes to using professional software, this unit is known as an entry-level processor.

This CPU meets the minimum requirements of having 4 cores and 8 threads. It offers a decent performance of 3.9 GHz on a single core. However, some of the actual reasons we have chosen this are, it is available at a cheap price tag.

If you have a tight budget, it is the right choice for music production. Overall, it is an excellent choice if you build a PC for music production on a tight budget.

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8. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is an excellent choice for gaming and music production.

Key Features

• 6 Cores & 12 Threads
• 6 GHz CPU Frequency
• 65W TDP
• AM4 Socket

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Overview

Thanks to AMD Ryzen 5000 series. This CPU is a great choice for gaming and music production. Configuring and customizing your rig has never been easier. Get this processor to experience the best performance.

While looking for a processor that you need to build a PC for music production, ensure that you are spending enough money and that your purchase has all the features you need.

This CPU is an excellent recommendation for users who are looking to get excellent performance in music production. It is a good choice for users who are looking to buy a CPU on a budget. It is a perfect piece for gamers who like to play games in higher settings. It offers 100+ FPS to offer a smooth experience. You can record tracks and play your favourite video games. It offers a maximum base clock speed of up to 4.6 GHz.

The 6 cores of this processor offer incredible performance for gaming and music production. Overall, it is an excellent choice for users looking to build a decent PC for music production. It can support PCIe 4.0 and support X570 and B550 motherboards having AM4 sockets.

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9. Intel Core i9-10900K

Intel Core i9-10900K is known as the best CPU for music production.

Key Features

• 10 Cores & 20 Threads
• Up to 5.3 GHz CPU Frequency
• 125W TDP
• LGA 1200 Socket

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Overview

This CPU is a perfect choice for all those who need a solid PC for music production. It offers excellent performance. Moreover, it also offers the best performance with USB 3.0. So, it won’t be a problem connecting your portable drives like MIDI keyboards.

The best part is that this processor comes with 10 processor cores, and it can offer boost clock speed up to 5.3 GHz. The single threads scores of these processors are excellent. Moreover, you can also use a quad-core processor if that isn’t enough for your needs. An unlocked CPU with new overclocking controls offers additional performance tuning flexibility.

It comes with hyper-threading technology which means you can perform various tasks simultaneously without any hassle. It is an excellent choice for multitasking and gaming. However, users are not happy with the high-temperature rise of this CPU. Overall, it is an excellent CPU if you are looking to get the best performance for gaming and music production.

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10. Intel Core i7-7700K

Intel Core i7-7700K is a great choice for gaming and music production.

Key Features

• 4 Cores
• 2 GHz CPU Frequency
• LGA 1141 Socket

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Overview

The Intel Core i7-7700K is a popular CPU for performance. It comes with 4 cores and offers a boost speed up to 4.5 GHz as well as its clock speed is 4.2 GHz. It is an excellent CPU for music production and gaming on this list.

This process works smoothly to perform all of your tasks. However, this processor is slightly stronger than the 6700K. You can expect outstanding performance for gaming and other tasks. It is a great choice to handle multitasking easily. It is an excellent choice for all of your needs.

Moreover, to get maximum performance from this CPU, you can pair an excellent cooling system. However, keep in mind that you need to take extra care while using the Intel Core 7700K, even with cooling, as it is a beast. It is a beast for power users, and you won’t be disappointed with its performance.

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Summary for The Best CPUs For Music Production In 2022:

Conclusion

There are hundreds of CPUs available when you want to buy the best CPU for music production in 2022. There is great competition between Intel and AMD CPUs. We have prepared this guide to help you choose the right option for your needs.

No matter what budget you have to build a new music studio PC, we have provided a list of the best processor from AMD and Intel. Your selection will be totally based on how much you are willing to spend and what tasks you need to perform on the PC.

Your choice depends on the software, VSTs, plug-ins, and the number of tracks or instruments you will run on your PC. Generally, DAW software is used to produce music, and it is quite resource-intensive. A powerful processor can be helpful to fulfill your demanding needs.

A smooth working experience is needed for music production. However, you’ll be able to achieve that with the help of a powerful processor. There is nothing more worse than technical issues or slow performance. Therefore, you should only choose the best CPU for music production.

FAQ

Which CPU is best for music production? Intel or AMD?

For many years, Intel processors have been ruling the world of computing. However, with the arrival of budget-friendly AMD CPUs, Intel is facing great competition.

However, Intel processors are still one of the most sold CPUs globally. But, AMD has adopted more advanced technology.

So which option is ideal when it comes to video and music production?

AMD CPUs offer more cores and threads at an affordable price. On the other hand, Intel processors have fewer cores within the same price. AMD is the winner in this case.

If you create videos or music for fun, you can go for Intel than AMD. Apart from that, AMD processors are best for video and audio content creation.

How many cores do you need for music production?

The more cores you have, the easier it will be for your CPU to process the information. The older generation CPUs like Core 2 Duo and Intel Dual Core had two cores that were good for music creation.

However, with the advancements of software and tools, you now need a minimum of 4 cores for content creation if your budget is low. A CPU with 8 or 16 cores is an excellent choice for multitasking and music production.

Does Single-Core Performance Matter?

Instead of having a CPU with 12 cores offering clock speed at 3 GHz. It can be good to buy one that offers 8 cores clocked at 3.6 GHz. Not every content creation software uses all cores of a CPU.

Thus, a multicore processor offering a lot of single cores clocked at high speed is a great option to create music.

What is a good music production CPU?

Any CPU having at least four cores is good enough to produce music. Another point to remember is the clock speed of a CPU. A CPU should be offering a minimum of 2.4 GHz clock speed. Having a faster clock speed can be helpful in the faster rendering of audio files.

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