After a few delays, AMD has finally launched all of its Ryzen 9000 Series processors. These new chips use AMD’s Zen 5 technology, which means they’re designed to be faster and use less power than before. But how do they actually perform for content creators?
Let’s take a look at how they handle popular creative apps like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, and Unreal Engine.
What’s New with Ryzen 9000?
The new Zen 5 chips are more efficient and a bit faster than the old Ryzupen 7000 series. For example, the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X are around 5–10% faster than the older models and use about 40 watts less power when working hard.
Some programs see a big improvement, while others don’t change much. The Ryzen 9 9950X is special because it uses the same amount of power as the older version—but thanks to Zen 5, it can still perform better.
How They Perform in Creative Software
Adobe Photoshop
If Photoshop is your main tool, the Ryzen 7 9700X is currently the best CPU you can buy. It’s faster than even AMD’s top Ryzen 9 models and Intel’s best chip, the Core i9-14900K.
This chip is great for tasks that rely on single-core speed, which Photoshop often does.
But if you also work with video or need more cores for multitasking, a Ryzen 9 or Intel CPU might be a better all-around pick.
Adobe Premiere Pro
In Premiere Pro, AMD doesn’t gain much with the new Ryzen 9000 chips. They perform almost the same as the Ryzen 7000 series.
Intel still does better here—especially with its Quick Sync feature, which speeds up H.264 and HEVC video editing.
If you use Premiere a lot, Intel is still the better choice.
Adobe After Effects
After Effects sees a small boost from Ryzen 9000. It’s about 5% faster than before, which helps AMD compete better in the mid-range.
Ryzen 5 9600X beats Intel’s Core i5-14600K by 16%
Ryzen 7 9700X beats the Core i7-14700K by 8%
Intel’s top chip still wins at the high end, but AMD is getting close—especially with the Ryzen 9 9950X.
DaVinci Resolve
For DaVinci Resolve, the Ryzen 9000 chips aren’t a big step up from the old ones—but they’re still really good.
The 9600X and 9700X beat Intel’s similar chips by 10–20%, especially when editing RAW footage or using AI tools.
Intel’s Core i9-14900K is still a strong choice for general video editing, but if you work with RAW media or want better AI performance, the 9950X is worth considering.
Unreal Engine
If you use Unreal Engine, don’t expect a big speed boost from the Ryzen 9000 series. Performance is mostly the same as Ryzen 7000—but power use is lower.
So unless you’re building a new PC, there’s no need to upgrade.
Conclusion
The Ryzen 9000 series is a bit of a mixed bag. Some programs run a lot better, others not so much. Power efficiency is better across the board, and in apps like Photoshop and After Effects, these chips really shine.
But if you mostly use Premiere Pro or want the best general performance, Intel still has the edge.
If you’re thinking about upgrading or building a new PC for photo editing, video, 3D, or design work — we can help! Reach out to us and we’ll recommend the perfect setup for your creative needs
