Need help choosing a high end CPU for a workstation dedicated to audio production and sound engineering.

Posted by xii@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 13 comments

I am an electronic music producer and sound engineer, and I haven't updated my CPU in about four years.

Right now I'm currently rocking a Core i9-9900KF and I desperately need an upgrade so I can run more CPU intensive VST plugins and VSTi instruments.

I am planning an upgrade this month, but I'm extremely (understatement) frustrated with the current offering when it comes to CPUs.

I originally bought a Core i9-14900KF and motherboard about a month ago, but ended up returning it after hearing everywhere about all the instability issues with Intel 14th gen. People were saying that intel is basically selling defective chips that will most likely degrade heavily over time. I've read this on numerous forums (AnandTech, Overclock.net, Tom's Hardware).

So I've been biding my time for the Ryzen 9 9950X and planning on switching to AMD for the first time in my life. But now after reading reviews of the 9950X, it appears this chip also has a nasty problem. Specifically the PPM Provisioning driver. See quote from AnandTech:

Unfortunately, the issues we experienced with the PPM Provisioning driver, despite following all of AMD's guidelines and then some, has undermined this launch. So far we've seen core parking cause quite a few issues in performance, most notably in gaming. If it was an issue limited to just our testing, that could be negated, but having checked with a few of our colleagues, it looks to be a widespread issue. Something just doesn't seem to be working in the core parking department, as we ourselves have observed random cores from the parked CCX firing up randomly and taking game threads with them, and this in itself seems in defiance of what AMD is trying to achieve by running gaming workloads within a single CCX.

Tom's Hardware also lists "Core parking and thread targeting issues" in its review as a "Con".

Is this an issue that will affect a pro audio setup? Will the PPM driver issue and core parking problems be detrimental to an audio workload, or just for gaming?

What I really need is:

Low latency (DPC Latency)
Rock solid stability when it comes to running virtual instruments and effects.
Great single threaded performance for the most demanding synths (u-He Diva comes to mind)
Exceptional multi threaded performance so I can run many virtual instruments at the same time.

So I guess, tl;dr:

Have the issues with the 14th gen Intel chips (specifically the i9-14900K/i9-14900KF) been resolved or mitigated at this point?
Will the core parking and thread targeting issues being reported with the 9950X cause problems with an audio production workload?

Can someone please recommend the best way forward? Should I roll the dice with a 14900K, or go with the 9950X?

I truly appreciate any help or guidance.

Thanks so much.

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Kitchen_Part_882@reddit

The gaming part throws a wrinkle in there. If it were purely for use as a workstation, I would instantly suggest a Xeon or Threadripper.

But, yes, a 9950X would be the best option if you don't need loads of PCIe lanes for M.2 drives and ADCs/DACs

A well cooled 7950X3D might be an alternative option as the 9000 doesn't get much of a speed boost over the 7000 series (and if you park the smaller cache cores it should be on par with a 7800x3d in games).

TheGreatestGuyEver@reddit

On your second paragraph, can you elaborate, please?

My PC uses a 14700K for music production and light video editing (to make YouTube videos for my covers) and 64GB DDR5 RAM (2x 32GB) and a pair of 1TB SSDs (2x SN850X) in addition to a 4TB HDD (WD Blue). I intend, when things get better economically, to buy the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 so I can record vocals and instruments.

Based on what you have stated here, is it your sense that my intention to go for the 9950X later this year will present potential issues in the areas mentioned?

xii@reddit (OP)

Good point! I agree with you, but I think I'm going to spring for the 9950X. I haven't updated for so long, I want to treat myself. gif

Sidivan@reddit

Audio Engineer here. You’ve got good answers in this thread on the CPU piece, I just want to add that RAM is super important.

I’m running an 13700K that has some damage from Intels shenanigans (down clocked to 53x instead of 54x). I can easily run everything I need including 6+ instances of Kontact 7 and ez drummer.

Damn. Nice!

Awesome, hell yeah. So happy to know there won't be any problems then. Thanks for sharing your input! It's great to have someone already using the CPU for audio sharing their experience.

Appropriate_Earth665@reddit

An i7-12700k would work perfectly fine for your application and are relatively cheap atm.

GregMaffei@reddit

Every AMD launch has driver issues, wait it out.
Also anyone telling you to get X3D is wrong, they only benefit gaming and actually will be a bit slower in non-gaming tasks.

Yes, correct. I've heard that as well. Not going for the x3d variant. Thanks for the heads up.

Emerald_Flame@reddit

Depends on if you believe Intel or not. They say they have mitigated the issues. But they've also said that multiple times before for these same products only to continue to have failures and release additional mitigations the further lower performance. IMO until we're 6-12 months down the road where they can demonstrate the failures have stopped, I would not take them at their word.
I don't know enough on audio production software to give you a definitive answer on that one.

Thanks for the reply anyway. I think I'm going with the 9950X.

whomad1215@reddit

they specifically mention gaming as being the problem with core parking, because games only use maybe 6 cores

if your software is going "oooh boy, cores and threads, nom nom nom" the parking situation won't matter because they'll all be utilized anyways

Awesome, that's good news. Thanks for clarifying that. Some folks on AnandTech have also recommended that I go with the 9950X. I'm leaning towards that atm.