Question AMD or Intel CPU for DaVinci Resolve? (In my case)

[GeTShrEx]

Hi!
I'm building my first PC, primarily for gaming (but I don’t need to play all AAA games on release) and video editing in DaVinci Resolve, with a lifespan of about 5 years in mind. However, I’m struggling to choose the right CPU. Normally, I’d lean towards Intel for their Quick Sync and H.265 codec support, which I know are valuable for future-proofing. Recent Intel generations (13th, 14th, and now 15th) have issues that make me hesitant, and I can’t wait much longer. It’s also worth mentioning that I’ll start by editing YT videos and short-form content for social media (nothing very advanced). I’m new to editing, so I’m not sure how essential Quick Sync and H.265 codec support are for this use case. Here’s a summary of what I’m considering:

- Intel
Intel CPUs offer media features like Quick Sync and H.265 codec support, which are optimal for working with Resolve. However: 13th and 14th Gen run very hot and have known stability issues, 15th Gen, while powerful, is now expensive and less efficient for gaming.
- AMD
AMD CPUs appear more power-efficient, which is important to me, though they lack Intel's media features. I’m considering the Ryzen 9 7900 for its 12 cores and impressive power efficiency. (I also looked at the R7 7700 and R9 7950X, although the 7950X is slightly above my budget.)
Here’s my current planned build with the R9 7900: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Bfw6MC
- DaVinci Resolve & CapCut
Initially, I’ll be using the free version of DaVinci Resolve for more complex projects and CapCut for shorter videos. Are Intel's Quick Sync and H.265/HEVC codec support essential for this, or would AMD work just as well?
- Air Cooling
I’d like to avoid water cooling if possible. AMD seems better suited for air cooling, while Intel’s recent CPUs often require liquid cooling due to high temperatures,
- Platform Longevity
If I go with AMD, I’d get an AM5 socket motherboard, which offers a good future upgrade path. Intel’s LGA1700 (compatible with 12th Gen Intel, which might be the only reasonable Intel option) doesn’t seem as future-proof, and even that generation has high temperatures that are challenging to manage with air cooling (e.g., i7-12700K, i9-12900K).

Any advice on choosing between these options, especially considering my focus on Resolve, gaming, power efficiency, and air cooling? Would AMD be a solid choice for my needs, or are Intel’s media features worth the potential downsides?

Thanks in advance!
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Bfw6MC

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

I'd go with AMD though one thing stood out to me in your entire post;
I'm building my first PC, primarily for gaming
In that case, I'd have opted to go with the 7900X3D SKU for the build;
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Xc...x3d-44-ghz-12-core-processor-100-100000909wof
Outside of that one change, your entire build looks spot on to me for a newcomer to our forums. I would ofc add more storage to said build. In this case a smaller capacity SSD for the OS, app's and launchers, the existing 2TB can be your game library, perhaps larger to have as both a game library and project files and finally a mechanical drive to house all your final projects.