Our After Effects benchmark tests three main categories of performance: RAM preview playback, export rendering, and tracking. The results from these three categories are then combined into an overall score to give you a general idea of how each hardware configuration might perform in After Effects.Overall, the AMD Ryzen 3950X manages to take the top spot for performance, beating out the Intel Core i9 9900K by about 3% and the Ryzen 9 3900X by 8%. This isn't a very large increase in performance considering it costs about 50% more than the 9900K or 3900X, but if you are looking for the absolute fastest CPU for After Effects, this is currently it.If you dig into the results in more detail, you will find that this performance lead mostly comes from one area: rendering performance during export. Here, the 3950X is closer to 10% faster than the Core i9 9900K or Ryzen 9 3900X, which can be very significant for some users. In other areas like RAM preview, however, it is only on par with the Core i9 9900K.Is the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X good for After Effects?In terms of pure performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is currently the fastest CPU available for After Effects. However, it is overall only a few percent faster than the Intel Core i9 9900K which may make it hard to justify since the cost is much higher. But if decreasing render times is one of your goals, it is a solid 10% faster than either the Core i9 9900K or Ryzen 9 3900X.Keep in mind that the benchmark results in this article are strictly for After Effects. If your workflow includes other software packages, you need to consider how the processor will perform in all those applications. Currently, we have articles for Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and a number of other applications.In addition, both Intel and AMD have new processors coming out in the near future which may change the price to performance picture. We will be publishing more articles as these new processors launch, so be sure to keep a close eye on our list of Hardware Articles in the coming weeks.