Factors to Consider Before Buying a Video Editing Computer

Become a Filmmaker FREE ebook

From helping grow your brand and business to editing just for fun with the love entailed in this process, the last thing you want in video editing is a computer choking your creativity with constant crashes, laggy playback, and endless hours of video export time. In this blog, we’ll help you pick a video editing computer that meets your needs without having to send you back to school for a degree in wizardry.

Anthony Gallo of ContentCreator.com digs deep into what you’re going to need with regards to a video editing setup—from essentials and recommendations that ensure your computer has the right settings for this task and will be useable for years to come.

Mac or PC

The Eternal Question Still, the debate goes on between Mac and PC, but in the end, it all lands up being a personal choice. If you like one, then keep using it.

They will, therefore, have to take a more critical look at exactly which components constitute a computer, for these will be the ones actually deciding the possibilities of editing a video.

Key Components to Consider

Storage

Storage is the key—it’s all about capacity and speed. Start with, at least, a 500GB solid-state drive (SSD) because you need faster read and write speeds, which are paramount for video editing. And remember, over time, it will become a must in order to external hard drive all of your projects.
The Big Three: CPU, GPU, and RAM

These components are crucial for video editing performance:

• CPU (Central Processing Unit):

Basically, this is the brain of the computer that undertakes all the processing tasks. You should get one that has not less than six to eight cores and with a very high clock speed for optimum video editing performance. RAM (Random Access Memory): The higher, the better, in that it will make great multitasking facilitation and the execution of the video editing software. Thirty-two gigabytes used to be the gold standard, but with advancements like Apple’s Unified Memory Architecture, you might get by with less.

• GPU (Graphics Processing Unit):

The major component to help process video and effects. Suggested to have a dedicated GPU with not less than 2GB of VRAM, while much improvement has been observed in integrated options, especially in new Apple releases.

The Revolution of Apple’s M1 Chip Efficiency and performance game-changer: Apple unveils M1, its first system-on-a-chip (SOC), bringing together the CPU, GPU, and RAM.

M1 and its successors are good enough. They promise better performance, more efficiency, and great value for your hard-earned money.

Film Composition Examples

Within this FREE PDF, you will discover:

film composition examples in movies
how filmmakers employ composition techniques
how to create unforgettable cinematic experiences

Get Your Film Composition Examples

Video Editing Computers: Recommendations Based on Budget

Used markets will offer good deals, in case you can’t afford $1,000. Expect something powerful enough for video editing:

Minimum specs: 500GB SSD, 6 cores, 16GB of RAM at least (preferred 32GB), and a dedicated GPU.

$1,500 to $2,000:

Look at new MacBook Pros with an M2 chip or comparably priced PCs, such as the Lenovo Slim 7. And if you have more money, you can invest in at least a 16GB RAM upgrade and a 512GB SSD for respectively better performance and storage speed.

Video Editing Computer

$2500 and Up:

With the 16-inch MacBook Pro, you’re getting a pretty big leap in power, which is suited for even the most serious video editing tasks. For working with other complex or high-resolution footage, consider looking at some other more powerful spec models.

Video Editing Computer

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Video Editing Computer: Final Thoughts

So, the key point now becomes: pick the right computer for your video editing, which depends on what you already know about major computer components to consider and match between your preferences or budget and performance needs. Whether you are on the side of Mac or that of PC, there are very strong options in the market to take care of both the novice and seasoned video editors. Always remember the right tools can make your creative process a lot easier, ensuring that this post-production phase is fruitful and a lot of fun.