Ultimate 4K Video Editing PC Guide: Build the Right System for Your Workflow
In today’s digital world, video content is king, with the video editing market expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2021 to 2028. As a professional video editor or content creator, having a powerful PC that can handle 4K video editing is essential. However, choosing the right PC build can be daunting, with over 80% of users reporting feeling overwhelmed when trying to buy a new PC. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide, covering everything from the most important components to the best cooling solutions and power supply units.
By the end of this article, you’ll have the knowledge you need to build a reliable and powerful PC that can handle any 4K video editing task with ease as well as the best 4K video editing software for your PC.
What Specs Do I Need for 4K Video Editing?
When it comes to computer specs for 4K video editing, there are several components in a computer counting a great deal, including CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, and monitor, which are all you should focus on if you are going to build your PC for 4K video editing.
1. Which processor is best for video rendering?
As we always said, the CPU is king. It is the basic yet vital component of a computer as it does most of the processing work. 4K video editing progress is pretty complicated that decodes and encodes loads of data back and forth. CPU cores, threads, and clock speed determine running performance directly. More cores and threads and higher clock speed generate faster 4K video processing.
How many cores do you need for video editing? For common video editing, the minimum requirement on a CPU is 6 cores, but for 4K editing, you should build your computer with a CPU of 8 cores and 16 threads at least. We selected the 8 best CPUs for 4K video editing in different price categories.
2. What graphics card is best for 4K video editing?
GPUs are designed to manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images, animations, and videos to output to a display. Video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Vegas Pro is never the job of the CPU solely. Video editors use GPUs integrated into CPUs to render videos, especially for special effects. The more sophisticated the GPU, the higher the resolution and the faster and smoother the motion in videos. That’s why a good GPU makes a significant difference in UHD 4K video render speed and quality.
You may wonder which is more important for video editing, CPU or GPU? Almost every operation on a computer is a CPU-intensive process. Video editing differs in its graphics processing that needs GPU super-computing capability. Thus CPU and GPU are important equally, especially for 4K video editing. If you are hesitating about PC upgrading, keep this in mind:
High-end CPU+GPU=optimization.
High-end CPU+low/mid-range GPU=GPU bottleneck.
But equipping your computer with a high-end CPU, GPU, RAM, and display always benefits you from 4K video making if you have an adequate upgrading budget.
3. How much RAM do I need for 4K video editing?
While editing, your computer will use RAM to store RAW files and read them when needed. It means the larger memory on your computer, the more space for it to process videos. Thus RAM in an editing PC keeps your editing program running smoothly, especially with high-resolution raw videos. CPUs tend to perform better with large memory when editing ultra-high-resolution 4K videos.
Is 16GB RAM enough for 4k editing? It is the minimum requirement, but not the ideal RAM for 4K files. You may encounter issues with background tasks while editing, so you have to balance your usage and 4K editing processes, like lower editing and playback resolution, etc. 32GB is an ideal RAM for 4K processing.
4. Do I need SSD for 4K video editing?
SSD, short for Solid State Drive, is different from HDD (Hard Drive Disk). SSD is faster in data transferring because it has its processor and uses flash-based memory to process data, while HDDs store data on a rotating platter and use magnetism to read and write data.
It is not mandatory to have an SSD for 4K editing. Because there are CPU, GPU, and RAM which are trying to process 4K videos. You could release the burden by lowering resolution while editing and playback. But storage is the backbone of editing, especially 4K video editing. If you have enough budget, an SSD improves video without lagging or crashing. Here we made some suggestions.
5. Is cooling important for a 4K video editing PC?
Proper cooling is crucial for a 4K video editing PC because video editing is a highly resource-intensive task that generates a lot of heat. The components in a PC, such as the CPU and GPU, can generate a significant amount of heat while under load, and if this heat is not properly dissipated, it can cause damage to the components, reducing their lifespan and potentially causing the system to crash or malfunction.
In addition to reducing the risk of damage, proper cooling can also help to improve the performance of a 4K video editing PC. When components are kept cool, they can maintain optimal clock speeds, allowing them to perform at their maximum potential. Conversely, if components are allowed to overheat, they may throttle themselves to prevent damage, resulting in lower performance.
There are various cooling solutions available for a 4K video editing PC, including liquid cooling, air cooling, and hybrid cooling. The choice of cooling solution will depend on factors such as the budget, the level of cooling required, and the noise tolerance of the user.
6. Is the power supply unit (PSU) important for 4K video editing?
A reliable power supply unit (PSU) is critical for a 4K video editing PC because video editing is a resource-intensive task that requires a lot of power to run smoothly. The components in a PC, such as the CPU and GPU, require a stable and consistent supply of power to function correctly. A faulty or unreliable PSU can cause several issues, including system instability, crashes, and even damage to components.
One of the key factors in determining the reliability of a PSU is its efficiency rating. A high-efficiency PSU will convert more of the incoming power from the wall outlet into usable power for the PC, which can reduce the strain on the PSU and increase its lifespan. In contrast, a low-efficiency PSU will waste more power as heat and may be more likely to fail.
Another important consideration when choosing a PSU for a 4K video editing PC is its wattage. The power requirements of a 4K video editing PC can vary depending on the components used, but generally, a system with a high-end CPU and GPU will require a PSU with a wattage of at least 750W to 1000W. Using a PSU with insufficient wattage can cause the system to crash or fail to boot up altogether.
Which Computer Is Best for 4K Video Editing?
All of the suggestions above are for people who want to upgrade a certain part of their PCs, if you are searching for a computer with excellent overall performance, we have made this list for you.
* Note: Prices may vary based on location and time of purchase.
Video Editing Software for both Low-end to High-end Computers
If your budget is too tight to build a high-end computer, you should give up professional space-consuming editors that put too much pressure on the CPU, like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Vegas Pro, etc. VideoProc Vlogger comes to relieve old computers from 4K video editing.
It lowers CPU usage to 40% on average and speeds up 4K processing by utilizing its Full GPU Acceleration. GPU acceleration is a make-or-break when it comes to ironing out problems related to 4K content. GPU deals with graphics processing tasks faster while freeing up the CPU to keep all the basic applications running in normal operation.
It is a full-set 4K video editor that enables users to cut, motion crop, make speed ramping, color grading, and add background music to 4K videos recorded by GoPro, DJI, iPhone, and DSLR cameras from Sony, Canon, and Nikon. The processing speed reaches up to 47X real-time fast while keeping the original quality. Besides powerful editing capability, it was born with robust format compatibility. 4K videos of any format can be well supported by this 4K editing software.