What Kind of PC to Buy for Video Editing

If you’re serious about video editing, having the right PC can make or break your workflow. Whether you’re editing YouTube videos, cinematic productions, or high-resolution 4K+ content, choosing the right hardware ensures smooth playback, faster rendering, and less time waiting around. In this guide, we’ll break down what kind of PC to buy for video editing in 2025 to help you make a smart, future-proof investment.

Why a High-Performance PC Is Essential for Video Editing

Video editing is a resource-intensive task. Unlike general productivity, editing apps like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro (via virtualization) demand powerful CPUs, ample RAM, and fast storage. A well-equipped editing PC improves:

• Render times

• Timeline responsiveness

• Playback smoothness

• Multitasking and effects processing

Key Components of a Great Video Editing PC

1. CPU (Processor)

The CPU is arguably the most important part of a video editing PC.

• Recommended:

  • Mid-range: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X or Intel Core i7-13700K

  • High-end: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X or Intel Core i9-13900K

• Why: Most editing software utilizes multi-core processors for rendering and exporting. Intel chips also support Quick Sync, which accelerates encoding.

Tip: More cores = faster rendering, especially in Premiere Pro and After Effects.

2. GPU (Graphics Card)

While not every editing task relies on a GPU, modern software increasingly uses GPU acceleration for effects, transitions, and playback.

• Recommended:

  • Budget: NVIDIA RTX 4060 / AMD RX 7600

  • Mid-range: RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT

  • High-end: RTX 4080 / RTX 4090

• Why: NVIDIA cards offer CUDA cores, which many apps are optimized for, including Adobe Creative Suite and DaVinci Resolve.

DaVinci Resolve users: Invest more in the GPU—it’s heavily GPU-accelerated.

3. RAM (Memory)

More RAM = smoother performance, especially for complex timelines and effects.

• Recommended:

  • Minimum: 32GB DDR5 RAM

  • Ideal: 64GB+ for 4K+ editing or heavy After Effects use

• Why: RAM helps handle large files, multitasking, and preview caching.

4. Storage

Video files are huge. You need fast storage for editing and ample space for project files.

• Recommended Setup:

  • 1TB NVMe SSD – OS and applications

  • 2TB NVMe/SATA SSD – Active projects

  • 4TB+ HDD or external SSD – Archival and backup

• Why: Fast SSDs reduce loading times, speed up exports, and keep timelines responsive.

5. Motherboard and Power Supply

Don’t overlook these—stability and expandability are key.

• Motherboard: Choose one that supports PCIe Gen 5, has multiple M.2 slots, and supports high RAM frequencies.

• PSU: 750W+ Gold-rated power supply for reliability and headroom for upgrades.

Desktop vs Laptop for Video Editing

Verdict: Go with a desktop if you need power and plan to stay in one location. Choose a laptop if mobility is essential and you’re willing to pay a premium.

Best Video Editing PC Builds by Budget  

💰 Entry-Level (~$1000–$1300)

• CPU: Intel i5-13600K / Ryzen 5 7600X

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060

• RAM: 32GB DDR5

• Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

💼 Mid-Range (~$1500–$2000)

• CPU: Intel i7-13700K / Ryzen 7 7700X

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070

• RAM: 64GB DDR5

• Storage: 2TB SSD + 4TB HDD

🚀 High-End ($2500+)

• CPU: Intel i9-13900K / Ryzen 9 7950X

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4080 or 4090

• RAM: 64GB–128GB DDR5

• Storage: Dual 2TB NVMe SSDs + NAS or 8TB HDD

Final Thoughts

When deciding what kind of PC to buy for video editing, always prioritize your workflow needs. Consider the resolution and complexity of your projects, the software you use, and your future upgrade plans. A balanced system with a strong CPU, capable GPU, ample RAM, and fast storage will serve you well across all your video editing tasks.