Video editing is a lot heavier on the system unit than you think. In some cases, video editing and 3D rendering are more intensive than AAA gaming.
If you’re editing videos in 4K, 8K, or a higher resolution, you’ll need a powerful computer for that. Video editing or 3D rendering on a computer that’s not specifically built to withstand that amount of processing power is the equivalent of putting a high-powered bullet into an old gun.
It’s an exaggeration and we’re not saying that your PC might explode if it’s not specced for video editing, but it will crash.
So what makes the best computer for video editing? It’s a combination of a lot of components, namely:
- Powerful processor
- A robust graphics card
- Lots of memory
- Large storage capacity
- SSD
- high resolution or high fidelity monitor
Is there a catch to assembling the best computer for video editing? There is. Assembling a video editing computer is going to be expensive.
Fortunately for you, we got this list of the best video editing computers that won’t need assembly. Some of them will come with their own monitors or displays, while others are just system units or workstations.
Come check out our curated list of some of the best video editing computers in the market right now.
2021 Apple iMac (24-inch)
The Best Machine for Video Editing
What are the specs?
- CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU
- Graphics: Integrated 7-core – 8-core GPU
- RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory
- Storage: up to 2TB
- Screen: 24-inch 4.5K Retina display
Why buy it?
- Screen quality is excellent
- Compact and powerful
Why avoid it?
- No discrete GPU
- Not enough ports
On the top of our list, we have the latest generation of the Apple iMac computers. By far, this is the best computer for video editing as they’re just the perfect balance between price, performance, and power.
The computer’s processor is capable of handling multiple streams of 4K video in an editing software. The 4.5K resolution on the 24-inch monitor makes everything looks vibrant and crisp. But if you are working on anything higher than 4K resolution, this might not be the best workstation for you.
You also get access to their video editing program called Final Cut Pro, which is one of the best video editing software right now.
The only couple of downside we see with this unit is the absence of a discrete GPU, so if you’re planning on using something like a heavy-duty program like DaVinci Resolve, then this workstation might lag. You’re better off with a MacBook Pro in this instance.
HP Envy 32
Another All in One Computer for Gaming and Video Editing
What are the specs?
- CPU: Intel Core i9-9900K (3.60 GHz, 8 cores)
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (8 GB VRAM
- RAM: 32GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD (PCIe)
Why buy it?
- Large 4K screen
- With Thunderbolt support
Why avoid it?
- Expensive!
- Ports behind the unit may be hard to access
- Not exactly easy to move around
What do you get when you combine the externals of an iMac Pro with the power of Windows components? You get the HP Envy 32, and by gosh, it’s one of the best video editing computers in the market for a couple of reasons.
The HP Envy 32 comes with an Intel i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card. This makes it a very powerful video editing PC that could run any video editing software with ease.
The HP Envy 32 comes with Gigabit Ethernet and built-in WiFi 6. On the side ports, you’ll get an SD Card reader and a USB-A. Behind the unit, you get an RJ45 port, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI-IN if you want to use the HP Envy 32 as a monitor for another PC, and an HDMI-Out if you want to use another monitor. And because it’s a premium build, you’re not getting a cheap PC case. Everything about the HP Envy 32 spells “PREMIUM”.
But with its 4K resolution, we see no real benefit to using a larger screen or TV for external display unless it’s way better than the HP Envy 32’s. All in all, if you have the money to throw around and you want the best video editing computer, the HP Envy 32 is up for consideration.
Mac Studio
A High-Performance Video Editing Machine from Apple
What Are the sepcs?
- CPU: M1 Max 10-cores / M1 Ultra 20-cores
- Graphics: 24-core GPU / 48-core GPU
- RAM: 32-128GB
- Storage: 512GB-8TB SSD
- Screen: None
Why buy it?
- 8K video editing? Say no more.
- Almost quiet
Why avoid it?
- Expensive!
The Mac Studio is a video editing workstation from Apple, though you might say it has other capabilities outside of just video editing. The Mac Studio is the ultimate tool for professionals in the creative industry, from graphics designers to video editors.
The Mac Studio comes with Apple’s own M1 Max processor, or some variants may have the M1 Ultra. The M1 Ultra is double the cores, bandwidth, and memory compared to the M1 Max. Both chips are powerful, regardless.
With this kind of processing power, it didn’t surprise us when we found out that the Mac Studio did creative tasks without difficulty or lag. Editing 8K footage is definitely a breeze for the Mac Studio. Rendering 3D via Houdini was also easily handled by the Mac Studio.
If you are doing all of the tasks in the previous paragraph, this is the best desktop computer for you and will be worth every penny. If not, there are other alternatives out there.
Microsoft Surface Studio 2
An All-In-One Workstation From Microsoft
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7-7820HQ
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB -GTX 1070 8GBRAM: 16-32GB
- Storage: 1-2TB SSD
- Screen: 28-inch 4500×3000 resolution IPS display
Why buy it?
- Decent graphics card
- High resolution touch screen
Why avoid it?
- Outdated CPU compared to other competitors
The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is a decent alternative to the Apple iMac if you fancy Windows over MacOS. On some levels, the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is way better and scores higher points for us than the Apple iMac.
First, the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 allows you to switch between two different color profiles, from sRGB to DCI-P3. This isn’t something that you’d commonly find in competitor workstations.
You also have this beautiful 28-inch display with a resolution of 4,500 x 3,000 pixels and touch screen capability. But like the Apple iMac, the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 has a downside. For one thing, the GPU isn’t that impressive, but the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is far more capable of handling very demanding video editing tasks than the Apple iMac.
Lenovo ThinkStation P340 Tiny
Small and Powerful Video Editing Computer
What are the specs?
- CPU: Intel Core i9 10900T (1.90 GHz, (4.50 GHz boost) 10 Cores)
- Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro P1000 4GB VRAM
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4-2933 (64GB Max)
- Storage: 1 TB M.2 PCIe SSD
- Screen: None
Why buy it?
- Compact and takes up minimal desk space
- Lots of ports and expandability option
Why avoid it?
- No Thunderbolt support
The Lenovo ThinkStation P340 is a small workstation, but don’t underestimate its size. Underneath this compact workstation is a deca-core Intel Core i9 processor with 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD for storage, and Nvidia Quadro P1000 graphics card (4GB VRAM).
Impressive, right?
It’s roughly 7 inches wide and 1.4 inches thin, so it doesn’t take up a lot of desk space. On the technical side of things, the Intel Core i9 processor is powerful enough to carry out video editing applications despite the lack of the discrete GPU graphics. When it comes down to heavy editing tasks or rendering tasks that require some graphics power, the Lenovo ThinkStation P340 might relatively fall short.
HP Omen 30L
A Gaming PC and Video Editing Computer Rolled Into One Unit
What are the specs?
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 (upgradeable to RTX 3080 or RTX 3090)
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Screen: None
Why buy it?
- A really solid build for both gaming and video editing
- It’s a desktop computer, so you can swap components
Why avoid it?
- Single cooling fan on a RTX 3060 (1 fan for intake, 1 fan for exhaust)
Gaming computers are just as good for running video editing applications, as long as they have the specifications for it. And a good example of these gaming computers is the HP Omen 30L.
The newer variant of the Omen 30L has an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. Previously, you had an Intel i7 processor with an RTX 2080 Super, which is also a decent setup for gaming and editing.
This processing and graphics power is combined with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD for storage. You can run the most demanding games on ultra settings or do some serious editing/rendering tasks.
On the aesthetic side, you have this sleek black casing with a heavy glass side panel that allows you to peek inside. Granted, this kind of aesthetic design may not be for everyone.
On paper, this is a great system to work with or game with. But there’s a downside. The HP Omen 30L only has one cooling fan for intake and one for exhaust, so it will get too noisy when it gets too hot. Other than that, the computing power and the graphics power of the HP Omen 30L still supersedes the cooling fan issue. Creative professionals who’re also into gaming might find this one of the best choices for
Lenovo ThinkStation P620
Robust, Compact, Affordable, with Room For Expansion
What are the specs?
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX (3.9 GHz, 16 cores)
- Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro RTX4000 8GB
- RAM: 32GB 3200MHz RDIMM ECC (2 x 16 GB)
- Storage: 1TB M.2 SSD
Why buy it?
- On-site support available for three years
- Expandability is superb
- TPM 2.0 module for Windows 11
Why avoid it?
- Custom built and takes up to two months before you get it
- No HDMI or legacy DVI ports
Just like the P640, the Lenovo ThinkStation P620 is another compact workstation that packs a punch. You get expandability options through the roof as well with support for up to half a terabyte of RAM, five SATA HDDs, and room for up to four graphics cards. The processor is an AMD Ryzen PRO 3955WX with 16 cores and clocked at 4.30Ghz.
On the official Lenovo store, you’ll find four configurations for the Lenovo ThinkStation. If you want video editing, you want the Ryzen Pro CPU with an 8GB Quadro RTX 4000 graphics card. You also get 1TB SSD with an option to upgrade to 2TB for a small price. Video editing performance on the Lenovo ThinkStation P620 is excellent, but it may struggle with 3D rendering.
However, we find that the lack of HDMI and legacy ports is a bit of a nuisance since you’d need to purchase adapters from their website.
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i
A Powerhouse Gaming and Video Editing Computer
What are the specs?
- CPU: Intel Core i7 -12700
- Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Super
- RAM: Up to 16 GB DDR4 2933MHz
- Storage: Up to 2 TB HDD + 1 TB SSD
- Screen: None
Why buy it?
- A beefy and high end video editing and gaming computer
- One of the best computers we’ve seen that’s prebuilt
Why avoid it?
- No USB Type C connection at the front
The Lenovo Legion 5i is one of the best computers we’ve seen yet on this list, and no, we’re not talking about the laptop too. The Lenovo Legion 5i is an all in one computer for video editing, 3D rendering, office tasks, and of course, gaming.
The latest iteration of the Lenovo Legion 5i comes with a 12th-generation Intel processor combined with an RTX 3070 graphics card. Previously, we had a 10th generation Intel Core i7 CPU and an RTX 2070 Super, which aren’t that bad for modern gaming.
The Lenovo Legion 5i comes with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB SSD for storage. If you need more RAM or storage, well the Lenovo Legion 5i has room for upgrades.
Dell Precision 3650
A Powerful Computer for Video Editing
What are the specifications?
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i9 11900K, 3.5GHz (5.3 GHz turbo), 8 cores
- Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 (8 GB)
- RAM: 64 GB 3,200MHz DDR4 UDIMM (2×32)
- Storage: 2TB SSD (M.2) + 8TB HDD (3.5” SATA)
Why buy it?
- Guaranteed next business day onsite service
- Three-year warranty
- Robust build
- Quality components for editing video
Why avoid it?
- Expensive
- You can’t have both 10G Ethernet and Thunderbolt 4.
The Dell Precision 3650 is categorized by the company as an entry level desktop workstation, but it’s far from being entry level. Creative professionals, from designers to video editors, will find the Dell Precision 3650 more than capable of handling most video editing software, graphics design software, and other creative software.
Under the hood, we have an 11th generation Intel processor or Xeon W-1300 processor and can be expanded to up to 128GB RAM, additional PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, and options for either Nvidia or AMD graphics cards.
If you want the best computer for video editing, you’ll want to combine an Intel processor with an Nvidia Quadro RTX 4000 GPU, and a 2TB SSD with 8TB of SATA HDD for video file storage. You can also add either a Thunderbolt 4 or an Ethernet port, but you can’t have both.
Now, video editing tasks on this computer is just flawless. Outside of not being able to combine both Thunderbolt 4 ports and Ethernet ports on a workstation, everything else is a good reason as to why this is considered the best video editing computer for serious creative professionals.
Asus PB60G Mini Business PC
Great Value Computer for Video Editing and More
What are the specs?
- CPU: Intel Core i9-9900T (2.1 GHz / 4.4 GHz boost, 8 cores)
- Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro P620 (2GB VRAM)
- RAM: 16 GB (64GB build available)
- Storage: 1 TB HDD (1TB SSD + 2TB HDD build available)
Why buy it?
- Great value
- Superb connectivity options
- Can support up to three 4K monitors
- Plenty of ports
Why avoid it?
- No Thunderbolt support
Last but definitely not the least, we have the Asus PB60 Mini PC. It’s a powerful PC with laptop components, so don’t even think about underestimating this beast. Think of it as a prebuilt Mini ITX PC, if you will.
For variants, you’ll either get an Intel i5 or an Intel Core i7 (up to Intel Core i9). This CPU is combined with 16GB of RAM (can upgrade up to 64GB if you want more speed to edit video footage), and 1TB HDD (though you can upgrade for a small price to get a 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD combo).
The best variant you could possibly get would be an Intel Core i9 processor with 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and Nvidia Quadro P620. This setup is fairly capable of running Adobe Premiere or any editing software without difficulty.
The design of the Asus PB60 Mini PC leaves a lot to be desired because it’s looks like stacked pizza boxes. The bottom box contains the graphics card, and the rest are on the upper box. There’s sufficient air vents located throughout the unit, so even if you’re running heavy video editing tasks, it should stay sufficiently cool and quiet.
How Do You Determine What Makes a Good Computer for Video Editing?
When it comes to setting up a video editing PC, there’s no denying that hardware will always play the biggest role in determining what goes into a PC.
For starters, a typical video editing workflow requires some processing power and graphics power. As the load for editing goes higher, so will the computing power required. A good video editing computer should be equipped with the latest generations of processors and graphics cards. A good example would be the 12th Generation Intel Core i7 or i9 processors, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 30-series graphics cards (RTX 3050, RTX 3060, and so on).
The best computer for video editing is also subjective at some point when it comes to RAM and storage. These are flexible enough to where you can just have enough above minimum. It’s recommended that you do get at least 16GB to 32GB RAM and about 1TB of SSD storage. If you are going to be saving editable files, you need a secondary storage space. The secondary storage space can be an HDD instead of an SSD, but hey, you do you.
Any of the machines listed above could be considered the best computer for video editing by different creative professionals. It just boils down to their video editing needs and their needs outside of video editing.