Beef it Up: Basic Hardware Requirements for Editing

Joe McCleskey
July 2005

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It's a very common set of questions readers ask us: "When I'm shopping for a video editing computer, what should I look for? Should I buy a Mac or a PC? What are the minimum system requirements for a desktop machine that can handle the rigors of nonlinear editing? How fast should the hard drive be? How much RAM do I need?" To handle these and other questions, we've put together a list of the most important issues to consider when building or purchasing a computer for video editing.

Some folks swear by Apple's Macintosh platform and the OS X operating system for video editing; others insist on working only within the Windows universe. Before you assume you're going to stick with your favorite platform, you should take a moment to leave behind your pride and prejudice and seriously consider what both platforms have to offer for your video editing chores. If you think it isn't worth it to learn a new operating system at this point in your life, think again: it's not that difficult, and there are some professional advantages to being OS-bilingual.

Windows aficionados who think Macs are too expensive should check out how the prices have come down recently. Mac users who think Windows machines are too quirky and difficult to operate should take a fresh look at the latest enhancements to the Windows XP interface. Pound for pound, the Windows machines can still be less expensive, but the Apple-based software still tends to set the bar for professional-level functionality (which of course the Windows software manufacturers are quick to successfully imitate). Confusing? Sure it is, but take another look before you decide for sure: you might be surprised how much things have changed on the Mac vs. PC battlefield recently.

In general, the rule for video editing computers is "the more powerful, the better," because faster and more efficient computers render fancy effects and titles faster. If the computer's hardware is fast enough, it might even allow real-time effects that keep you working on your project instead of waiting for your effects to render. In both the Mac and the PC world, higher CPU clock speeds generally make for better performance; thus a 2.8 GHz chip is not as fast as, say, a 3.2 GHz chip. The latest, greatest chips might be the 64-bit, dual 2.7GHz powerPC G5 for the Mac or the 64-bit AMD Athlon 64 4000+ for Windows machines, but new releases change this all the time. If you're editing HD material or film, then it would certainly pay to go for the most powerful processor available or perhaps even two paired together in a single machine. If you're just planning to edit DV, however, then the premium price you pay for the fastest might break the price/performance barrier. There is no shame in having a second-fastest machine if the cost savings are high enough, and they usually are.

There are a number of important things that differentiate motherboards in the desktop Windows marketplace, including bus speed, the type of CPU chip supported, and built-in support for sound, FireWire, graphics and RAID controllers. Inexpensive solutions usually have more built-in options directly on the motherboard, such as graphics and audio support. This level of integration can sometimes make these less-expensive systems more difficult to upgrade later. More expensive motherboards have faster bus speeds and support for larger amounts of RAM and peripherals via AGP video and PCI slots. For video editors, it's once again best not to skimp on the raw processing power and upgradability of a system, especially if you plan to do high-resolution work or 3D graphics production. Often you don't have a choice of a motherboard in a stock system, but you can be certain that eMachines use a cheaper motherboard than, say, Alienware does.