When you are building your first computer, it may seem like a good idea to buy the most expensive parts that you can get. The more expensive your computer is, the better results you will be able to produce with it. But this idea is partially true.
Firstly, the computer is not the only thing that contributes to the results. Your skills and efforts also play a part in shaping the final video. Depending entirely on the computer to do your job for you is not wise.
Secondly, you do not need to spend a lot of money on a video editing computer when you are just a beginner. Video editing can be done with simple software as well. You do not need to build a computer from scratch for simple video editing tasks. The only time you should invest in a video editing computer is when you are a professional. In this case, the computer hardware is just as important as the video editing software.
Even for the hardware, you do not have to buy expensive parts. You need to be aware of which parts are important and what do you need to build a fully functioning computer for video editing.
Here are some of the points that you should consider before building your computer:
1. Motherboard –
The motherboard is of the highest importance in the computer. It may seem that it does not have a visible effect on the performance of the computer. A top-grade motherboard will not add special effects to your video or anything. But, a reliable motherboard will be able to support all the other components in your computer. It is what binds the other parts together so that they can function efficiently to give you results.
The motherboard should also be compatible with your CPU. If the BIOS of the motherboard is not updated then you cannot connect your CPU to it. You need to find a CPU that can be connected so that you can update your motherboard. This is an additional task that you can just avoid by checking the motherboard specifications carefully.
2. CPU –
The CPU industry is mainly dominated by the products of Intel and AMD. Most users like to go for an Intel CPU because they are more familiar with that brand.
Intel is a reliable manufacturer that has been in the market for much longer than AMD. But, Intel is also the more expensive one between the two. Most of the features are not available in the cheaper CPUs produced by Intel. AMD has been steadily gaining a customer base by providing the best features in more affordable models of CPUs.
Multi-threaded CPUs are a better option because they allow you to work efficiently. You can get more work done in a shorter amount of time. If you do have a constraint in the budget it is better to go with a high-end CPU.
3. GPU –
The Graphics Processing Unit is extremely important for the computer to process video editing tasks. There are two types of GPU available in the market. The consumer GPU and the professional GPU. The consumer GPU is more suited for video games. And, the professional GPU is for designers, architects, and others. A powerful GPU will make your editing process much easier. The newer GPUs are promising faster render times to the users.
GPUs are usually larger as compared to CPUs. Your case should be large enough to accommodate both of them comfortably.
4. SSD –
Storage systems have two options for the user. SSDs and HDDs. For video editing purposes, it is best if you go with SSD on your computer. An SSD is usually four times faster than an HDD.
You can get a better result if you get more than one SSD for the video editing computer. Purchasing only one SSD will put the entire load of your work on one SSD. But when you have multiple SSDs to help your work. The workload is distributed and you can get your work done more smoothly. One SSD for the software. One SSD for project files and another SSD for storage. This is the best arrangement that you can use.
5. Cooling system –
It has been already mentioned that the CPU is an integral part of the video editing setup. And the more you use the CPU, the more it will heat up. An overheated CPU will lead to other problems. Therefore, you must invest in CPU cooling fans to control the temperature of the CPU.
Cooling fans tend to make a lot of noise when they are working. If it is something that bothers you, investing in low sound-producing fans is a good option.
6. RAM –
The RAM is a very expensive device that will improve the overall working speed of your computer. A RAM with a large capacity will reduce the need for the computer to shift to virtual memory. This will make the processing of the task much faster.
Although, the capacity of the RAM is not the only important factor. The latency and frequency are just as important. The minimum storage that you should get for your video editing computer is 64 GB. For more complex actions, RAM with larger storage should be purchased.
7. Software –
Ultimately, the hardware is worth it only if it is compatible with the software that you work with. So you need to research what kind of hardware will support the software that you use. There are different software on the market that you can download. Some are free but most of the professional ones require a fee to use.
Video editing used to be a much difficult and tedious task. There used to be large machines that used to cut the film tapes to create the perfect sequence of scenes. It was a challenging process and required a team of professionals to operate them. With the evolution of technology, it has become much easier to create a video of your choice. You can now edit a video all on your own with just one small device.