How Do I Make My Laptop Faster for Video Editing
It's the best (most affordable) time to upgrade your PC. Here are three components that can turn your clunker into a high-performance, video-editing rig.
We are currently living in a PC renaissance, which makes it the best time to build your own PC or upgrade your existing one. With the days of Bitcoin-mining rigs in the rearview mirror, prices for PC components have finally stabilized. Add a healthy dose of innovation and competition between manufacturers, and you have yourself a truly competitive market with affordable PC components lining the shelves.
For video editors, a computer is essential to the process, but old components can slow down rendering times for videos, making it nearly impossible to edit. Instead of building a PC from scratch or purchasing an overpriced, pre-made PC, you can invest in a few components to breathe some life into your old machine. Though more expensive parts will yield better results, sometimes those gains are incremental and not worth the steep price tag. It's best to replace your oldest or slowest components — even a new budget component can revitalize an aging system.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The CPU is the brains of the operation, and, for video editors, perhaps the most essential component inside a PC. A powerful CPU can significantly improve rendering and exporting times, and software such as Adobe's Premiere Pro drains the CPU unlike anything else.
As your computer ages, you'll notice longer rendering times, video that stutters as you edit, and, even worse, an unexpected program closure that deletes all your progress. A brand-new CPU can remedy those issues, which is where the majority of your budget should go. Luckily, AMD and Intel's fight for market share has significantly impacted the price of CPUs, and better yet, AMD's current lineup has made significant leaps in technology. There's no doubt that AMD has a better overall cost-to-performance ratio.
You'll want to keep an eye on potential CPUs' speed, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz), the number of cores, and the number of threads. Speed is crucial, sure, but more cores can help you process more information at once. Threads, on the other hand, are what feed information to the cores, thus increasing the processing power. Current AMD processors use a 1:2 ratio with cores and threads — i.e., eight cores and sixteen threads. Another thing you'll want to look out for is whether the CPU is unlocked, which allows users to overclock the CPU past its stock speed. It's worth noting that all AMD processors are unlocked, while Intel adds a "K" after the number to signify that the CPU is unlocked. Overclocking can lead to frying your CPU if you do it wrong, and you'll need a better cooler to keep it from overheating.
Below is a list of our favorite picks, but you can find out more about CPU rankings here.
Last-gen CPU is still going strong: AMD Ryzen 7 2700x
- 8 Cores and 16 Threads
- Unlocked
- Base/Boost Speed: 3.7/4.3 GHz
- Power Consumption: 105W
Current-gen CPU with Better Power Efficiency: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- 8 Cores and 16 Threads
- Unlocked
- Base/Boost: 3.6/4.4 GHz
- Power Consumption: 65W
Fastest CPU under $500: Intel i9-990K
- 8 Cores and 16 Threads
- Unlocked
- Intel UHD Graphics 630 (No discrete GPU required)
- Base/Boost: 3.6/5.0 GHz
- Power Consumption: 95W
Random Access Memory (RAM)
If your computer often freezes when you open too many programs or when you're editing video on your timeline, you may need a RAM upgrade. Although the word "memory" is technically within "RAM," this kind of memory doesn't store files. Think of RAM as your computer's short-term memory, which keeps your most important files and processes on hand so you can access them quickly. The more RAM you have, the faster your computer is because it doesn't have to access your computer's storage.
These days, editing video needs higher RAM. Premiere Pro requires a minimum of 8GBs of RAM to operate. However, Adobe recommends 16GBs of RAM for editing HD video and 32GBs for 4K video. RAM speed, which is measured in megahertz (MHz), is another thing you'll want to consider. To take advantage of RAM speeds, you'll want to use dual-channel memory, which requires you to place two sticks of RAM in the corresponding DIMM slots. Motherboards have different instructions for dual-channel memory, so check your manual.
For example, if you want to upgrade to 16GBs of RAM, purchase two sticks of 8GB RAM, which are sold together, and place them in the correct DIMM slots on your motherboard. It's worth noting that AMD processors love fast RAM, and 3rd-Gen AMD processors work best with 3200 MHz RAM or faster. From budget-friendly to 4K editing-worthy RAM kits, we've created a list below.
8GB Budget-Friendly RAM Kit under $50: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2x4GB)
- Speed: DDR4 2400 MHz
- Heat Spreaders
- Dual-Channel Capable
- Low-Profile
16GB RAM for HD Video Editing: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2x8GB)
- Speed: DDR4 3600 MHz (Perfect for 3rd-GEN AMD Ryzen CPU)
- Dual-Channel Capable
- Heat Spreaders
32GB RAM for 4K Editing Rig: G.Skill Trident Z Neo Series 32GB (2x16GB)
- Speed: DDR4 3600 MHz (Also great for 3rd-Gen Ryzen CPUs)
- Dual-Channel Capable
- Colorful RGB Light Heat Sinks
Solid State Drive (SSD)
When editing HD or 4K files, you'll need high-capacity storage to keep the files on your computer. Hard Disk Drives (HDD) are great for archiving old footage and videos, but Solid State Drives (SSD) are faster, smaller, and can improve your workflow. They're also considerably more expensive. Before you begin editing off an SSD, you'll want to install Windows on it, which will make it your Boot Drive. When installed on an SSD, Windows starts up insanely fast. Then, install your editing software onto your SSD for a smoother editing experience.
SSDs are relatively new still, but have recently become more affordable. There are really two kinds of SSDs these days. The classic SSDs have a rectangular form-factor and connect to your PC via a SATA cable. The newer M.2 NVMe SSDs, however, are the storage option du jour. They connect to your computer via the M.2 socket on the motherboard. But, not all motherboards currently have this socket.
With a speedy SSD, you can skip creating proxies if you want, and you'll be able to load and work on files faster. You can still store most of your footage on an HDD since they're much cheaper, but you can work off of your SSD, which will shave time off your editing process. Below are our SSD picks.
500GB of SSD storage for $50: ADATA SU760 512GB SSD
- SATA III
- Size: 2.5 Inches
- Read/Write: 550/520 MB/s
1TB SSD for under $100: WD Blue 1TB SSD
- SATA III
- Size: 2.5 Inches
- Read/Write: 560/530 MB/s
1TB SSD — The Holy Grail: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB SSD
- NVMe M.2 (Requires M.2 socket on the motherboard)
- Thermal Guard
- Read/Write: 3,500/2,500 MB/s
Optional Upgrades
Graphics Processing Unit/ Graphics Card (GPU)
While most consumer-grade GPUs, these days, are meant for playing video games, they're also useful for video editing, especially for special effects software such as Adobe's After Effects. But, because most Intel CPUs have integrated graphics on-board, you may not need a discrete graphics card. This could save you $200 or more.
If, however, you opt for an AMD CPU, you'll need to purchase a discrete graphics card since AMD rarely makes CPUs with built-in graphics. Luckily, AMD makes excellent GPUs that are typically more affordable than their NVIDIA counterparts. You could easily spend between $500 to $700 on top-of-the-line current-gen GPUs, but since you won't be gaming, you can go for something more affordable. Check here for a full list of GPU rankings, or check out our picks below.
Last-gen budget GPU, but still powerful: AMD Radeon RX 580
- Speed: 1366 MHz (Boost Clock)
- Factory Overclock
- VRAM: GDDR5 8GB
- 2x Display Ports (FreeSync)
Mid-tier GPU with a small form-factor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
- Speed: 1830 MHz (Boost Clock)
- Factory Overclock
- VRAM: GDDR6 6GB
- 3x Display Port (G-Sync)
Best GPU under $500: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
- Speed: 2025 MHz (Boost Clock)
- VRAM: GDDR6 8GB
- 3x Display Port (FreeSync)
- 4K Resolution at 120HZ (120 Frames per Second)
Motherboard
If a computer is a house, then the motherboard is the foundation, and it can limit what components you can use. A motherboard's chipset sets how much RAM you can use and how fast that RAM can be. It's worth noting that AMD and Intel require different motherboards, which aren't cross-compatible — i.e., you can't use an AMD CPU on a motherboard meant for Intel CPUs.
The motherboard's IO shield is where all the ports are located, too. So, if you want more USB, HDMI, or Ethernet ports, you may want to upgrade. To summarize, check on PC Part Picker before you buy any component to make sure it's compatible with your current motherboard. If not, it may be time to upgrade your motherboard, too.
Cover image via Preechar Bowonkitwanchai.
Want to learn more about video gear and production? Check these out.
- 2019's Top 10 Premiere Pro Video Tutorials
- Why You Should Ditch the Laptop and Carry a Gnarbox 2.0 Instead
- Supercharge Your Channel with Unlimited Music for YouTube Videos
- Eight Tips on Viewing Your Videos with Fresh Eyes
- What You Need to Know About Memory Cards Heading into 2020
How Do I Make My Laptop Faster for Video Editing
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