If it's time to retire your old & slow computer and upgrade to a faster & more reliable video editing machine, this 2026 build guide will give you the knowledge to make the right choices for any budget!
Video Editing is one of the most intensive and stressful operations that a computer can perform. When you are rendering (exporting) a video file, this is the time when your CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) will be under maximum operating load for a sustained period of time. Selecting the best combination of hardware that is compatible with the type of media and software you regularly use, is key to selecting and/or building a computer that is fit for purpose.
Recommendations will be shown in Pink!
I have highlighted all my recommendations for each component category, using pink headings in this article. Please remember that this is a only a guide. There is a large range of different computer types and also different CPU & GPU combinations available, so you may find something very similar to one of my recommendations that is slightly above or below in performance. Remember that Google is your friend, once you have created a shortlist!
Pre-built, Build your own or a 2nd hand refurbished computer ?
The first thing to consider is whether you want to:
- Buy a pre-built desktop/laptop computer off the shelf or...
- Build your own computer or...
- Buy a 2nd hand computer that has been refurbished and upgraded by a reliable nerd, who knows what their doing!
Pre-built "off the shelf" computers
Buying a new computer online or at a physical store, is the easiest option to choose for most people, however you need to do your homework first and learn what combination of components are best for a new video editing computer. Then you'll be able to identify which "off the shelf" options get added to your shortlist.
The most important thing to remember is don't rush your decision and end up getting conned or confused by a salesperson, who just wants to get rid of old stock. If you can't find what you're looking for at one store (physical or online), just move onto the next. Some computer retailers will feel like a ghost town with half empty & dusty shelves, and no one offering to help. However, when you arrive at a computer store that knows what their doing, you'll feel the positive vibes straight away. The best places that us computer nerds trust, will be more than willing to help you and to make sure you leave with a computer that you won't want to return, because it's dramatically improved your ability to be a better content creator!
One important thing to keep in the back of your mind: if a deal feels too good to be true, you're probably being scammed!!! You get what you paid for. Beware of shopping on places like eBay and always check the reviews left by previous customers, before parting with your hard earned money. Places like eBay and Amazon Marketplace, can offer some great deals and I shop there myself all the time, but I always read what previous buyers have said!
Build your own computer
Image Source: tripadvisor.com.auBuilding your own custom video editing computer has become a very popular option, if you're game. The main advantage to building your own computer, is you get to select the exact parts that you want to use!
It's actually a very easy thing to do, with the help of 100's of video build guides on YouTube now. Also, most families and/or neighborhoods have at least one nerd/geek that will be more than willing to assist you if you're a bit hesitant. If you're used to building things like flatpack furniture and have a patient mindset, it's something you can do in an afternoon.
The satisfaction of building your own computer is something you will be proud of and helps to give you more confidence in trying new things you traditionally may have been scared to do.
Buying a refurbished 2nd hand computer
If you are limited by a smaller budget, buying a refurbished and/or 2nd hand computer is an excellent option. There are many computer owners out there who always want the newest and best hardware. These types of folks often get rid of their computers every 2 or 3 years and sell them on places like eBay or your local online marketplace like GumTree in Australia. Often these were medium to high-end gaming computers when they were brand new, so make excellent budget friendly video editing machines.
If you would like some inspiration and guidance on buying 2nd hand computers and hardware, I highly recommend watching Brian from Tech Yes City on YouTube who is a fellow Aussie!
Wherever you live in the world, there will probably be local folks like Brian who love flipping slightly older computers, and making improvements to guarantee they work well and you won't be disappointed.
Should I get a Desktop or Laptop computer ?
Generally speaking, a desktop computer will be more powerful than a laptop computer, but that is not always the case.
If you are a travel vlogger making YouTube videos and are constantly on the road, then selecting a more powerful laptop computer is going to be a no-brainer.
Alternatively, you may be someone who mainly uses a computer for email and word processing, which are light tasks for a CPU, and every now and then you make a few videos. In this scenario, an average laptop computer is probably all you need, as long as it has some half decent graphics processing ability.
However, if you make videos on a regular basis and are mainly based at home, I would highly recommend investing in a Desktop computer. A desktop computer should offer more bang (power) for your buck, compared to an average low powered laptop.
With a desktop computer, you will also be using a much larger monitor/s, which makes viewing the timeline in your video editing program a lot easier. Some laptop users who don't own a desktop, also like to connect an external monitor while editing video, so you have more real estate to use on the screen.
Gaming computers vs All other computers
When you start searching for desktop and laptop computers, you will notice the term "gaming" or "made for gamers" a lot. The term "gaming" is really just a marketing term. Generally speaking it means the computer should be quite powerful and is very good at processing video. This means there is a massive overlap between "gaming computers" and "content creation / workstation" computers.
If you need a powerful laptop computer for video editing and will be "on the road" a lot, then anything that is branded as a "gaming laptop" will most likely be perfect to run your favourite video editing program on. The same goes for pre-built desktop computers made for gamers. These types of computers are built for intensive video processing.
I live in Australia and my favourite and most trusted online computer store here is PC Case Gear, based in Melbourne. I am using them as an example in this article. They sell pre-built Gaming PCs and also customizable Gaming PCs that would also make excellent video editing machines.
Wherever you live in the world, you should have a local online computer retailer that sells very similar gaming computers. These stores can be some of the best places to buy a PC off the shelf or to order a custom made computer with the parts the you have personally selected.
Selecting Parts for your New Video Editing Computer
It doesn't matter whether you are going to buy an "off the shelf" computer or build your own, this is the important part of this video editing build guide. I'll try my best to keep this as simple as possible, so that each user budget level has clear options to choose from!
How to SAVE a lot of money!!!
This is the biggest tip I can give everyone reading this. Buying a slightly older generation of CPU, GPU, Motherboard, etc... will save you a lot of money! Even if it's a slightly older generation of architecture, it will still be brand new technology compared to the old dinosaur computer sitting in your garage right now. Anything from 5 years ago until now is excellent!
Obviously, if you want the absolute fastest and best hardware, you need to buy current generation parts, but the slightly older stuff is no slouch. Since approximately 2020, there has been a significant jump forward in CPU and GPU technology. Anything designed from this period forward, will be significantly faster than technology from 10 years ago. Now that it's 2026, there is no slowing down in the incredible manufacturing processes that keep surpassing each generation of new silicon based transistors.
Insane True Fact:
The transistor density of AMD's Ryzen 9000 series CPUs, which utilize the Zen 5 architecture, is approximately 117.78 million transistors per square millimeter (MTr/mm²) due to their 70.6 mm² die size and a total of 8.315 billion transistors. You need an electron microscope to view this level of complexity in todays silicon chips.
Important Components of a Computer
This will become the shopping list for a new video editing computer. You will need to make a shortlist selection for each the following items:
- CPU (Central Processing Unit)
- GPU (Graphics Processing Unit or Graphics Card)
- RAM (Random Access Memory)
- Motherboard
- Storage: Solid State Drives & Hard Disc Drives
- CPU Cooler
- PSU (Power Supply Unit)
- Peripherals: Keyboards, Mice, Webcams, Microphones & Headphones
- Monitor/s
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows
1. CPU (Central Processing Unit) selection
Image Source: KitGuruThe CPU is "the brain" of any computer. The CPU and GPU are the most important parts of a computer designed for video editing. This should be the first component selection you make. The two main manufacturers of CPUs in 2026 are AMD and Intel. Both companies make excellent CPUs. Intel used to dominate this market, but now AMD makes some of the best and most popular CPUs on Earth.
Each new generation of new CPUs are designed to fit into a specific "socket type" on the Motherboard and also be compatible with a particular "chipset". If you are interested in building your own computer, it is important that the CPU you select is compatible with the Motherboard you buy.
If you plan to buy a pre-built computer "off the shelf", you don't need to worry about Motherboard compatibility, because that has been decided for you already.
Desktop CPUs are different to Laptop CPUs. The main difference is that Laptop "Mobile" CPUs are engineered to work at much lower energy levels, to save power while on battery.
What are the most popular CPUs being sold in 2026 ?
Short answer is AMD!
If you go to one of the big online retailers and do a search for Best Sellers in CPUs, you'll discover that AMD now dominates the market. This is because they make a very reliable product at each price point, that is also reasonably priced. Intel is now in catch up mode, after they milked the market for decades, treated consumers with contempt and experienced a manufacturing disaster that stopped them from using newer methods.
While Intel was asleep at the wheel, AMD quietly performed a miracle and designed a new CPU architecture from the ground up. The big innovation that AMD brought to both the consumer and professional market, was much higher core count CPUs that didn't require a nuclear reactor to power them.
Here is a good example from Amazon USA, which shows the most popular CPUs being sold right now:
Best selling CPUs by rank on Amazon
Warning about Intel 13th and 14th generation CPUs !
I do NOT recommend buying anything from Intel that is a 13th or 14th generation CPU!
Be warned that Intel had a major problem with their 13th and 14th generation CPUs. Many consumers that bought a CPU from one these generations, experienced constant crashing and sometimes complete failure altogether. There are numerous articles online from reputable websites that analysed this problem and made in-depth reports you can read for yourself.
Anything made before or after these generations is perfectly OK to buy. That means 12th generation and older are OK and any of the Core Ultra series which came after the 14th generation are also very good CPUs.
AMD CPUs
AMD Desktop CPU series currently available, includes: Ryzen 4000, Ryzen 5000, Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000 and Ryzen 9000. Ryzen 4000 series is the oldest, slowest and cheapest. Ryzen 9000 series is latest, fastest and most expensive.
AMD Laptop CPU series currently available, includes: AMD Ryzen 6000, AMD Ryzen 7000, AMD Ryzen 8000, AMD Ryzen 9000, AMD Ryzen 200, AMD Ryzen AI 300, AMD Ryzen AI400 and AMD Ryzen AI Max. Ryzen 6000 is the oldest, slowest and cheapest. Ryzen AI series is the latest, fastest and most expensive.
AMD Professional CPU series called Threadripper, includes: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5000 WX-Series, Ryzen Threadripper 7000 Series, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000 WX-Series, Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-Series.
Intel CPUs
Intel Desktop & Laptop CPU series currently available, includes: Intel 1700 12th Gen, Intel 1700 13th Gen, Intel 1700 14th Gen, Intel 1851 Core Ultra (Series 2) and new Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 (mobile) processors.
What does iGPU Integrated Graphics mean in a CPU?
Many AMD and Intel CPUs come with extra graphics processing cores, that are actually part of the CPU itself. This is not something that you must have in a CPU designed for video editing. That is because you will also be using a dedicated (discreet) Graphics Card (GPU) in your new video editing computer.
All modern video editing programs and other content creation programs, heavily use GPU acceleration now. GPU Acceleration in software programs like VEGAS Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro and VFX makers like Boris FX, traditionally works best with a separate dedicated (discreet) GPU and not an iGPU, which is part of some CPUs.
However, it can be an advantage to also have access to "integrated graphics" inside of your CPU for rendering video. Most video editing programs like VEGAS Pro, DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro, and video conversion programs like Handbrake, have options for rendering (exporting/converting) video using the iGPU graphics engine in a CPU.
Traditionally, Intel Graphics (Quick Sync Video) can be very fast at processing video with your favourite video editing program. Integrated Graphics in a desktop CPU is where Intel scores a win over AMD, however both companies have very good options in their mobile (laptop) CPUs.
How many Cores do I need in a CPU for Video Editing?
The number of cores in a CPU is a general indication of it's processing power. However, not all cores are the same, so it can be a bit confusing to compare a red apple with a blue apple. Intel (team blue) has introduce two different types of cores in many of it's CPUs: Performance cores & Efficiency cores. Consider AMD (red team) CPU cores to be equivalent to Intel performance cores. Some Intel CPUs may have many more cores than equivalent AMD CPUs, but that does not necessarily mean they are more powerful.
The type of tasks you do and software you use, will normally determine how many CPU cores will work best in your new computer. If you are only interested in gaming on a computer, a fast 6x core CPU would be a good choice, however, if you are planning to do a lot of multitasking and use programs like Blender, a CPU with 16 cores would be a better choice. CPUs with lower core counts tend to run at faster clock speeds, whereas CPUs with higher core counts run at slower clock speeds. A high core count CPU may have slower cores, but it is actually able to process more, because more cores are working all at the same time.
Some software programs and games, work best using just one very fast core. However, I think the general trend for programmers now, is to utilize many cores working in parallel at the same time. You can't really go wrong with a higher core count CPU.
Recommendations for Core Counts in a CPU for Video Editors | ||
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Recommendations for Desktop CPUs suitable for Video Editing | ||
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| ^Pc = Intel Power Core, *Ec = Intel Efficiency Core | ||
Recommendations for Laptop CPUs suitable for Video Editors | ||
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| *Pc = Intel Power Core, *Ec = Intel Efficiency Core, ^Zen 5 = AMD Standard Core, ^Zen 5c = AMD Compact Core | ||
2. GPU - Graphics Card selection
There are three main manufacturers of GPUs (Graphics Cards) in 2026. Nvidia is the king of the GPU market, whether you like it or not. In recent years they have been charging insanely high prices and offering less and less improvement compared to the past. However, they do make very good graphics cards and are the most compatible with the largest range of software and games. Nvidia dominates mid-range to high-end graphics cards.
AMD Radeon has been improving dramatically in recent years and their latest generation of graphics cards have proven to be quite popular, due to a more reasonable pricing policy and great performance. If you would like to save some money and are on a budget, I highly recommend you consider an AMD Radeon graphics card.
Intel is the third maker of graphics cards. They are a relatively new player to the GPU market and specialize in the low to mid-range market. Their ability to encode video is very good.
The elephant in the room: AI data centers causing much higher prices and reduced stock for consumers in 2026 and beyond!
Currently at the beginning of 2026, every day consumers on planet Earth are being massively affected by the insane and out of control building of data centers to house A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) models.
All of these AI companies and their corporate customers, are currently buying up all of the factory capacity for new GPUs, Memory (RAM) and Hard Disk Drives. This means there are less GPUs (graphics cards) being made for the consumer computer market in 2026 and beyond. There is no end in sight for right now, unless the AI bubble pops and stock markets crash.
This means there are less GPUs available to buy right now, and what is available, is much more expensive than it should be. The No.1 offender is Nvidia, who dominates the GPU market. So far, AMD and Intel seem to be fairing reasonable well and have not increased their GPU prices dramatically and still have plenty of models to choose from.
Software and Game Compatibility with different Graphics Cards
Before you select a graphics card for your new video editing computer, make sure you know the minimum system requirements for all the different software programs you use!
If you are a regular gamer on a PC, you'll probably know that some games work better with a specific brand of GPU. Some games play better on Nvidia GPUs and others play better on AMD GPUs.
Some speciality software that is used in combination with video editing programs, may need a very specific graphics card for it to work correctly. A good example I can think of is Boris FX Sapphire VFX Suite. Sapphire will work with a decent Nvidia consumer grade GPU, but is not compatible (as of 2026) with an AMD consumer grade GPU. However, Sapphire will work with a Pro level GPU like AMD Radeon PRO W6000.
Please remember to make sure you select a GPU that will be compatible with all the software you use!
GPUs for Desktops vs Laptops
The model names used for Desktop GPUs and Laptop GPUs, will be basically identical. However, they will not be indentical in performance. All laptop GPUs, just like laptop CPUs, are engineered and configured to work at much lower energy levels, due to being powered by a battery for most of the time. Lower energy requirements also to help reduce heat production, which is more difficult to get rid of in a laptop.
If you want the most powerful version of any model GPU, you need to get a desktop computer using a desktop engineered graphics card.
Pro Tip: If you do decide to get a laptop computer for your video editing machine, make sure to plug it into mains power when rendering (exporting) a video, if you are able to. Laptops use two different power options in Windows, designed to save power when operating with battery power only. When you plug a laptop directly into mains power, it automatically increases the speed of the CPU and GPU, which will give you much faster render times!
Consumer GPUs vs Professional grade GPUs
For most home users, consumer grade GPUs will be the obvious choice to use in a video editing computer, however, if you are also using professional applications like CAD programs, you'll probably be looking for a more expensive Pro level GPU. Discussing professional grade graphics cards is beyond the scope of this guide, so I'll only be recommending consumer grade GPUs.
How much Memory (VRAM) should my GPU use in a Video Editing computer ?
No matter which model GPU you select, my recommendation is to find a graphics card that has a decent amount of onboard memory (which is called VRAM). When using a GPU for video processing in a video editing program, more onboard memory equals much improved performance, especially if you edit with large 4K video files. If you only edit with 1080p video or less, it will be much easier to get away with less onboard memory capacity.
GPU Onboard Memory capacity guide | ||
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Recommendations for GPUs in a Video Editing Computer | ||
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Important Tip about selecting a GPU in a video editing computer
GPUs have become extremely important components in a computer designed for video editing, due to the heavy use of GPU acceleration in all programs now. Do not skimp on your GPU (graphics card). The more money you invest in a GPU, the more performance you will get out of your favourite video editing program. It will make a BIG difference when editing on the timeline and help to reduce video lag when working with large video files. It will also decrease render (export) times a lot!
3. RAM (Memory) selection
High RAM prices in 2026 and beyond...
Unfortunately, as already mentioned above, the insane AI boom is causing lower availability of core computer components like RAM (computer memory) and also dramatically increasing prices. Right now in 2026, RAM is one of the most affected components in this current global shortage. Average RAM prices have increased by up to 400% - I'm not joking!!!
RAM ( Random Access Memory) is extremely important in a video editing computer.
16 GBs is the absolute minimum amount of RAM required for even a basic video editing machine. Just having Microsoft Windows operating in the background is going to use a good amount of RAM. Every time you open another program, more RAM will be requested. When editing video and applying VFX, you will need plenty of RAM to keep everything running smoothly and to avoid dreaded video lag. If you are editing with large 4K video files, they will require much more RAM than working with smaller 1080p sized video files.
If you can afford it, my recommendation is to get 32 GBs of RAM.
RAM and web browsing
On a sidenote, more RAM is very useful for folks who like to open 100's of tabs in their web browsers. Each time you open a new tab in a web browser, a substantial amount of RAM is required to power each tab you open. If you then start opening heaps of other programs, your computer will be sucking up memory faster than an elephant at a watering hole in a drought.
Upgrading to more RAM (Memory) in the future
Due to the insane high prices of RAM (memory) right now, one trick you could do is to buy a minimum amount of RAM to get you started, and then add more RAM later when prices come back down to Earth. All motherboards normally come with at least 4x RAM DIMM slots. As an example, you could start off with 2x 8 GB sticks now and add 2 more later, to bring the total amount to 32 GBs in the future.
RAM Speeds and Timings
Another thing you will discover, is that RAM also comes in different speed categories and timings. It is beyond the scope of this guide to go down that rabbit hole right now, but basically RAM speed/timings need to be compatible with your CPU model and are engineered to work specifically with either an AMD or Intel CPU.
If you are buying a computer off the shelf, your main decision will be how much RAM do you want in the machine. However, if you plan to build your own computer, you will need to research RAM carefully and make sure it is compatible with the CPU you select.
Just like everything else in a computer, the faster something works, the more expensive it will be. However, there are plenty of middle of the road RAM kits, that are perfectly adequate to get good performance out of your CPU and not cause a bottleneck in data flow.
Recommendations for how much RAM to use for Video Editing | ||
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4. Motherboards & Connection Ports
If you are going to build your own computer, you'll need to educate yourself about what type of Motherboard will be compatible with the CPU you select. Whether you build your own system or buy a pre-built desktop or laptop computer off the shelf, remember to check what type of ports and how many ports you need, for connecting external devices.
What type of connection Ports do you need ?
All computers will come with a combination of USB ports, audio ports, video ports, an ethernet port and maybe an SDHC memory card slot.
Normally a desktop computer has many more connection port options on the front and back panels, whereas smaller laptops will only come with very specific port options. Make sure to check that the type of computer or motherboard you choose, has the specific ports you need, for connecting the devices you use on a regular basis.
Desktops normally come with older style USB 2.0 (Type A) and/or USB 3.0 (Type A) ports and also USB Type C ports, whereas many modern laptops now only have USB Type C ports, the same as your mobile (cell) phone. The number and combination of these different port types, will vary dramatically between each different computer.
If you're old fachioned like myself, you'll appreciate your laptop having a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting your headphones, and if you use a video camera, the addition of an SDHC memory card slot, makes life on the road that much simpler.
The addition of an ethernet port that can handle high speed data transfer through your home network, is also something to consider, because a physical internet connection is always more reliable than Wi-Fi.
Do you plan to Build your own Computer ?
Motherboard selection will be important if you plan to build your own computer or upgrade a pre-built desktop in the future.
An example of a future upgrade, would be adding extra Hard Drives. If you buy a pre-built computer and think you may need to add more hard drive capacity in the future, you'll want to make sure the Motherboard has spare SATA ports to connect extra drives and that the power supply has spare connectors to power extra hard drives.
If you do decide to build your own computer, you'll need to get a Motherboard that is compatible with the brand (AMD or Intel) and model of CPU you have selected.
Motherboard documentation will always tell you what socket type and chipset type it uses. These two important pieces of information will help you to match up a compatible CPU.
You will also discover many models of compatible motherboards for each CPU that is currently available. Each model will have more or less features, so you need to educate yourself on what features are critical for your setup.
Examples of features to look out for:
- Does it include Wi-Fi ?
- What type of Wi-Fi does it support ?
- What type of Audio features does it have ?
- How many internal Hard Drives using SATA can I connect to it ?
- How many M.2 slots does it have for Solid State NVMe drives ?
- Does it have a Blutooth module ?
- How many PCIe slots does it have for connecting things like GPUs, Sound Cards or Network Cards ?
- What type of PCIe slots does it have ?
- How many DIMM slots for RAM does it have ?
- Does it have an HDMI port ?
- What type of USB ports does it have and how many of each type ?
- Does it support ECC memory, if you need that type of memory support ?
- What type/speed of Ethernet port does it have ?
- How many Fan Headers does it have ?
- The list goes on......
5. SSD and/or HDD Data Storage selection
There are two basic types of data storage devices in a modern computer: SSDs (Solid State Drives) and HDDs (Hard Disc Drives).
Traditional spinning Hard Disc Drives are best for storing large amounts of data like video files and any data you want to backup for a long period of time, however their read/write speeds are much slower compared to modern Solid State Drives. Most modern laptops have moved away from using Hard Drives altogether and now only use faster Solid State Drives. Whereas you'll probably find a mixture of Solid State Drives and Hard Disc Drives in a desktop computer.
SATA SSDs and NVMe SSDs
There are two types of SSDs commonly used in computers: SATA connected SSDs and super fast NVMe SSDs. However, the much cheaper SATA SSDs are now being phased out, due to low profit margins. You can still buy some SATA SSDs, but if they fail in the future, you probably won't be able to get a replacement.
NVMe SSDs are the fastest and best type of storage drives
Most modern computers use at least one NVMe SSD as the primary storage C-Drive in 2026. All Motherboards include at least one NVMe slot, but normally have two or more available. This is extremely useful for building a video editing system that can read and write large video files very quickly! The read/write speeds of NVMe drives is absolutely insane, but vary between different makes and models!
If possible, I recommend getting a computer that has 2x NVMe drives, when building/buying a computer designed for video editing.
NVMe drive #1 will be used as your C-Drive. This is where Windows will be installed and all the other programs you use. Whatever is on your current C-Drive minus large data files, will give you an idea of what capacity to buy. 500 GBs to 1 TB, should be more than enough for most people.
NVMe drive #2 will be used as your super fast Editing Drive. This secondary drive is where you will temporarily import all the media files for a video editing project. Buy placing large video files on a drive that can read/write anywhere from 7,000 MB/s, you'll see superb performance when you move quickly around your timeline. Playback will be instantaneous, with no waiting for files to load.
Hard Disc Drives for source video library
Investing in a few large capacity HDDs, is where you will store your large library of video, image and audio files.
If your library of data is bursting at the seams, you may also consider buying some large capacity External Disc Drives and/or invest in a NAS drive (Network Attached Storage).
For the average home user, starting off with at least one large capacity Hard Disc Drive inside of your Desktop computer, will be the most logical choice to make.
Recommendations for Storage Drives in a Video Editing computer | ||
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6. CPU Cooler selection
CPU Cooler selection is only something to think about if you are buying a Desktop computer and/or Building your own Desktop computer. As I stated at the beginning of this article, rendering (exporting) and converting video files, is one of the most stressful things a CPU can do. A CPU using all it's processing power at near 100% capacity, for an extended period of time, creates a lot of heat and potentially noise.
Investing in a good CPU cooler will help to extend the life of your CPU and keep your system cool. A good cooler will be quieter, more effective and work well for many years to come.
The type of CPU you have selected will also have a bearing on what type of cooler is best for your system. Larger multi-core CPUs will require a lot more cooling capacity, compared to a smaller CPU that has less cores.
Personally, I am a big fan of "all in one" water cooling. This is a closed loop system that consists of a water filled unit, that circulates water using an enclosed pump, that moves heat away from the CPU to a radiator, that is cooled with multiple fans. The cooled water then returns back to the CPU cold plate, to begin the cycle again in a continuous loop. All in one water cooling is very good at removing heat and can operate very quietly when not under load.
The alternate and more traditional way to cool a CPU is by using an air cooler. No water is required for this method. A large radiator sits on top of the CPU and normally has two fans on either side of the radiator, which move cool air over the fins of the radiator to cool it down. This is a much simpler approach to cooling a CPU and is still a favourite method for many users.
7. PSU - Power Supply Units
Laptop battery capacity
If buying a laptop, I recommend you compare battery capacities between different models on your shortlist. Read some reviews and discover which laptops work the longest before needing a recharge. If using a laptop for extended periods of time on battery power is a high priority, you'll need a reliable battery.
Desktop power supplies
Most people buying a pre-built desktop computer, will have no need to learn about the type of power supply in the system, however, if you plan to upgrade a pre-built computer in the future, it will be good idea to learn about the existing power supply's capacity and if it has any spare connection options available.
Power Supply Units or PSUs for short, come in different capacities measured in Watts. They also come in different efficiency grades. Cheaper and simpler PSUs will have all available connector cables hardwired into the unit, which makes it look like an octopus of tentacles coming out of a box. More expensive and better quality PSUs are called modular units and come with a wide range of power ports. In modular PSUs, no cables are hardwired to the unit. Instead, you get a mixed bag of different cable types and connectors, so you only have to connect what will actually be used and not have extra unused cables making a mess inside your computer case. Choosing a modular PSU allows for a much cleaner look, due to better cable management.
How many devices are you planning to connect ?
The first most logical thing to do, is make a complete list of all devices that will be connected to your Motherboard.
- How many Hard Disc Drives and/or SATA SSDs are you using?
- Will you be adding more HDDs in the future?
- Are you connecting an Internal DVD/Blu-ray drive?
- How many and what type of PCIe power connectors do you need for your GPU?
- Does you CPU require an extra 4 Pin or 8 Pin connector on the Motherboard?
- Is there anything special in your system that requires a specific power connector?
What type and how many power connector cables do you need ?
All Motherboards need a default 24 Pin power connector, so this always comes as standard with all PSUs.
Most Motherboards will have at least a basic 4 pin power supply requirement for the CPU, but (4+4) 8 pin is more common. If you are using a much more powerful high core count CPU, your Motherboard may also require an extra 8 pin supply of power for the CPU. To discover how many and what type of CPU power cables you need, simply refer to the specifications for the motherboard you have selected.
Storage devices like HDDs and SATA SSDs, each need their own SATA power supply. SATA power supply cables normally are made in a daisy chain configuration, which gives you the ability to connect multiple drives using the same single cable, going back to the PSU.
Each PSU model will have a specific amount of cable types included with it. With your total list of connected devices determined, you'll be able to select a unit that has enough of each connector/cable type.
What capacity Power Supply Unit (PSU) in Watts do you need ?
Many power supply manufacturers have online calculators, that will help you determine how many Watts your PSU requires and the best type of model to buy. In the links below are two excellent power supply calculators I have used in the past:
Be Quiet! PSU Calculator
Corsair PSU Calculator
What Grade of Power Supply Unit should I get ?
PSUs come in different grades. Each grade relates to the efficiency and quality rating of a power supply unit. 80 Plus White is the most basic and cheapest, whereas 80 Plus Titanium is the best and most expensive. Bronze, Silver and Gold are the most common.
The different efficiency grades of PSUs are:
- 80 Plus White
- 80 Plus Bronze
- 80 Plus Silver
- 80 Plus Gold
- 80 Plus Platinum
- 80 Plus Titanium
8. Keyboards, Mice, Webcams, Microphones & Headphones
After spending a small fortune on the actual computer, remember to get a quality mouse and keyboard to interact with your new video editing computer. Your mouse and keyboard is going to get a massive amount of daily use, so investing in devices that feel good to touch and hold, and are effortless to use, is worth a decent investment.
Keyboards
Membrane keyboards
There are literally 1000s of different keyboard options you can select from. Many consumer keyboards and laptops use a “membrane” pressure pad to register keypresses, rather than individual switches. Membrane keys tend to feel "spongy" when you press down; very similar to a cheap remote control. They are not very accurate if you don't press down with enough force and eventually will wear out and begin to fail, on the most used keys. They're great to get you going when on a tight budget, but eventually you'll have to keep buying a whole new keyboard, every couple of years.
Mechanical keyboards
My recommendation is get a mechanical keyboard, which uses specially engineered switches for each key. There are different types of switches available, which change the tactile feel when you press down and how it sounds. On many models of keyboards, you will also have the ability to replace individual keys if one becomes faulty, instead of having to replace the entire keyboard.
Cherry MX Switches are the most popular type of mechanical switch for keyboards and come in a range of different pressure ratings. This means different switch types require more or less force before the key activates and sends a signal back to your computer. Their tactile feedback aids in faster, more accurate typing, transforming an everyday task into an enjoyable experience.
The type of Cherry MX Switch that is right for you, will depend on how you normally use your keyboard. If typing is your main use, I would recommend Cherry MX Brown switches in the keyboard you select. The sound each keypress makes, will also be an important decision to make, because some Cherry MX switches will be much noisier and others are very quiet.
Cherry MX Switches comparison guide | |||
Switch | Type | Recommended for | Force |
| Cherry MX Brown | Tactile (soft bump, no click) | All-purpose use (most popular) | 1 |
| Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile Tactile | Tactile (soft bump, no click) | Notebook everyday | 1 |
| Cherry MX Clear | Tactile (soft bump, no click) | Spacebar (Matches with Brown) | 2 |
| Cherry MX Grey | Tactile (soft bump, no click) | Spacebar (Matches with Brown) | 3 |
| Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile Click | Clicky (soft bump and audible click) | Notebook gaming | 4 |
| Cherry MX Blue | Clicky (soft bump and audible click) | Typing & Data Entry | 5 |
| Cherry MX Green | Clicky (soft bump and audible click) | Typing with heavier keys | 6 |
| Cherry MX Low Profile Speed Silver | Linear (smooth, no click) | Low profile desktop gaming | 7 |
| Cherry MX Speed Silver | Linear (smooth, no click) | Speed | 8 |
| Cherry MX Silent Red | Linear (smooth, no click) | Noiseless gaming | 9 |
| Cherry MX Red | Linear (smooth, no click) | Gaming | 10 |
| Cherry MX Black | Linear (smooth, no click) | Gaming with heavier keys | 11 |
| Cherry MX Silent Black | Linear (smooth, no click) | Gaming with heavier keys | 11 |
| Force = Actuation force required to active key. 1 is least amount of force and 11 is the most. | |||
Real life demonstration and explanation of Cherry MX Switch types
I highly recommend this video on YouTube, for a full and complete explanation of most Cherry MX Switch types.
Mice - Mouses ???
Very similar to keyboards, there is an absolute insane amount of different mice to choose from. When you do a Google search you'll find more than 100's of reviews and articles on the pros and cons of different mice. From the perspective of building a computer optimized for video editing and content creation, my main recommendation is to make sure your mouse has a good scroll wheel and also a forward and back button on the side.
The most important thing to consider when deciding what type of mouse to buy, is to get a mouse that feels comfortable in your hand. Everyone has different hand sizes, so you need to match the size of your hand and how you prefer to hold a mouse for long periods of time.
I've used a great many mice of the years and the one I am currently using right now has proved to be the best I've ever owned. It is a BenQ Zowie mouse. The reason I like it is because it is plug & play and doesn't require any software to configure it. To control the speed it travels across the screen, it has two buttons underneath which change the DPI rate. Super simple to set up and comfortable for my medium/large hands.
Mouse pads
It's also a great idea to get a decent mouse pad for your mouse to slide on. A large mouse pad that can accommodate both your keyboard and mouse, will create a stable environment that lowers noise and stops the keyboard from any slight rocking.
Webcams
It is beyond the scope of this guide to discuss the different makes and models of webcams available. This is something you can research for yourself. The only thing I will mention, is a gamechanger technology that improved my webcam video quality dramatically!
If you have a conventional digital camera at home normally used for taking high quality still images and recording video, you can convert this into a professional quality webcam using the Elgato Cam Link 4K Capture Device. One end of the Elgato Cam Link 4K Capture Device connects to the Micro-HDMI port on your camera on the other end plugs into a USB port on your computer. Your computer will now see your camera as a webcam, with the advantage of high image quality and better light control.
Microphones and Headphones
Microphones - 3.5mm jack vs USB & XLR connectors
I have one major recommendation for selecting a microphone to go with your webcam setup. Whatever you do, don't buy a cheap microphone that connects to your computer using a 3.5mm jack.
The problem with 3.5mm microphone jacks, is they can be incredibly noisy and end up making you sound unprofessional. A USB powered microphone uses a digital interface, which means no electronic noise from the motherboard and connectors will slip into your audio mix, which is what can happen with basic 3.5mm plugs.
If you are not using a professional interface for connecting an XLR microphone to your computer, I highly recommend buying a USB powered microphone instead.
The best type of microphones to use for professional sounding audio recordings, will use an XLR connector that also requires an audio interface to convert the signal, so that it can connect to a computer via USB.
Recommended Microphone types | ||
High-End | Mid-range | Budget |
| XLR Studio Microphone + Audio Interface | USB powered Microphone or Basic XLR Studio Microphone + Budget Audio Interface | USB powered Microphone |
Headphones
Investing in a good pair of quality studio headphones will change your life. Sound quality is incredibly important when editing video, so you need to be able to hear everything clearly in your mix. Closed back headphones can help to block out outside noise and help you to focus without getting distracted. It also gives you the ability to hear many different frequencies, that you may not always notice when using conventional speakers.
Traditionally, good quality headphones come with a 6.5mm (1/4") jack, however, many models now come with a 3.5mm jack and a 6.5mm convertor. Your computer will have a 3.5mm jack on the front or back, or both front and back. If you are using a professional audio interface in conjunction with an XLR microphone, you could connect headphones to the audio interface instead.
If you buy more expensive headphones with a higher Ohm rating, you'll need to use a headphone DAC amplifier.
The one thing I don't recommend video editors use, is a gaming headset with an attached microphone. You can get away with using the headphones, but don't use the attached microphone for recording audio. The microphones on headsets always sound rough, compared to proper studio grade mics.
9. Monitor selection
One monitor or two?
My number one recommendation for a monitor is to buy TWO! If you are a regular video editor, using two monitors will change your life. Monitor #1 will display your video editing timeline and Monitor #2 will become your dedicated Preview Window output.
Even when you are not video editing, it can be incredibly useful to have two monitors for displaying different web browser tabs when doing research or moving data from one folder into another. The list of scenarios is endless.
If you buy two monitors, make sure they are also the exact same model and size, so that the colours match perfectly on both screens. Whatever you are editing on your primary monitor, needs to look the same on the secondary monitor.
I made a mistake years ago when I created my first 2 monitor setup. I bought the same brand of monitor, but made the second monitor smaller. For some unknown reason, I could never match the colour profiles between both monitors, even though they were sold as the same series.
Screen resolution
The three most common screen resolutions in monitors are: 1080p, 1440p and 4K.
1080p is very common for everyday computing and 1440p is very popular with gamers.
4K will give you the best screen resolution, however you will need to select a GPU (graphics card) that can power it properly. You will need a good quality mid-range to high-end GPU to power a 4K display and especially if you have 2x 4K monitors working at the same time.
HDR vs SDR
If you are working with HDR content like 10 bit video files, you will need to get a monitor that supports 10 bit HDR video.
If you are only working with everyday 8 bit video, a conventional SDR monitor will be sufficient.
Recommendations for each budget
I am not a monitor expert, so I don't have specific recommendations for you. However, there are a couple of resources I will mention now that should help you out with selecting a monitor. Here are two articles online which I recommend reading:
The 6 Best Monitors For Video Editing of 2026
Best monitor for video editing of 2025
The well known Australian YouTube tech channel Hardware Unboxed, also has a secondary channel called Monitors Unboxed and they recently published a refreshed 2026 guide for best monitors. The video below is more focused on gaming monitors, however there is a cross over between gaming and video editing monitors and this video will help give you some good ideas.
10. Microsoft Windows versions
When buying a computer off the shelf, it will come pre-installed with a version of Microsoft Windows. If you are building your own computer, you'll need to buy a license key for Windows. Now that Windows 10 has reached end of life, you should only be considering a version of Windows 11 to install.
There are four versions of Windows 11 you can choose from:
- Windows 11 Home
- Windows 11 Pro
- Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024*
- Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 IoT Edition*
Windows 11 Pro is my recommendation, however some tech enthusiasts who are also gamers, have been experimenting with one of the Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC versions, which they claim gives better performance. To learn more about the advantages of installing an LTSC version, I recommend watching this video here: Windows 10 LTSC or Windows 11 LTSC for PC Gaming?
*Not recommended for everyday users. These possible options are for power users only!
My Recommendation: Windows 11 Pro
How to save loads on money on buying a Microsoft Windows license key ?
There are two different ways you can buy a Windows 11 license key. You can buy a more expensive retail version or a much cheaper OEM version. Both options supply you with the exact same product.
The website I have been using for many years now to buy discounted Windows license keys is VIP-scdkey. This is a legit website and not a scam website. Many of the big tech YouTube channels recommend this site as well. I am not an affiliate for this site. Here are direct links to all four versions of Windows 11:
- Windows 11 Home
- Windows 11 Pro
- Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024
- Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 IoT Edition
