The best video editing computers may cost a bit. But they pack the kind of high-end processors that will run software like DaVinci Resolve Studio and After Effects smoothly, helping you get your work done more quickly and efficiently. These desktop computers won't be as portable as best laptops for video editing, but they will be more poweful, plus they're easier to upgrade, which means they can grow with your needs over time.
We've drawn on our long and deep experience in reviewing tech to bring together the very best computers for video editing together in one easy-to-read article. We've run a series of benchmark tests to assess their performance, and also put each machine through its paces with practical, real-world video editing tasks.
Below, you'll find a selection of video editing computers suitable for a range of budgets, including Macs, Windows, all-in-ones and tower PCs. You may also like our roundups of the best graphics cards and best monitors for video editing.
We found Apple's desktop powerhouse to be perfect for video editing. With an M2 Max or Ultra processor, it's immensely powerful, and its runs smoothly and silently. Read more below
Our favourite Windows PC for video editing has a clever design and includes the whole setup, so while it might seem expensive, you don't need to buy peripherals separately. Read more below
The Mac Mini M2 Pro packs a real punch while offering great value and a compact form factor that's portable and reduces clutter on a desk. Read more below
The glass-heavy tower lets you see the internal components, which we rather like. The computing power is excellent for this price and graphical performance is outstanding, Read more below
Apple doesn't make a 27-inch iMac anymore, but the 2020 model is still available at some retailers, and often with discounts that make it a good buy for those starting out. Read more below
The 2021 iMac has been superseded by the M3 model, but that means there are some great deals about on the predecessor. With Apple's M1 chip, it still has plenty of power. Read more below
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Looking like a couple of Mac Minis (more on those below) welded together, the Mac Studio is designed with creative professionals in mind, and we found it to be perfect for complex video editing. With an M2 Max or M2 Ultra processor, it's one of the most powerful computers Apple has made yet and can easily cope with editing high-resolution footage with graphically demanding effects.
In our review of the Mac Studio M2 Ultra, we found it could run multiple processor-intensive programs together without blinking. It performed well across the board in our benchmark tests, including with 8K footage in Final Cut Pro and 3D footage in Houdini, and with near-silent in operation.
If you're not performing such demanding video editing, it's likely to be more computing power than you will need and at a higher price tag than you need to pay. But if your video editing workflow is intensive, and you need to be confident that your computer will keep up, we'd recommend Mac Studio without hesitation. Of course, you'll need to buy a monitor separately, but the ability to choose the screen you want will appeal to pros with specific needs. It's also worth noting that the built-in speakers could be better, so you'll likely want to invest in headphones or speakers of your own to monitor the audio in your videos.
If you prefer Windows to Mac OS fear not. We found Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ to be a solid option as a video editing PC. It scores major points for clever design choices like a hinge that makes it easy to flip the screen all the way down. Its ability to switch colour profiles from sRGB to DCI-P3 is also very useful for high-end video editing.
A big part of the appeal is the 28-inch touchscreen display, which has a resolution of 4,500 x 3000 pixels. Some editors will appreciate the touchscreen and stylus for a more tactile approach to moving clips. The components of the Surface Studio 2 fall a little short of comparable Macs, but we found them to be plenty powerful for most video editing tasks. If you don't want to jump onto the Apple train, this is a fantastic choice of video editing computer.
If you're after a small PC that packs a punch, the entry-level model of the latest Mac mini offers an impressive amount of power and excellent value for money. And the same can be said for the M2 Pro version if you need an even higher level of performance. For the latter, our benchmark tests came back even better than we imagined, with results 10% faster than the M2 Max-powered MacBook Pro while costing half the price (although it requires peripherals).
It's a much more affordable alternative to the Mac Studio but can still handle most video editing tasks. We had no problem running a couple of apps simultaneously when we tried with the likes of Cinema 4D, After Effects, 3DS Max, Premiere Pro. If you have the budget and work with 8K footage, we'd recommend going for the studio, which will also ensured you're future proofed. But for more general video editing, this is an excellent buy, and the compact size makes it handily portable and neat on a desk. See our full Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023) review for more details.
This gaming PC is also highly capable for video editing
Our expert review:
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i7-10700K
Graphics: RTX 2080 Super
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Screen: None
Reasons to buy
+
Good-value processing power
+
Components can be swapped
+
Great for both gaming and editing
Reasons to avoid
-
Single cooling fan
-
Design not for everyone
If you want to have the convenience of being able to upgrade your video editing computer, it It's well worth looking into gaming PCs. Gaming is an activity that requires a lot of processing and graphics power, and while a lot of gamers build their own computers, there are plenty of options out there for those who have no interest in doing that.
We found the HP Omen 30L to be an excellent example. The glass-heavy tower lets you see the internal components, which may not be to everyone's tastes, but we rather like it. The computing power is excellent for this price point, with a healthy 16GB of RAM. And graphical performance was also outstanding, handling After Effects well. The design of the computer makes it relatively easy to swap out parts, so if you are someone who can get their hands dirty, you'll be able to help the HP Omen 30L keep up for a good few years.
There's only one cooling fan, and be aware that it really does get loud when the computer is performing demanding tasks; you could be forgiven for thinking someone had crammed a jet engine in there. This is hardly a flaw since it means it's doing its job, but it's something to be aware of.
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300 - Radeon Pro 5700 XT
RAM: 8GB – 128GB 2666MHz DDR4
Storage: 256GB – 8TB SSD
Screen: 27-inch (diagonal) 5120 x 2880 Retina 5K display
Reasons to buy
+
Improved internals
+
Sleek Apple design
+
Can be configured to be very powerful
Reasons to avoid
-
Design is getting old
-
Just two Thunderbolt ports
While this 2020 iMac may not be as stylishly designed as its newer siblings, and it lacks the video enhancements of Apple's own chips, it's a great value all-in-one if you find a good deal, of which there are lots about. It's also the last iMac to have a 24in screen, and the 5120 x 2880 Retina 5K display remains a pleasure to look at today.
It has a discrete graphics card, the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT, which makes up for the lack of Apple silicon for graphically demanding tasks. When we reviewed it, we were impressed with how well it could keep up when we deliberately loaded it up with processor-intense tasks. It never seems to overheat, and its fans never seem to run into screaming overdrive. A hat has to be tipped to Apple's clever thermal design here.
The all-in-one design on the iMac 2020 also means it's easy to set up, and it looks smart in any office, home or studio. See our iMac 2020 review for more details.
The M1 24-inch iMac has recently been superseded by an M3 model, but we think this 2021 model is a great buy now that there are lots of discounts around. We found it capable of running multiple streams of 4K video in editing software, and playback was smooth thanks to the combination of multi-core performance and fast storage.
Meanwhile, the 24-inch 4K display was a joy to work on, with thin bezels adding to the attractive aesthetics offered by the range of colour options. See our iMac M1 review for more details.
Choosing the best video-editing computer for your needs involves considering several factors. Firstly, video editing requires significant processing power, so look for a computer with a fast multi-core processor to handle the demands of editing software. An Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor released in the last few years should suffice; if you can afford to bump up to a full i9 or Ryzen 9 processor, your system will have a much easier time.
Random Access Memory (RAM) is also crucial for video editing. Aim for a minimum of 16GB, but consider 32GB or more for smoother editing, especially with 4K or higher resolutions. Long-term storage is important too. Video files can be large, so consider a computer with ample and fast SSD (solid-state drive) storage. (If you need more space, you can add external hard drives as needed.)
A dedicated graphics card (GPU) can significantly improve video editing performance, especially for rendering and effects. Look for models with GPUs from NVIDIA or AMD. As for the display, look for high resolution (minimum 4K) and good colour accuracy (i.e. high colour gamut and colour calibration options). Our guide to the best monitors for video editing will help.
Connectivity is one more consideration. Ensure that the computer has enough ports to connect external devices, such as cameras, storage drives and peripherals. USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt ports are beneficial for faster data transfer. SD card slots are also useful for getting footage off cameras. Finally, check the system requirements of the video editing software you plan to use and ensure that the computer meets those specifications.
Creative Bloq's team of hardware experts bring with them many years of experience using, testing and benchmarking computers with a focus on running creative applications. All the computers in this guide have been tested either by using video-editing software or benchmarked to ensure the CPU and GPU are capable of the most intensive video jobs around. We run different benchmark tests on each device depending on its intended use by its maker, but the benchmarks we've run all the computers in this guide through include the following:
• Cinebench R23/2024 - this assesses the performance of a computer's CPU and GPU using real-world 3D rendering tasks
• Handbrake - we use this free and open-source transcoder for digital video files to render a short 4K animated film, using the same file for all our tests
• Geekbench 5/6 - this tests the CPU's processing power, both by using a single core for a single task at a time as well as all the CPU's core to see its ability to multitask
• 3DMark - this assesses a computer's ability to run graphic rendering tasks, which is highly relevant to video editors
• PCMark 10 - this test assesses a computer’s ability to run all everyday tasks from web browsing to digital content creation, testing app launch speeds, video buffering and even battery life
But perhaps more importantly than benchmarking, we evaluate machines in real-world scenarios, pushing them to the limit with multiple applications running to see how they perform in real project-like conditions. Power, speed, flexibility, and what a computer looks and feels like to use are all criteria in our reviewing process. We do much more than simply unpack a test unit, run some benchmarks and then pack it up again; we have lived and worked with all of the above computers, running them in real-life scenarios and completed projects relevant to the subject of this guide, otherwise we wouldn't recommend these models to you. For more details, see our article on How we test.
The right video editing software for you will depend on a few factors, including which computer you end up buying and what kind of projects you are likely to be working on. Popular options include Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro (for Mac users) and CyberLink PowerDirector, though all of these cost money, and it is possible to get great editing software absolutely free, thanks to DaVinci's Resolve program. Check out our guide to the best video editing software for a complete rundown.
Is a gaming PC good at video editing?
Gaming computers and laptops share a few things in common with those optimised for creative professionals: you need a fast CPU, a powerful GPU to run your games/applications and as much RAM as you can afford.
This makes gaming PCs a great alternative to portable workstations, especially as many manufacturers don't create desktop computers with creative professions like video editing in mind, which is why you may have noticed that this list is dominated by Apple-branded hardware and gaming PCs.
The components required to run next-gen AAA games and hardware like VR headsets isn't dissimilar to those used by people who run demanding software such as Adobe Creative Suite, and many companies like Dell, Lenovo and HP will provide different configurations that allow you to customise the system to your exact needs.
You can expect a recently released, high-spec processor, a beefy graphics card, plentiful and speedy RAM, and of course a sizable SSD storage capacity for you to save 4K files to.
Gaming desktops can also support powerful displays, so if you need a 4K, 144Hz monitor then you'll find gaming PCs more readily available than specialized creative systems. The only thing you need to worry about is a 'gamer' aesthetic and an occasionally obnoxious amount of RGB lighting.
Why is my video editing computer lagging?
Any computer can suffer from lag, particualrly when engaged in a resource-intensive task like video editing. If your computer meets the minimum system requirements for your editing software and you're still having trouble, it may be worth trying a quick restart to see if matters improve. If you're working on a big project, it can also be worth dividing it up into smaller chunks that are easier to handle. Other potential fixes include defragging your hard drive and updating your video drivers.
If none of this works, it may be time to upgrade – but this doesn't necessarily mean a whole new computer. If your PC is modular, you may be able to swap out components like the graphics card or hard drive to extend its life.
Matt has been a technology journalist for over 15 years, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a managing editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.
