I am often asked, "What are some cheap desktop PCs or laptops that are suitable for video editing?"
I don't have much to say about it, since I've only used Mac 8% of the time and Windows 2% of the time, not just for video production, but for personal use as well. Therefore, I'd like to use my iMac and MacBookAir as examples to explain.
It's been 20 years since I started video production, but I think the shift from SD to HD was the time when computer specs were most important. In terms of time, I think it was about 17 to 8 years ago. So, if you have a used workstation from that time, you can edit in HD, but it's hard to find one in good condition. You can only use old OS.
So this time I decided to use 10-year-old equipment as a guideline. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but time seems to pass by so quickly these days, and even 10-year-old equipment still feels young lol
Recently, the wave of 4K editing has come on the scene, and high-spec equipment is required for it. I feel that it is becoming the standard to make large investments first and then hone your editing skills in pursuit of success.
However, I think that not everyone can ride this wave. For example, there are students who don't have much money and want to work in video production or do YouTube, but advanced video editing such as 4K editing requires initial costs and seems intimidating. So I thought it might be a good idea to start by focusing on full HD (high definition) editing and buying a cheap, used, cost-effective computer to hone your skills, so I wrote this article.
For example, based on my experience in video production, I think the specs below could serve as a guideline.
- Minimum PC specs required for HD video editing(Desktop/Laptop)
- Why HD editing is possible with a cheap used PC(Based on the author's own experience)
- How to choose storage, memory, GPU, etc. and their importance
- Recommended cheap used PC models(DELL and HP desktop and laptop PCs)
- Actual video editing performance(Comparison between iMac and MacBookAir)
- Things to note when purchasing a used PC(Check OS compatibility and editing software requirements)
- Differences with 4K editing and future PC upgrades
- How to get started in video editing on a budget and what the benefits are
Conclusion
In my opinion, the minimum specs for a computer to edit HD videos are as follows:
CPU…Intel Core i5-6500 3.3GHz (6th generation)
メモリ…8GB
Built-in HDD: 2TB 7200rpm
Editing HDD: 2TB 7200rpm (SSD is preferable)
Graphics card: AMD RADEON R9 M395 2GB (2015) *4GB if possible
CPU: Dual Intel Core I7-4650U 1.7GHz (Haswell / 4th generation)
メモリ…8GB
Built-in SSD: 256GB
Editing HDD: 2TB 7200rpm (SSD is preferable)
Graphics board: Intel HD Graphics 5000 1536MB *With GPU if possible
This is just my personal opinion, but if you have a cheap used computer that meets these specifications, you'll be able to edit HD (and even 4K if it's a desktop).
↓SSD is a great tool for video editing! Please check it out!
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The basis for HD video editing with these specifications
The reason I set this as the minimum standard for a cheap, used video editing computer for HD video production is because these are the specs of the iMac and Macbook Air that I currently use.
・iMac 5K (Late 2015)
・MacBook Air (Mid 2013)
In full HD production, I use this to run Adobe Premiere as well as Adobe AfterEffects. I use a lot of 3D layers, but in AfterEffects, even with very elaborate CG, the RAM preview runs smoothly at 1/2 resolution, and in Premiere, if you don't include color correction, you can use the power of the Mercury Playback Engine to preview in real time even if you stack a few layers. (This is on a desktop computer.)
From experience, with this spec on a desktop, you can run AfterEffects in 4K (although it's not exactly light). For example, 4KLOG is tough, but if you convert it to a codec with a light decoding load such as Apple ProRes 422, you can do some CG creation and compositing in AfterEffects.
If you are mainly using Premiere for cutting and editing, you can preview 4KLOG data comfortably thanks to the power of the GPU. (It can get heavy when the length increases and the number of layers and PinP overlaps.)
Even if you apply a LUT or color correction, if you do light editing without overlapping layers, you can play it back in full 4K quality, although it will be a little choppy. If you want light editing, you can also convert it to Apple ProRes 422.
Apple ProRes 422に関してですが、LOGのダイナミックレンジという点では同コーデックに変換するとある程度LOGのメリットは失われてしまうのですが、それでも色情報が4:2:2あるので、カラコレもある程度品質は担保されていますので、私は凝った編集モノの案件ですとこのコーデックを良く使います。
As for DaVinci Resolve, this software is quite dependent on the GPU, so a 2GB GPU might hold you back a bit. So if you're doing a lot of color grading, I think a 4GB GPU would be better.
I think running DaVinci Resolve on a laptop without a GPU would be a bit of a pain.
Also, I'm starting to wonder if the 2GB GPU meets the requirements of the editing software. Before buying a PC, it's a good idea to check whether the editing software you're using supports 2GB. If you buy one with a GPU and it gets cut off by the editing software, it's a waste of money.
And for PCs of this generation, the interface is generally USB 3.0, which is faster than SATA 2.0. Therefore, it is preferable to use an SSD as an external storage for editing. You can also edit on an HDD, but an SSD is still more comfortable.
＼The author's recommended SSD／
However, in terms of generation, the PC's specs are more than 10 to 12 years old.
I still use these specs for a lot of video production work, so I have made them my benchmark.
Quiet talk
recent years,Movie editing The importance of GPUs is increasing in the world of graphics. With the introduction of the Mercury Playback Engine,Video editing PC This has had a major impact on the performance ofCheap In PCs, CPU performance has improved dramatically, and the need for GPUs is decreasing. For example,Movie editing PCs for Windows 8 can perform well even without a GPU.
Considering the purpose of this article, the M1 Mac mini may be the best option. It can be purchased second-hand for less than 5 yen.Cheap While PC,Movie editing It will be interesting to see how well it performs without the Mercury Playback Engine.
However, if you don't like Apple Silicon, there are other options worth considering. For example, Intel Core i series or AMD Ryzen seriesVideo editing PC Also,Cheap These CPUs are available atMovie editing It works well with the software and provides stable performance.
Prior knowledge for building a video editing PC
Cheap IVideo editing PC When choosing a PC, pay attention not only to the CPU but also to the memory and storage. By choosing a model with 8GB or more of RAM and preferably an SSD, you can enjoy comfortableMovie editing You can also create an environment.Cheap You can also improve performance further on your PC by adding an external GPU.
If possible, buy an SSD for the built-in storage of your video editing computer.
When building a PC dedicated to video editing, there are several important factors to consider. In particular, storage, memory, and the choice of OS will have a significant impact on the efficiency and comfort of your editing work.
First, regarding storage, we recommend that you choose an SSD as the built-in storage whenever possible. High-speed data access is essential for a video editing PC, and SSDs perform much better than HDDs. However, when dealing with large video files, it is more effective to use an external 7200 rpm or higher HDD or SSD in combination.
For video editing computers, 8GB of HD memory is enough.
I think 8GB of memory is enough for a video editing PC. Generally, 16GB to 32GB is recommended, but in reality, video editing is possible even without that much capacity. Electronics stores sometimes say that 16GB or more is necessary, but I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. I personally use a video editing PC with 8GB of memory, and even if I work on HD motion graphics in AfterEffects while multitasking by opening other documents at the same time, it doesn't freeze. I'm not sure how much difference 16GB will make in HD editing, but I feel that 8GB is enough for now.
However, if you use 4K materials in AfterEffects, you will need 16GB to preview comfortably because the RAM preview can only be generated for a few seconds. Also, since the memory of this era is DDR3, scrubbing playback of HD videos is smooth, and even 4K can be played normally at 1/2 image quality. Therefore, you will not be dissatisfied with the memory.
For those looking for a cheap video editing PC, 8GB of memory is a good choice. When buying a new PC, attention tends to be focused on the GPU and CPU, but memory is also an important factor. Especially if you are on a tight budget, choosing a video editing PC with 8GB of memory will help you get enough performance while keeping costs down.
Finally, when choosing memory for your video editing PC, we recommend checking the requirements of the software you will be using. Major editing software such as Adobe Premiere and AfterEffects will run without any problems with 8GB of memory. However, if you are doing more complex work or working with high-resolution materials, you should consider leaving room for future upgrades such as 16GB.
However, back in the days of SD editing, we had to use 512MB of memory, so I feel like times are changing quickly.
Keep OS issues in mind
For those who want to start video editing PC on a budget, the above minimum specifications will be helpful. However, be careful because if the CPU is too old, there may be problems with OS compatibility.
Adobe Creative Cloud 2025 currently works with these specifications, but future support is unclear. However, if you are fine with older OS and older versions of Adobe software, you can still do normal video editing.
Dual Intel Core I7-4650U (Haswell / 4th generation)
Windows 10 (11 is supported with an unofficial trick)
Mac is macOS Big Sur (2020)
Intel Core i5-6500 (6th generation)
Windows 10 (11 is supported with an unofficial trick)
Mac is macOS Monterey (2021)
This is the limit for updates.
So, after taking these circumstances into consideration, it might be a good idea to look around for a used PC.
You should be able to find something with the above specs easily if you go to Akihabara.
When choosing a PC for video editing, check not only the compatibility of the OS but also the requirements of the editing software. Even a budget PC can perform video editing comfortably if it has the appropriate specifications. Even if it does not have the latest CPU or GPU, it can perform well enough for HD video editing.
Also, when choosing a budget PC, it's a good idea to consider the possibility of future upgrades. If you choose a model that allows you to add memory and storage, it will be a video editing PC that you can use for the long term.
In conclusion, by checking OS compatibility and choosing a cheap PC with appropriate specifications, you can create a comfortable video editing environment while keeping costs down. It is possible to find a cheap, high-performance PC that even beginners can use to start video editing with confidence.
With that in mind, what kind of cheap used computers are available for video editing?
These are generally second-hand items, but the following are suitable for running AfterEffects or Premiere.
I chose a computer for video editing that is especially stable around the GPU and can be bought cheaply. Desktops are relatively cheap, but laptops are a bit expensive for their specs.
Desktop: DELL Precision Workstation
Equipped with an Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 (4 cores, 8 threads), it is designed for creative work.
The NVIDIA Quadro K2200 (4GB) GPU allows for comfortable video editing.
It also boasts high expandability, allowing you to add additional memory (up to 64GB) and SSDs, making it easy to customize.
49,800JPY
Desktop: HP Z240 Workstation SFF 6th Gen Xeon E3
The HP Z240 SFF is space-saving yet expandable, making it ideal for office and creative use.
In addition, the Xeon E3-1225 v5 + 16GB memory enables stable operation.
Dual SSD + HDD storage for fast startup and 500GB HDD for large-capacity data storage.
The GPU is 2GB, but it can handle HD video editing comfortably.
27,800JPY
Laptop: Dell Latitude 5401
Equipped with the 9th generation Core i5-9400H (4 cores, 8 threads) + GeForce MX150 (2GB), it is ideal for HD video editing. In addition, with a 14.3-inch full HD display and M.2 SSD (256GB or 512GB), it is designed for high-speed operation and portability. Equipped with NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (2GB), cutting and editing is also comfortable.
48,999JPY
Laptop: HP EliteBook 830 G5
Since it doesn't have a GPU, it tends to be inferior to other models, but I think it will be fine for cutting and editing HD videos in Premiere and light work in After Effects. At least it is more powerful than my Macbook Air.
35,413JPY
theseVideo editing PCWhile it has performance that exceeds the specifications presented above,CheapWhat's great about it is that you can purchase it atMovie editingThis is an introductory course for beginners and those who want to start making videos on YouTube.Cheap PCsIt has sufficient performance as a
In addition, these used PCs do not come with programs such as After Effects and Premiere.Movie editingThe software runs smoothly and is HD quality.Movie editingIt's good for 4K editing and advanced color grading, but it's not perfect for HD.Movie editingWithin this range, sufficient performance will be achieved.
CheapUsedVideo editing PCWhen choosing a model, you should also pay attention to OS compatibility and future software updates. However, with these models,Movie editingYou can step into the world of at a low cost,Movie editingI wonder if we can create an adequate environment for honing our skills.
All things considered, the computer ended up being more powerful than the specs I had provided.
However, for this price and performance, it fully meets the requirements, so if you are interested, I think it's worth buying. Although it is cheap, I think you will realize that the barrier to entry for video editing is not high.
Actual video editing performance
I compared the rendering speed of AfterEffects on my iMac and MacbookAir, and how much load it can put on them in Premiere.
iMac Processing Speed
First, let's look at the rendering speed of AfterEffects on an iMac.
It's an HD motion graphics CG attack video like this, about 20 seconds long.
As a result, rendering took 21 seconds.
I think this is on the fast side.
When I think about how it used to take about 15 minutes to render motion graphics like this on an old editing machine, I think we're living in a good time. You don't really need to worry about computer specs anymore.
By the way, this is the RAM preview speed for 4K materials at 1/2 image quality. I think it might be a bit tough for complex 4K motion graphics with lots of layers, but I think it's fine for creating CG materials for directing corporate VPs, etc.
The processing speed of MavbookAir
Next let's look at the Macbook Air.
I think it will be difficult to edit because there is no GPU, but with AfterEffects, the quality of the system is key, so I'll have to consider how much I can use it. I'll use the same AEP file as I did with the iMac.
The result was 3 minutes and 43 seconds.
The export results were quite different from the iMac.
However, that doesn't mean that AfterEffects is unrealistic on a Macbook Air. It may be difficult to create motion graphic CG by stacking layers, but if you're creating materials for YouTube shows or other things that would be difficult to create in Premiere, you can create CG materials without stress.
Summary: Reconclusion
Below again, as someone with 20 years of video production experience, I would like to consider the minimum computer specifications for HD video editing.
CPU…Intel Core i5-6500 3.3GHz (6th generation)
メモリ…8GB
Built-in HDD: 500GB 7200rpm
Editing HDD: 2TB 7200rpm (SSD is preferable)
Graphics card: AMD RADEON R9 M395 2GB (2015) *4GB if possible
CPU: Dual Intel Core I7-4650U 1.7GHz (Haswell / 4th generation)
メモリ…8GB
Built-in SSD: 256GB
Editing HDD: 2TB 7200rpm (SSD is preferable)
Graphics board: Intel HD Graphics 5000 1536MB *With GPU if possible
From my own experience, I think that if you can find something that meets specifications that exceed this and is available at a low cost, it could last for another 5 years or so.
If you want to comfortably use DaVinci Resolve or AfterEffects in 4K, you may be dissatisfied, but if you are using HD class, you should be able to comfortably work with both AfterEffects and Premiere.
I believe that as long as I have the latest version of my smartphone, I won't be left behind by the times, so I've been putting off updating my Mac equipment for a while. But these days, most plug-ins are subscription-based, and they're really expensive, so I'm not sure when to update my PC.
If you get a new PC, you won't be able to use the old version of the software...
It's difficult to judge, isn't it?
I hope this article will be a guide for those who want to start working in video production or make their YouTube debut with video editing. Start with a cheap used computer! This was a story about choosing a computer for HD video editing.
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