The Best Computer for Video Editing โ€“ We Compared the Top Options

In this article, we’ll share the top options for the best computer for video editing. We’ve considered everything a videographer might need to turn their raw shots into stunning final cuts using the best technology for their needs.

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, we’ve got you covered with some great options in every price range!

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The Best Computers for Video Editing in a Nutshell

While choosing the best computer for video editing, we’ve tried keeping the budget to something that is affordable and manageable.

It is sort of a paradox. Video editors need the best out there, but they also need it to be affordable.

So in this list, we have selected options both in the higher price bracket as well as in the โ€˜enthusiastโ€™ segment.

1. Microsoft Surface Studio 2

Our Pick
Microsoft Surface Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB) - Newest Version
Image from Amazon
Amazing screen quality and specs

The Surface Studio 2 performs well with 16GB of RAM, and also has a high-quality 28โ€ touchscreen display.

Pros
16GB of DDR4 RAM
1TB SSD upgradable to 2TB
High-quality touchscreen display
Cons
Incredibly expensive

Our top pick for the best computer for video editing is the fantastic Microsoft Surface Studio 2. This all-in-one device is an absolute powerhouse and also has an amazing display.

If you donโ€™t want to buy separate peripherals, the Surface Studio 2 is a great place to start. In terms of display, it has a 28โ€ PixelSense display that also has touchscreen capabilities. It can display 13.5 million pixels and has brilliant color clarity. This ensures that your video playback will be smooth and realistic. The touchscreen functionality is also first-class and adds an extra level of depth to your editing process.

Microsoft Surface Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB) - Newest Version
Microsoft Surface Studio 2 (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB) – Newest Version (Image from Amazon)

In terms of specifications, this all-in-one device has 16GB of RAM as standard, and you can also upgrade this to 32GB which should be more than enough to run even the most power-hungry of editing software. Also, it has a NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, and a 1TB SSD storage device. This also can be upgraded to 2TB, and it is possible to add external HDDs too. This is a brilliant computer for video editing, and also has one of the best displays too.

2. HP Pavilion 27″ All-in-One Desktop

Also Great
HP Pavilion 27-inch All-in-One Desktop, 10th Gen Intel i7-10700T Processor, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD Storage, Full HD IPS Touchscreen, Windows 10 Home, Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo (27-d0080, 2020)
Image from Amazon
Well-rounded specs

The Pavilion has a great combo of quality display, powerful specs, and usability for video editing.

Pros
27โ€ touchscreen display
16GB of DDR4 RAM
4.5Ghz Intel Core i7 processor
Cons
Not the most powerful GFX card

The HP Pavilion 27-inch All-in-One Desktop is another quality all-in-one device that also features a brilliant monitor with touchscreen capabilities. Its screen is one of its main features and it looks superb. It is capable of 4K UHD resolution, and the touchscreen controls work flawlessly. This can speed up your video editing and give you greater control.

For specs, the Pavilion has 16GB of memory as standard โ€“ this should be ample for video editing. Also, it has a 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor that can be clocked up to 4.5GHz. For graphics, it has an Intel UHD GFX card which is okay, but not one of the best models available.

HP Pavilion 27-inch All-in-One Desktop, 10th Gen Intel i7-10700T Processor, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD Storage, Full HD IPS Touchscreen, Windows 10 Home, Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo (27-d0080, 2020)
HP Pavilion 27-inch All-in-One Desktop, 10th Gen Intel i7-10700T Processor, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD Storage, Full HD IPS Touchscreen, Windows 10 Home, Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo (27-d0080, 2020) (Image from Amazon)

You can also rely on fast storage as this device has a 1TB SSD that can offer transfer speeds of up to 15x faster than a conventional HDD. We also like the sound quality โ€“ it has realistic cinema sound that should be perfect for video playback. Overall the Pavilion is up there with the best computer for video editing models.

4. iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Trace 4

iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Computer Desktop Trace 4 93G730 (AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 2GB, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 240GB SSD, WiFi Ready, Windows 10 Home)
Image from Amazon
A brilliant compact desktop tower

The Trace 4 has excellent graphics, plenty of RAM, and a stylish tower with RGB lighting.

Pros
NVIDIA GT 730 GFX
A powerful AMD Ryzen processor
Plenty of USB ports
Cons
Only has a small SSD as standard

If you prefer a desktop computer, iBUYPOWER has some amazing gaming computers that are also excellent for video editing. The best computer for video editing they currently offer is the iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Trace 4. This powerful desktop computer has everything you need and it is also considerably cheaper than most all-in-one solutions. Obviously, you do have to buy a separate monitor but this can offer more flexibility and is perfect if you already have a monitor.

iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Computer Desktop Trace 4 93G730 (AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 2GB, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 240GB SSD, WiFi Ready, Windows 10 Home)
iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Computer Desktop Trace 4 93G730 (AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6GHz, NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 2GB, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 240GB SSD, WiFi Ready, Windows 10 Home) (Image from Amazon)

For basic specs, this desktop computer has an AMD Ryzen 3.6GHz Ryzen processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 240GB SSD. This may not seem like a lot, but the memory is more than enough for most editing software. You may, however, want to invest in an additional SSD as 240GB will be used up very quickly when editing videos.

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It does have an amazing GFX card, however โ€“ the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730, which has 2GB of dedicated video memory. It also has plenty of connection ports so you can connect external SSDs and other peripherals. This includes 4 USB 3.0 ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports. The tower also looks fantastic and has some cool RBG lighting if you like that type of thing!

4. ROG Strix G15CK Gaming Desktop PC

ROG Strix G15CK Gaming Desktop PC, Intel Core i7-10700KF, GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, Wi-Fi 6, ROG Strix Flare Keyboard & Gladius II Mouse, Windows 10 Home, G15CK-BS772
Image from Amazon
Great specs and a stylish design

The Strix G15C has it all with an amazing GFX card, and a sleek black gaming tower.

Pros
Cool RGB lighting and a stylish case
16GB of DDR4 RAM
An advanced GeForce RTX 2070 GFX card
Cons
Only has a 512GB SSD

ROG is another popular manufacturer of high-quality gaming rigs. The ROG Strix G15CK Gaming Desktop PC is one such model. This powerful gaming PC has some of the best current specs available including a modern NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GFX card that has 8GB of dedicated memory!

It also has 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and an Intel Core 97-10700 processor. This is capable of clock speeds of up to 5.0GHz when overclocked. The SSD is PCI NVMe and has a capacity of 512GB. Whilst this isnโ€™t amazing, it should be enough for initial editing and software installation.

ROG Strix G15CK Gaming Desktop PC, Intel Core i7-10700KF, GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, Wi-Fi 6, ROG Strix Flare Keyboard & Gladius II Mouse, Windows 10 Home, G15CK-BS772
ROG Strix G15CK Gaming Desktop PC, Intel Core i7-10700KF, GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, Wi-Fi 6, ROG Strix Flare Keyboard & Gladius II Mouse, Windows 10 Home, G15CK-BS772 (Image from Amazon)

We also really like the stylish gaming case โ€“ it has a sleek black design and also has some amazing RGB lighting that can be customized to match your other peripherals. This is a great desktop computer and should be more than enough to deal with even the most demanding of video editing tasks.

5. HP Envy 32โ€ All-in-One Computer

HP Envy 32 All-in-One Computer, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9700 Processor, 4K UHD Monitor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics (4 GB), 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Windows 10 (32-a0010, Nightfall Black)
Image from Amazon
Top-quality 4k display

The HP Envy has an immense 32โ€ monitor and great specs for general video editing.

Pros
Quality 32โ€ monitor
16GB of DDR4 RAM
An NVIDIA GeForce 1650 GFX card
Cons
GFX not as powerful as some other all-in-one solutions

Our last pick is the HP Envy 32โ€ All-in-One Computer โ€“ this is another excellent all-in-one computer from HP that has some great specs and a great display. The display is 32โ€ which should allow you to see excellent detail for video editing, whilst also having your workspace organized.

The specs also include an advanced NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 card, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and an Intel Core i7 processor that has 8 cores and speeds of up to 3GHz without overclocking. We also like the quality of the monitor โ€“ it has a great contrast ratio and brilliant depth of colors. Your video should look fantastic!

HP Envy 32 All-in-One Computer, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9700 Processor, 4K UHD Monitor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics (4 GB), 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Windows 10 (32-a0010, Nightfall Black)
HP Envy 32 All-in-One Computer, 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9700 Processor, 4K UHD Monitor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics (4 GB), 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Windows 10 (32-a0010, Nightfall Black) (Image from Amazon)

For storage, this device has a 1TB SSD as standard, and it has several ports so you can connect it to other devices. It also comes as standard with a mouse and keyboard.

Choosing the Best Computer for Video Editing

As you can see, the best computer for video editing is well within your grasp! There are some excellent models available to suit all types of video editor โ€“ whether you prefer an all-in-one device like the Microsoft Surface Studio 2, or a dedicated desktop PC like the iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC Trace 4.

Video Editing Computer FAQs

Which is better for video editing, a desktop or all-in-one?

Both have their merits โ€“ it is more the specifications rather than the model that make a computer suitable for video editing.

What are important specs to look for in the best computer for video editing?

The processor, graphics card, memory (RAM), and hard drive capacity/speed are all essential for video editing software performance.


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About the Author

Paul Skidmore

Paul Skidmore

Paul loves traveling and photography. He is also a Lightroom and Photoshop expert and likes to test new photo software, apps, and gear. Paul frequently shares his travel photography tips on his travel blog and writes for known photography publications.
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