Do you need Windows? A relatively recent refurb’d or simply used MacBook Pro or Mac Pro will work great (they will also run Windows on Boot Camp). Doesn’t even need to be all that recent. I’m running a 2009 Mac Pro and it still works great for HD, haven’t tried 4K on it. I’ve only upgraded the RAM and hard drives. My last TV station was using all pre-2012 Mac Pros for edit workstations. The trash can redesign Apple tried didn’t really meet the needs of most of their target market, so the current model didn’t sell well. They did recently announce they are going back to the drawing board on a new Mac Pro, but it probably won’t be available this year.
Not an expert in building video editing pcs but for a purpose built rig I’d say you want a desktop with stout processor (core i7, i5 may be ok), a decent video card (but an extreme gaming one is not necessary), as much ram as you can get, ssd for your os and programs and a few terabytes of spinning disk space for storage. You can raid 0 that for speed if you keep backups of your footage on other media or online, or raid 10 if you also need redundancy. Depending on what kind of monitor you may want to add this should be doable within your budget.
If you just need to edit some video anything you can buy with an i5 or better and 8+ gb of ram will do it just fine.
You can use the specs to shop for off-the-shelf desktops. Most branded PCs though do not yet have AMD Ryzen CPUs yet, substitute the Intel Core i5 or i7 for it.
You can also skip the GPU or get a lower-end model if you’re not going to be playing 4K videos.
Lenovo P50 (newer) or W550 (older) series, which are Windows laptops designed for media hacks. Look for Nvidia Quadro graphics, Core i7, at least 8GB RAM (easy to upgrade), Pantone color sensor for calibrating the monitor, FHD monitor minimum. Heavy and hot but still portable and durable. Probably have to go used or refurbished to keep it under a K. eBay is a good source, perhaps Amazon too.
Do you mind getting manufacture refurbished, or seller refurbished?
I got a refurbished workstation (2 Xeon processors, 72GB RAM, Nvidia Quadro 600, 1TB HDD) for just over $700 with shipping. So far pretty reliable, and only the graphics card had to be upgraded (for gaming). Let me know if you are interested.
The seller buys used devices, replaces some components, cleans and tests the device, then sells them for a slight markup. It’s a great deal for the amount of power, and will remain reliable for at least three or four years The one I bought did not come with an OS, but some of their other products do.
Their website: https://tekboost.com
Look up monitor color performance if your editing is going to be concerned with such considerations as contrast and color. Get some recent IPS or similar type display, after checking some professional type reviews. Don’t just use an old TN display.
Probably don’t go with a wide gamut display, either. Though, you would know more than I would about your needs there.
Other than that, it probably isn’t going to require much hardware, relative to modern desktops, depending on what you’re doing.
@connorbush I’m surprised nobody has inquired about what/how you’ll be editing.
I use Adobe Premier, and I work with 1080p, mostly at 30fps, occasionally up to 120fps. Mostly assembling, minor image correction, some stabilization, titles/subtitles, and transition effects. I do not do any special effects like chroma key, or super-involved transitions (everything I use is part of the core Premier application).
My platform is a Toshiba notebook with 4th gen i7, 12GB RAM, internal 500GB SSD and external USB 3.0 2TB HDD, using Windows 10 Pro 64bit. I also have a 32" LG external monitor connected to the HDMI port and use this as the primary display.
My configuration has more than enough horsepower for my use. If I was looking for a purpose selected system, I would shop out a factory refurbished desktop with 3rd or 4th gen i7 (i7-4790 would be ideal). I’d equip it with 12 to 16GB RAM and Win 10 Pro. In a Dell or HP factory, this configuration could be had for around $500ish.
If not already equipped, I’d add an internal SSD drive for the OS and applications, and possibly a medium quality (around $50) dedicated video card. That system would fulfill my need for video editing well into the future, even into 4K (assuming 4K doesn’t become tomorrow’s 3D televisions).
To make a recommendation for your configuration, more information is really needed regarding your use. Which editing suite will you use? How long will your finished video be? How many tracks do you usually work with concurrently? Will you be using any special effects?
All those variables will have an effect on how much power your hardware should have.
We could get into the weeds, but I would ask: 1) How long are you willing to wait while video renders, authors, etc? 2) Does that $1K include software and if not, what software are you going to use?
I edit relatively complicated stuff (Multiple video/audio layers/chromakey/graphics/titles) - and sell the resulting programs to consumers - with nothing more than a refurb $250 dual-core XP machine and Sony Vegas Pro (older edition, obviously. Pick it up cheap on Amazon). I do have a good monitor, two 3TB Hard Drives, digital converter and other necessary software (authoring, video plugins).
Total cost of all the above is something just south of $1K. Yes, you will need to wait hours (I go to sleep) while some stuff renders and no, you will impress no one with your equipment list… but, when the project is done - no one will know what you spent… and the quality - if you do not need crazy frame rates and super high quality (though I do HD/Blu-ray) - the quality will be fine.
I did not know we had so many video people on this site, and we haven’t even heard from @Pavlov yet (I think @MrsPavlov said he was in South America for work fairly recently, and it sounded like a long trip)
My knowledge is a little old (it has been around five years) , but all decent video editing software I am aware of are heavily weighted toward the CPU.
To keep from having to wait eons to turn your project files into video files, this is one instance where multiple cores is better. AMD’s chips tend to fair better with this type of multi-processing, and if you can afford to wait for Ryzen CPU, that would be the best option I am aware of for an actual desktop style buld. Xeon server processors are great workhorses, you may just need to be wary about possible compatibility issues if you have preferred software.
Since you are looking to build, go with the OS that will give you the least number of headaches with the software you want to use. While you can often squeeze out a little more performance using a Linux distro over Windows, I personally find Windows to actually be the optimal choice for this sort of work. I would heavily recommend you use the newest version of whatever you go with, the optimizations over old OS versions and sometimes new or improved technologies they give you access to will help you unlock the most of your hardware. As for Apple, if that is what runs your software of choice, rolling your own rig is probably more effort than it is worth for you.
As for other hardware, two drives can be a lifesaver, especially if one is an SSD. RAM is cheap, so plug in whatever the Mobo can take and call that good. A decent efficiency rating PSU and whatever you are willing to spend on a graphics card for the rest of your budget. My only note on the graphics card is that if you are working multi-monitor, the Nvidia 10xx line is worth grabbing. For a single monitor you are pretty safe with any card. Do go for a gaming card though as long as your software doesn’t lock you into anything. There are more of them in the wild so third issues are dealt with much more quickly in general and tend to be a hair more optimized. A Quadro may render it more accurately every frame on your monitor, but I would prefer the performance bump and a close enough colors my eyes don’t notice the odd pixel or two that are a hair off for a frame here or there. It won’t affect the final rendered version of the file anyways.
There are several parts picker sites, and they tend to do a great job making sure you don’t grab something that won’t work. I would follow the advice that makes the most sense for you and play with a parts picker to get specifics. Building your first rig can seem pretty nerve wracking, but they come with pretty good directions and it almost comes down to matching the right shaped pegs and slots.
@eilaer really enjoying pc part picker sites. Thanks. I already have a monitor keyboard and mouse. I will need software. I used final cut pro a fair bit in 2006-7 and enjoyed it. I’m hearing nice things about abode premier though.
Not very specific on what you’re doing but you might not need to spend that much depending on whether you already have a nice monitor.
@RedOak aldready have a bitchen monitor
Do you need Windows? A relatively recent refurb’d or simply used MacBook Pro or Mac Pro will work great (they will also run Windows on Boot Camp). Doesn’t even need to be all that recent. I’m running a 2009 Mac Pro and it still works great for HD, haven’t tried 4K on it. I’ve only upgraded the RAM and hard drives. My last TV station was using all pre-2012 Mac Pros for edit workstations. The trash can redesign Apple tried didn’t really meet the needs of most of their target market, so the current model didn’t sell well. They did recently announce they are going back to the drawing board on a new Mac Pro, but it probably won’t be available this year.
Not an expert in building video editing pcs but for a purpose built rig I’d say you want a desktop with stout processor (core i7, i5 may be ok), a decent video card (but an extreme gaming one is not necessary), as much ram as you can get, ssd for your os and programs and a few terabytes of spinning disk space for storage. You can raid 0 that for speed if you keep backups of your footage on other media or online, or raid 10 if you also need redundancy. Depending on what kind of monitor you may want to add this should be doable within your budget.
If you just need to edit some video anything you can buy with an i5 or better and 8+ gb of ram will do it just fine.
http://www.4kshooters.net/2017/03/21/building-an-insanely-powerful-4k-video-editing-pc-for-just-998/
You can use the specs to shop for off-the-shelf desktops. Most branded PCs though do not yet have AMD Ryzen CPUs yet, substitute the Intel Core i5 or i7 for it.
You can also skip the GPU or get a lower-end model if you’re not going to be playing 4K videos.
This should be good for starters: http://computers.woot.com/offers/hp-pavilion-560-intel-i5-rx480-1tb-desktop?ref=w_gh_cp_3_s_txt
Lenovo P50 (newer) or W550 (older) series, which are Windows laptops designed for media hacks. Look for Nvidia Quadro graphics, Core i7, at least 8GB RAM (easy to upgrade), Pantone color sensor for calibrating the monitor, FHD monitor minimum. Heavy and hot but still portable and durable. Probably have to go used or refurbished to keep it under a K. eBay is a good source, perhaps Amazon too.
@AdmiralDave outlet.lenovo.com
Do you mind getting manufacture refurbished, or seller refurbished?
I got a refurbished workstation (2 Xeon processors, 72GB RAM, Nvidia Quadro 600, 1TB HDD) for just over $700 with shipping. So far pretty reliable, and only the graphics card had to be upgraded (for gaming). Let me know if you are interested.
@DVDBZN where did you find this?
@cosborn89
This is the one I bought (it was about $100 cheaper): https://m.newegg.com/products/9SIA68F58S9447
The seller buys used devices, replaces some components, cleans and tests the device, then sells them for a slight markup. It’s a great deal for the amount of power, and will remain reliable for at least three or four years The one I bought did not come with an OS, but some of their other products do.
Their website: https://tekboost.com
Look up monitor color performance if your editing is going to be concerned with such considerations as contrast and color. Get some recent IPS or similar type display, after checking some professional type reviews. Don’t just use an old TN display.
Probably don’t go with a wide gamut display, either. Though, you would know more than I would about your needs there.
Other than that, it probably isn’t going to require much hardware, relative to modern desktops, depending on what you’re doing.
Thanks all!
@connorbush I’m surprised nobody has inquired about what/how you’ll be editing.
I use Adobe Premier, and I work with 1080p, mostly at 30fps, occasionally up to 120fps. Mostly assembling, minor image correction, some stabilization, titles/subtitles, and transition effects. I do not do any special effects like chroma key, or super-involved transitions (everything I use is part of the core Premier application).
My platform is a Toshiba notebook with 4th gen i7, 12GB RAM, internal 500GB SSD and external USB 3.0 2TB HDD, using Windows 10 Pro 64bit. I also have a 32" LG external monitor connected to the HDMI port and use this as the primary display.
My configuration has more than enough horsepower for my use. If I was looking for a purpose selected system, I would shop out a factory refurbished desktop with 3rd or 4th gen i7 (i7-4790 would be ideal). I’d equip it with 12 to 16GB RAM and Win 10 Pro. In a Dell or HP factory, this configuration could be had for around $500ish.
If not already equipped, I’d add an internal SSD drive for the OS and applications, and possibly a medium quality (around $50) dedicated video card. That system would fulfill my need for video editing well into the future, even into 4K (assuming 4K doesn’t become tomorrow’s 3D televisions).
To make a recommendation for your configuration, more information is really needed regarding your use. Which editing suite will you use? How long will your finished video be? How many tracks do you usually work with concurrently? Will you be using any special effects?
All those variables will have an effect on how much power your hardware should have.
@ruouttaurmind Thanks!
We could get into the weeds, but I would ask: 1) How long are you willing to wait while video renders, authors, etc? 2) Does that $1K include software and if not, what software are you going to use?
I edit relatively complicated stuff (Multiple video/audio layers/chromakey/graphics/titles) - and sell the resulting programs to consumers - with nothing more than a refurb $250 dual-core XP machine and Sony Vegas Pro (older edition, obviously. Pick it up cheap on Amazon). I do have a good monitor, two 3TB Hard Drives, digital converter and other necessary software (authoring, video plugins).
Total cost of all the above is something just south of $1K. Yes, you will need to wait hours (I go to sleep) while some stuff renders and no, you will impress no one with your equipment list… but, when the project is done - no one will know what you spent… and the quality - if you do not need crazy frame rates and super high quality (though I do HD/Blu-ray) - the quality will be fine.
@TimWalter thank you for the feedback!
I did not know we had so many video people on this site, and we haven’t even heard from @Pavlov yet (I think @MrsPavlov said he was in South America for work fairly recently, and it sounded like a long trip)
@jqubed thanks
My knowledge is a little old (it has been around five years) , but all decent video editing software I am aware of are heavily weighted toward the CPU.
To keep from having to wait eons to turn your project files into video files, this is one instance where multiple cores is better. AMD’s chips tend to fair better with this type of multi-processing, and if you can afford to wait for Ryzen CPU, that would be the best option I am aware of for an actual desktop style buld. Xeon server processors are great workhorses, you may just need to be wary about possible compatibility issues if you have preferred software.
Since you are looking to build, go with the OS that will give you the least number of headaches with the software you want to use. While you can often squeeze out a little more performance using a Linux distro over Windows, I personally find Windows to actually be the optimal choice for this sort of work. I would heavily recommend you use the newest version of whatever you go with, the optimizations over old OS versions and sometimes new or improved technologies they give you access to will help you unlock the most of your hardware. As for Apple, if that is what runs your software of choice, rolling your own rig is probably more effort than it is worth for you.
As for other hardware, two drives can be a lifesaver, especially if one is an SSD. RAM is cheap, so plug in whatever the Mobo can take and call that good. A decent efficiency rating PSU and whatever you are willing to spend on a graphics card for the rest of your budget. My only note on the graphics card is that if you are working multi-monitor, the Nvidia 10xx line is worth grabbing. For a single monitor you are pretty safe with any card. Do go for a gaming card though as long as your software doesn’t lock you into anything. There are more of them in the wild so third issues are dealt with much more quickly in general and tend to be a hair more optimized. A Quadro may render it more accurately every frame on your monitor, but I would prefer the performance bump and a close enough colors my eyes don’t notice the odd pixel or two that are a hair off for a frame here or there. It won’t affect the final rendered version of the file anyways.
There are several parts picker sites, and they tend to do a great job making sure you don’t grab something that won’t work. I would follow the advice that makes the most sense for you and play with a parts picker to get specifics. Building your first rig can seem pretty nerve wracking, but they come with pretty good directions and it almost comes down to matching the right shaped pegs and slots.
@eilaer really enjoying pc part picker sites. Thanks. I already have a monitor keyboard and mouse. I will need software. I used final cut pro a fair bit in 2006-7 and enjoyed it. I’m hearing nice things about abode premier though.
Sorry I missed this . . . One of the best online resources for custom builds for video editing boxes may be found at Logical Increments -
http://www.logicalincrements.com/articles/videoediting
Enjoy!
@Pavlov cheers
Ended up with this guy. Got it for $500. I will probably upgrade the SSD and RAM
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-yoga-710-2-in-1-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-940mx-256gb-ssd-pearl-black/5579128.p?skuId=5579128