If you’re looking for one of the best video editing computers, you do need a machine with a bit of power behind it. Video editing is one of the most process-intensive tasks an everyday computer is likely to undertake, especially if you’re working in super-large resolutions like 4K, 8K or even higher. Trying to do that on a machine that’s not specced for it is a fast way to find yourself in crash-ville.
Fortunately, whether your use macOS or Windows, there are plenty of computers up to the task – you just need to know what to look for. A high-end graphics card, a powerful processor, plenty of RAM and access to a high-fidelity monitor – a combination of all the above will do the job, and it doesn’t have to cost the earth. We’ve picked out our favourite video editing computers for this guide, and made sure to provide options for a range of budgets.
In this guide, we’re looking at desktop computers – check out our guide to the best laptops for video editing if you’d like something more portable, or the best video editing apps for YouTube if you just want to do quick projects on your phone. Generally though, a desktop computer is the best choice if you have the budget and space for it, as the design allows for fans that prevent the system from overheating during intensive tasks
We’ve chosen the computers in this guide based on our reviewers’ experience with working on them and using them. Some have displays, while others will need you to attach one of the best monitors for video editing, and if you need some more tech pointers, scroll down to the bottom of this page to find a dedicated section on how to choose the best computer for video editing.