How to Buy a Used Mac for Video Editing

Video editing is a demanding task, so if you are looking for the best computer to do your creative work, make sure you are familiar with the key components that you need.

Always remember that your workstation's key components can speed up or slow down your video editing workflow.

A lot of people were looking for that perfect device that will cater to all their video editing needs such as a super-fast processor, a lot of RAM, large disk and a decent GPU.

What are the best computers for video editing?

What computer most video editors prefer?—Digital creatives who are Apple fans, will obviously choose iMacs while non-Apple fans will go for other brands like Microsoft, Dell etc.

This article will provide you with a list of the best video editing computers for creatives—it is undoubtedly that iMacs were still unbeatable being on the top spot.

Here's my list of the top ten video editing computers for creatives like you.

10 Best Video Editing Computers

1. Apple iMac Pro (Renewed)—Most Popular
2. Apple iMac (27-inch)—Best Value Apple
3. Microsoft Surface Studio 2—Best-All-In-One Windows
4. Dell Alienware Aurora R12—Most Powerful Flagship PC
5. Corsair One Pro i200—Dream Computer
6. CyberpowerPC Liquid Cool—Best Value
7. Dell XPS 8930—Best All-In-One
8. HP ENVY Desktop TE01-0020—Best Budget Option
9. ASUS ROG Strix G12—Best For Gaming and Editing
10. Lenovo Yoga A940—Best iMac/Surface Alternative

How to choose the best computer for video editing

The combination of your computer parts can affect the efficiency of your workflow—there are a few key things that you should keep in mind to maximize your editing performance.

Here are the key features and components that you should consider.

1. Processor/CPU
2. Graphic Cards/GPU
3. RAM Memory
4. Storage
5. Sound
6. Motherboard
7. Price

For further understanding of these key features, here are the reasons why these things should be put into considerations.

Processor/CPU

CPU or Central Processing Unit is known as the brain of the computer and it is the most important part of your device.

This also plays an important role to ensure that you get the most out of your graphic card.

To encode and transcode clips, you need a fast and reliable CPU—a minimum of i5 processor is required for video editing.

Try visiting the Adobe website and check out their CPU requirements for some specific apps such as Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro.

Graphic Cards/GPU

Graphics Processing Unit or GPU is the main responsible for your monitor display so you must pay better attention for it can make or break your setup.

The more powerful your graphics card, the higher and smoother frames you will get, and the higher resolution you can run at.

If you are looking for a computer to edit ultra-high definition videos, it is highly recommended that you should purchase a dedicated graphics card.

If you want to get the most of your computer and to run video-editing software hassle-free such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut, After Effects, you should have a dedicated graphics card of at least 4 GB of VRAM.

RAM or Memory

RAM is the multitasking muscle of your device, so the more gigabyte you have, the more multi-tasking muscle you can have.

RAM's main role is for video editors to cache preview files and to allow the footage to play back smoothly.

Having too little RAM can give you laggy frames—the minimum requirement for a workstation is 8 GB, but 16 GB and more will give you more advantages.

Always put in mind that 32 GB is the sweet spot, but the more the merrier.

Storage

Storage refers to how much space you have in your device.

You can either buy an external drive or you can invest in a cloud base solution.

Storage drives hold your programs, operation system, and your miscellaneous files and the minimum requirement should be 256 to 512 GB SSD in your device.

HDD or Hard Disk Drive is inexpensive and not fast when used for editing purposes.

SSD or Solid State Drive is extremely fast, more stable, but is far more expensive than HDD.

Sound

For professional video editors, it is recommended to have an internal or external audio interface—a sound card.

It is important that your audio interface can produce real audio or sound without any alterations.

Hearing the true sound is your way to properly fix any audio problems and let you mix audio that will sound great for everyone.

It is highly recommended to go for a sound card specially made for audio editing which will allow you to hear the true sounds.

Motherboard

Motherboard or the mainboard holds everything in your system.

All components of your computers receive power from the power supply through the help of this board.

Make sure that it has everything you need and has room for expansion, in case you need it in the future.

Your motherboard supports CPU and RAM and should be equipped with slots for the graphics card and other drives that you need.

Price

If we will not consider the price of a computer we want to buy, we will probably get the best of the best.

Unfortunately, good quality and high-end products usually come pricey.

We have to work within our budget so we can only go for the things that we can afford.

But if we can go for high-priced computers, rest assured that you will be getting the high-quality performance it offers as promised.

With all these key features, check out my list of the best video editing computers for creatives on the market today.

1. Apple iMac Pro (Renewed)

Apple iMac Pro can be extremely expensive but undoubtedly does its job extremely well.

The most popular among creatives in the market today.

This is the best and coolest all-in-one computer perfect for creative professionals that can last for many years.

Price: $2778.69

Apple iMac Pro comes in a 27-inch 5K monitor that can provide you with billion of colors for videos and images.

It is the most powerful Mac that has astonishing performance, a superb cooling system, and a premium design.

A powerful computer that can handle 4K up to 8K video editing tasks without hassles and lags.

This device is specially designed for creative professionals who wanted to handle tons of data quicker than ever.

It is by far, the best Mac for video editing.

Specifications

Storage: 1 TB SSD
RAM: 32 GB
CPU: MacOS High Sierra
CPU Speed: 3.2 GHz
GPU: AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 (8GB)

Pros

1. Overall good deal
2. Up to 8K video editing

Cons

1. Too expensive
2. No expansion slots

Buy Apple iMac Pro on Amazon

‍2. Apple iMac (27-inch)

If you're an Apple fan and can't afford to buy Apple iMac Pro at the moment, Apple iMac (27-inch) might be your best option.

The best value apple for professional video editors and creatives.

This device may not be as impressive as the iMac Pro but it can deliver impressive performance with exceptional value.

Price: $2199.00

This device comes in a 27-inch monitor with a Retina 5k display—as we all know, everything looks better on a Retina display.

‍Apple iMac provides you with crystal clear video calls, audio calls and recordings.

It has a very nice system and when use for Adobe Premiere Videos—it can handle the rendering amazingly.

It runs amazingly well and doesn't even glitch at all while in the use of Logic Pro X software.

This iMac is fast, powerful, has an amazing display, and has an easy to learn operating system.

Specifications

Storage: 512 SSD
RAM: 8 GB
CPU: Core i7
CPU Speed: 3.8 GHz
GPU: Radeon Pro  5500 XT/8 GB

Pros

1. Fast and efficient
2. Excellent graphics

Cons

1. Not touch screen
2. Only has 2 thunderbolt ports

Buy Apple iMac (27-inch) on Amazon

3. Microsoft Surface Studio 2

If you are looking for a PC-based machine with a touch screen element of high quality and editing power, Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is the right fit for you.

The best all-in-one windows desktop for video editors and creatives.

Microsoft Surface Studio is a strong and powerful all-in-one computer.

Price: $3698.66

This may not be as strong as Apple but the processor at work in this device is a 2.9GHz Intel Core i7—fine enough for your mid-range editing needs.

‍Microsoft Surface Studio 2 comes with an amazing 28-inch screen that is loaded with features for creatives like you.

This device is visually stunning and has an amazing, bright high-resolution display.

This stylistic machine is more fun to use than any other all-in-one computer in the market.

You can write, play games, browse the internet, draw, create artwork, and edit videos—versatility at its finest.

Specifications

Storage: 1 TB SSD
RAM: 32 GB
CPU: Intel Core i7
CPU Speed: 1.3 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070(8GB)

Pros

1. Huge screen
2. Stylistic and functional

Cons

1. Noisy fan
2. Expensive

Buy Microsoft Surface Studio 2 on Amazon

4. Dell Alienware Aurora R12

Dell Alienware Aurora R12 is a fantastic option for gamers, creatives, streamers, and content creators.

The most powerful flagship desktop today.

This superb gaming desktop is also made for editing and designing creative works.

Price: $3399.00

Dell Alienware has an innovative graphics power and extensive cooling system.

It is powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 10 GB Graphics Card—a perfect choice for any gamer.

This is not just for gamers, but it is also suitable for video editors.

This device is specially made for multitasking that allows you to do a lot of tasks all at the same time without laggings.

You will never go wrong with this Dell as the amount you pay is definitely worth the price.

Specifications

Storage: 1 TB SSD/2 TB HDD
RAM: 64 GB
CPU: Intel Core i7
CPU Speed: 4.9 GHz
GPU: RTX 3080 (10 GB

Pros

1. Great for gaming
2. Great graphics

Cons

1. Expensive device
2. With noise issue

Buy Dell Alienware Aurora R12 on Amazon

5. Corsair One Pro i200

Corsair One Pro i200 is the latest and the most powerful in its line of compact computer workstations today.

Dream desktop of every video and content creators.

It is an amazingly powerful device for creatives and gamers that come in stylistic design.

Price: $4499.99

It has an attractive and elegant style and is remarkably small compared to other traditional desktop workstations.

‍Corsair One Pro may be expensive but with the kind of hardware and the amazing performance it offers, you can say that it was priced reasonably.

Every graphic designer and gamer's dream as the device comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPU.

You can work and produce creative works with confidence when you use this award-winning device.

This is a fast, reliable, and very quiet machine so you can focus on creating your works without hassles and lags.

Specifications

Storage: 2 TB HDD
RAM: 64 GB
CPU: Intel Core i9
CPU Speed: 3.30 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

Pros

1. Fast and quiet computer
2. Amazing graphics

Cons

1. Noisy water cooling pump
2. Expensive

Buy Corsair One Pro i200 on Amazon

6. CyberpowerPC Liquid Cool

CyberpowerPC Liquid Cool is your video editing computer that comes at a very reasonable price.

Best value desktop for creatives and video editors.

This is by far, the best computer for multimedia and video editing.

Price: $2480.00

CyberpowerPC Liquid Cool has NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, this GPU is enough to run over 900 games at a recommended level.

It comes with 16 GB of RAM, perfect if you are planning to do other things than gaming like streaming and video editing.

The liquid cooling system allows the hardware to give optimum performances even at the maximum and intensive loads.

It has a powerful system that any gamer wanted to have, so this must be a solid investment for video editors as well.

A reliable gaming computer with solid parts that has one of the best liquid cooling system—definitely an amazing value for your money.

Specifications

Storage: 1 TB SSD
RAM: 16 GB
CPU: Intel Core i7
CPU Speed: 3.6 GHz
GPU: GeForce RTX 2070 Super (8GB)

Pros

1. A great computer at a decent price
2. Quiet, cool, and fast machine

Cons

1. Not good heat management
2. It has no VGA out

Buy CyberpowerPC Liquid Cool on Amazon

7. Dell XPS 8930

If you are looking for an affordable desktop with the latest processor and award-winning audio, Dell XPS 8930 desktop is the one for you.

The best all-in-one desktop for your creative workstation.

This special edition desktop may be a less grand desktop but it is surely firm and durable.

Price: $1379.00

Dell XPS kept cool even on heavy and most intensive loads.

The Intel UHD Graphics 630 allows you to produce a clear display of videos.

This device is engineered to produce videos with high sound quality.

With its latest 9th gen processors and graphics of high performance, you will have the power and speed you need for gaming, video editing, and video playbacks.

Connectivity is also made easy using Dell XPS special edition tower desktop as it has a total of 11 USB ports.

Specifications

Storage: 2 TB SSD/2TB HDD
RAM: 64 GB
CPU: Intel Core i7
CPU Speed: 3GHz
GPU: Intel UHD 630 Graphics

Pros

1. Good for video and photo editing
2. Compact desktop

Cons

1. No dedicated graphic cards
2. Has cheap power supply

Buy Dell XPS 8930 on Amazon

8. HP ENVY Desktop TE01-0020

If you are looking for the best video editing computer under $1000, HP ENVY Desktop TE01-0020 is the best option in the market.

The best budget-friendly video editing computer.

This affordable yet powerful pc is suitable for your creative workspace and will allow you to unleash your creativity.

Price: $989.99

HP ENVY is specially designed for creatives to edit, broadcast and stream video content.

This device is system-powered by a 3.0 GHz Intel Core i7-9700 8 Core processor.

The system is expandable to 32 GB allowing your computer to access frequently-used files, apps, and programs.

It delivers you quality entertainment and surrounds sound.

It has stylistic brushed thermal vents created to increase airflow, allowing your system to run smoothly.

Specifications

Storage: 512 SSD/1 TB HDD
RAM: 16 GB
CPU: Intel Core i7
CPU Speed: 3 GHz
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630

Pros

1. Very fast computer
2. Very lightweight

Cons

1. Unupgradable
2. Can't connect to dual monitors

Buy HP ENVY Desktop TE01-0020 on Amazon

9. ASUS ROG Strix G12

ASUS ROG Strix G12 is the best choice not only for esports athletes but also for heavy video editors as well.

The best computer for video editing and gaming.

This device doesn't even bother if you are playing games and working on your HD videos while dozen of other programs are open all at the same time.

Price: $3699.00

One of the best features of Asus ROG Strix GL12—8 USB ports at the back and 4 USB ports in the front, allowing you to have more room for connections.

It is powered by the most advanced and latest 9th Generation Intel Core i9-9900 K Processor and it is by far its greatest asset.

Asus ROG Strix has a processor clock speed of up to 5.1 GHz, more than  enough for your gaming and editing needs.

It also has a powerful graphical interface—NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Graphics.

This device uses top-quality components to give you warm, clear, and natural audio.

Specifications

Storage: 2 TB HDD
RAM: 16 GB
CPU: Intel Core i7
CPU Speed: 3.6 GHz
GPU: 8 GB

Pros

1. Super fast and quiet
2. Lots of USB ports

Cons

1. Expensive
2. Has single-channel RAM

Buy ASUS ROG Strix G12 on Amazon

10. Lenovo Yoga A940

Lenovo Yoga A940 is created for creative professionals looking for a top video editing computer but do not want to spend much.

The best iMac and MS Surface Studio alternatives.

Lenovo Yoga A940 has been cast as an alternative to Apple and Windows users as it does a few things that its rival brands can with minimal differences.

Price: $2699.00

Apple and MS Surfaces have proven their status as the best video editing computers in the market, but Lenovo Yoga can also do the tricks but for a much lower price.

This  27-inch and excellent all-in-one windows device is perfect for graphic designers, video editors, photographers, and hobbyists.

It has a rotating hinge of up to 25 degrees that provides you with stability for writing and drawing using your digital pen.

With this device, you will experience stunning color and detail in 4k resolution optimized by Dolby Vision HDR.

If you are working primarily on HD videos, graphics, and digital arts, Lenovo Yoga is the all-in-one system that will best suit you.

Specifications

Storage: 1TB SSD + 2TB HDD
RAM: 32 GB
CPU: Intel Core i7
CPU Speed: 4.70 GHz
GPU: AMD Radeon/up to 10 GB Graphics

Pros

1. Worthy of the price
2. Rotatable 4k display

Cons

1. So heavy
2. Expensive for a non-Apple device

Buy Lenovo Yoga A940 on Amazon

Conclusions

With all the key features presented above, which of the video editing computers will you buy—Apple iMac Pro remains the number one choice for creatives and designers.

What is the best video editing computer for creatives?

If you prefer doing some editing works with Apple's Final Cut Pro, then obviously you need a Mac.

On the other hand, you will need a PC when you use software like Sony Vegas Pro.

For software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effect, both Macs and PCs will do the tricks for you.

Let me end this article with these thoughts for you—the best computers for video editing will never be expensive for professionals who do this thing for a living.

The best and most expensive computer is just worth every hard-earned money you pay for it.

Other Related Articles:

• Best Laptops for Graphic Designers
• Best Computers for Graphic Designers
• Best Tablets for Graphic Designers
• Best Monitors for Graphic Designers
• Best Cameras for Graphic Designers

As a creative, what is your choice of the best computers for video editing?

Did I miss something?—Leave a comment below.

How to Buy a Used Mac for Video Editing

Source: https://www.ebaqdesign.com/blog/video-editing-computers

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