Custom PC Build for Video Editing
Video Editing places a very huge demand on PC resources, especially the RAM and Processor. In the recent past, video editing was restricted to Standard Definition (SD) formats. Nowadays, video editing features up to 4K resolution. Every year, new and latest editing software is released as updates.
This new software is coded with the latest and high-end features that task existing hardware. This is the reason why you must build a future-proof editing PC that should last at least 5-8 years. When building a custom PC for Video Editing, you must take note of the following:
- You need a powerful multi-core processor, preferably a recent or latest generation
- A fast NVMe boot drive
- You are going to need lots of RAM, as much as your motherboard can support (as much as 16-64GB)
- You should get a huge storage disk (from 4TB and above), or better still, go for the RAID option
With these specs in addition to others, your video editing rig will be able to handle just about any task you give it. Please see our guide on building the ultimate video editing PC. There’s also a build guide for video editing on all budgets.
What about Graphic Designers?
If you are into graphic design as a profession, you need a certain configuration for your custom PC build. Graphic designers work mainly with design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, CorelDraw, Adobe Indesign, etc.
These classes of software are productivity and professional-level apps that do not place very great demand on the main PC components, such as a graphics card. Nevertheless, there are a few considerations:
- You should seriously consider getting an NVMe drive
- Your RAM should be at least 8GB
- Lots of storage is an advantage, at least 3TB for storing your files.
- Your processor should be at least a quad-core processor.
- You may need a professional monitor for color accuracy
- You may need to buy a software subscription
You can check out our build recommendations for a graphic design PC build for all budgets, and the ultimate graphic design PC. We also reviewed the best monitor for Graphic Design.
Custom PC Build for 3D Artists and Designers
3D design artists need peculiar hardware optimized for rendering because 3D rendering is a CPU-intensive operation. 3D software such as Autodesk 3DS Max, Maya, or Houdini continually releases updates with newer features every year.
These updates sometimes place additional demands on the previous generation CPU, making them look like amateurs. This is why you need to take some considerations into account before you build a custom PC for rendering. They are as follows
- Spend the most money on the highest or higher multi-core CPU. You’d be glad you did. This is because when it comes to rendering, the more cores, the faster your renders.
- When buying a Graphics Card, ensure it can provide hardware rendering which is supported by some 3D software.
- A fast SSD/NVMe is an advantage.
- You will need a software subscription in some cases.
We have prepared a comprehensive guide on building a custom PC for 3D rendering and you should check it out. There’s also a Threadripper PC build for max rendering performance.
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PC Build for CAD/CAM/CAE professionals and Architects
Computer-Aided Design (CAD), tasks the system processor greatly, just like 3D rendering. CAD rendering is processor-intensive, and as such the best processor is needed for smooth operation.
Software such as Solidworks, ArchiCAD, and STAADPro used in CAD have powerful rendering engines that can easily bring a PC to its knees in terms of performance. This is why you should bear these in mind before you build a PC for CAD:
- Invest in a high-end processor, preferably with many cores.
- The more RAM you can afford, the better
- An NVMe drive will speed things up
- You’ll probably need a liquid cooler
- You will probably need to invest in a professional graphics card. Gaming cards don’t cut it when it comes to this kind of workflow.
You can check out our guide on the best 3D Rendering machine, or if you want a workstation laptop for rendering, we have reviewed a total of 12 best workstation laptops for Solidworks, which can still serve for general 3D workflows. We also published a review on the best Laptops you can use for AutoCAD.
Custom PC Build for everyday office use
Use your PC for normal office work such as typing, printing, reading emails, and replying? Well, you don’t need special hardware. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you must get the best hardware before it can work satisfactorily. Here are some considerations:
- You should get at least a dual-core processor
- Your RAM shouldn’t be more than 8GB
- You should make sure your processor has integrated graphics
- You don’t need a dedicated graphics card.
When you want to build a custom PC for everyday office use, you shouldn’t spend money on high-end hardware which is for specialized applications.
Our guide on custom PC for everyday use covers in detail what you should consider and the best hardware for the price. Here’s our recommended build for a small home office PC.
Conclusion
Do you think it’s worth it to DIY build a PC? We think so. Follow this link to learn how to build your PC step by step. Share your concerns and questions on your experience building a custom PC for discussion below. Let’s hear from you.