Professional gamers game and prefer to stream their games simultaneously. Livestreaming your actions in video games may make you wonder if you can also use your gaming PC for video editing. Let’s find out!
Besides gaming, a gaming rig can be used for many other purposes like a standard rig; and video editing is one of these purposes. Gaming PCs generally consist of powerful CPUs and GPUs that enable them to run any heavy gaming or video editing software. However, because video editing puts more load on CPUs, you should have a powerful CPU for video editing instead of a powerful GPU.
Definitely, you can edit videos using any gaming PC. But, keep a thing in mind video editing software will make use of both multi-core and single-core CPUs to perform several tasks. Specifications inside any computer will decide the editing performance. You can always check the minimum and recommended system requirements of any video editing software. If your gaming PC at least has the minimum required specifications, you can easily edit videos using it.
Top reasons why gaming PC is best for video editing
It also requires your computer to process timing very closely and manage effects and other graphics that might be used, and any music or voice-overs that you choose to include.
Most gaming rigs have multicore processors installed in them, making them perfect for running all sorts of heavy software. This does not have to be limited to video games requiring the best graphics, music, interactions, etc. It can be used for video editing too!
Video editing on a gaming PC requires the device to allow you to pay attention and make changes to even the smallest details. You might miss these edits if your movie editing software manages to work on a standard rig.
It also necessitates your computer’s ability to analyze time and manage effects and other images, as well as any music or voice-overs you choose to incorporate.
Why gaming PCs are good for video editing as well?
1. Above average CPUs
If you have decided to build your own gaming rig, then you should know that the CPU is the second most crucial component in the rig after the graphic card. Now, for video editing, as well, the CPU plays a major role. So, if you are playing games at 4K or Full HD resolution with 60 or above 60 FPS, you can easily expect it to edit 4K video as well.
So, because your gaming PC will have a powerful CPU, you can use it for video editing as well. A fast rendering isn’t possible without a powerful CPU. So, you are getting the first advantage here.
2. You have a dedicated GPU
Most gaming PCs come with a powerful Graphics card, which is required to produce all of the complex environments seen in a game. The stronger your GPU, the smoother the rendering will appear in both media and video games. If you want to game more than edit videos, focus more on the GPU.
In video editing, if you are looking to enhance 3D designing, and rendering, or if you use a lot of VFX in your videos, your gaming graphics card will help you with that as well. Especially, when we talk about 4K or 8K editing where the file size is huge, GPU can help the CPU a lot to handle this amount of data. This happens because GPUs come with a huge number of cores as compared to the CPUs.
Now, the results will depend obviously on the performance of your graphics card along with its specs such as VRAM. Know more about the importance of a GPU in video editing.
3. You will probably have a faster memory
RAM is the next very important element enhancing your video editing performance. So, it is obvious that you will be having at least 8 GB of RAM in your gaming PC. Now, if it has a high-frequency i.e. 3200 MHz or more, it is enough to help you edit up to 4K videos.
If you want to work with 4K quality or higher-resolution films, you will require even more RAM to keep things running smoothly. Additionally, you should explore ECC RAM, or error-correcting code memory, which actively tries to eliminate mistakes in your working files and prevents damaged files from occurring.
Also Read: Does more RAM help with rendering?
Will all gaming PCs be good for video editing?
I would like to tell you here that gaming is a GPU-Intensive task while video editing is a CPU-Intensive task. So, generally, we see that most gaming rigs are built using powerful CPUs.
However, if you have compromised on the CPU and your video editing requirements are high, you may not get your desired benefits.
For example, the very popular Adobe After Effects software recommends having an 8-Core or above CPU for the best editing experience. 4-Cores are the minimum requirement. So, if your gaming PC just has 4-Cores, you will have to face some drawbacks.
Now, when it comes to the memory, the same software has a 16GB minimum and 64GB recommended RAM requirement.
So, the point here is that you will have to see which software you want to use along with its system requirements. If your gaming system has suitable specifications, you can edit your videos perfectly.
Can I edit 4K videos with my gaming PC?
Again, there is no single answer to this question because it is a subjective matter. Generally, your system should have this specification in order to edit large-format 4K videos.
- A CPU with 6 to 10 cores (at least 3.0 GHz)
- At least 16 GB RAM
- GPU with at least 2 GB VRAM
- SSD Storage (as per the size of your files)
These are the ideal system requirements if you want to edit 4K videos. If you want more performance and faster rendering speed, you can always go for faster components.
Now, if your gaming PC has at least these specs, you can easily edit 4K videos in it. If any of the specifications is compromised, you may experience lags or a poor editing experience.
What is the most important component for editing?
CPU is perhaps the most important thing in determining the editing capabilities. Then comes the GPU especially when you are dealing with huge size of files such as 4K files. After that, RAM is an important thing, and then comes the storage.
All these things are embedded on the motherboard but that doesn’t determine the performance directly. As we discussed earlier, video editing is a CPU-intensive task. So, it is better to pay special attention to it.
What is the best PC for video editing and gaming?
The best non-gaming computer in Apple is the Apple iMac Pro. It is considered to be the best for both video editing and gaming owing to its wonderful processors.
If you prefer Microsoft Windows, the Corsair Vengeance, as well as the Corsair One, are also excellent choices. For those who are fans of the Alienware brand, the Aurora series is one alternative that is somewhat more expensive but comes with some additional benefits.
Finally, the HP Omen is a low-cost option with a significant fanbase in both gaming and video editing. Furthermore, the Omen is more generally available.
How much storage does my gaming PC need for gaming and video editing?
Most gaming rigs are now equipped with at least 1 TB of storage space. However, do note that once you edit a video and render it, it will take up more space. As a result, the storage space will eat up memory and fill up quickly. Hence, we suggest investing in an external storage drive too.
Final Verdict
Yes, Gaming computers can perfectly be used for video editing because they generally have everything that is required in a video editing system such as a powerful CPU, GPU, and faster memory.
However, the editing performance can’t be judged specifically by the gaming performance of your system. Gaming is generally GPU-focused while video editing is CPU-focused. So, if your gaming system has a good CPU along with the GPU and RAM, you will definitely get good video editing results with it.
Let me know what you think about it!
I am Anshul Rana, an experienced author specializing in PC gear reviews and Windows 10 software tutorials. With a strong passion for technology and an in-depth understanding of the PC industry, I provide insightful and detailed analyses of computer peripherals, gaming gear, and software solutions. My writing style is concise yet informative, making complex topics accessible to both beginners and advanced users. Through my reviews and tutorials, I aim to offer valuable guidance, helping readers make informed decisions to enhance their PC experience and explore the vast possibilities of Windows 10 software.
