A machine for video editing, where the bottlenecks are different from gaming and the money goes to different places. Memory and storage matter more here than raw graphics performance.
| Component | Part | Why this one |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X or Intel Core i7-14700K | Export and render times scale with cores. This is the workload where a high core count genuinely pays for itself, unlike in gaming. |
| Motherboard | B650 or Z790 ATX with three or more M.2 slots | A multi-drive workflow needs the slots. Read the manual on lane sharing before planning the drive layout. |
| Memory | 64 GB DDR5 (2 × 32 GB) | Timeline playback, cached previews and effects all hold memory simultaneously. 32 GB works for 1080p and light 4K; 64 GB is the comfortable figure for sustained 4K work. |
| Graphics card | RTX 4070 SUPER class or better | Used for effects acceleration and hardware encoding. Video memory capacity matters for high-resolution timelines; raw rendering performance matters less than in gaming. |
| Storage | 1 TB NVMe for system, 2 TB NVMe for active projects, large drive for archive | The three-drive arrangement is the point. Separating the operating system, active work and archive keeps the working drive fast and uncluttered. |
| Power supply | 850 W 80 PLUS Gold | Sustained heavy load across processor and card during exports. |
| Case | Mid tower with strong airflow and drive mounts | Check it has mounting points for the additional drives before buying. |
| CPU cooler | 360 mm liquid or a large dual-tower air cooler | A high-core-count processor under sustained export load produces a great deal of heat continuously. |
Check what your software actually uses
Editing applications differ substantially in what they accelerate. Some use the graphics card heavily for effects and playback; others remain largely processor-bound. Some use hardware encoders for export; others do not.
Before spending on a more capable card, check the documentation for your specific software and the codecs you work with. This single check saves more money than any component comparison.
Storage layout matters more than any single component here. Reading source footage and writing an export on the same drive is a real constraint on long timelines. Separate them.
How this build was put together
Every component here was selected to serve the stated purpose at the stated budget, and the complete list was run through our compatibility engine before publication: socket, memory generation and slot count, case clearance for the card and cooler, power connectors and supply capacity.
We have not benchmarked these parts ourselves. The reasoning is based on published specifications, standards documentation, and practical experience assembling machines. Where performance figures matter to your decision, publications that run controlled tests are the right source. Our methodology page sets out how we work in full.
Want to change something? Open this configuration in the PC Builder, substitute parts, and it will re-check compatibility and power as you go.