{"id":3052,"date":"2021-10-31T19:27:18","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T19:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pcgearhead.com\/?p=3052"},"modified":"2022-05-24T14:32:54","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T14:32:54","slug":"why-do-you-need-a-dedicated-graphics-card-for-video-editing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pcgearhead.com\/why-do-you-need-a-dedicated-graphics-card-for-video-editing\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do You Need a Dedicated Graphics Card for Video Editing in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you’re just getting into video editing but struggling with the question “why do you need a dedicated graphics card for video editing?”. So, what’s a straightforward answer to your query?<\/p>\n

A dedicated GPU assists the processor in performing various tasks important for video editing. It helps in rendering the videos and is crucial to editing high-resolution and graphics-intensive videos. In a nutshell, if you’re into professional video editing, there’s no way around a dedicated GPU.<\/p>\n

That said, go through the complete guide for complete and money-saving information. Let’s dive in.<\/p>\n\n

Do You Need A Dedicated Graphics Card For Video Editing?<\/h2>\n

\"do<\/p>\n

Yes, you definitely do. In most of the cases, at least. This is because a CPU alone can’t handle the processes of video editing. But if you are doing basic video editing like at 720p or less then the CPU may be able to handle it alone. However, the experience won’t be seamless and it’s not recommended for professionals at all.<\/p>\n

As you go higher to 1080p or 4K at this stage you just need a GPU that is powerful enough to tackle heavy workloads as well as keep the experience flawless.<\/p>\n

Basically, a graphics card works as a secondary processor for video editing software. It assists the CPU in video rendering, graphical visuals, and previewing your video in whatever video editing software you use.<\/p>\n

But, how can a GPU be this effective in delivering better video editing performance?<\/p>\n

CPUs have limited cores. Most of them come with 4, 8,12, or 64 cores depending on the model. But when it comes to the GPU, it comes with thousands of cores that offer more effective graphical calculations. But, as you guessed, these aren’t as powerful as CPU cores nor that large in size.<\/p>\n

Are you still confused? Well, let me explain with an example. Let’s assume cores are the workers. As a rule of thumb, thousands of workers will get things done faster than those 8 or 16 cores, despite not being that trained (lower performance of each core).<\/p>\n

With that out of the way, do you edit videos on Adobe Premiere Pro? Find yourself the best GPU with our definitive guide on what is the best video card for Adobe Premiere<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why Should I Invest in a Better Graphics Card?<\/h2>\n

Investing in a better GPU means better performance. It will significantly decrease the time required for rendering videos. Further, it allows you to edit your videos at higher resolutions without any lag. Another marvelous benefit is the quick previewing of the video. Plus, GPU also makes the previews more flashy and smooth to ensure a great presentation for you.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, a graphics card will also help in increasing the video quality. A better GPU will open gates for more transitions and better color grading. Keep on reading to look into more benefits of GPU.<\/p>\n

That said, if you’ve decided to purchase a GPU and are unable to find out how to sell your current GPU, you can read our definitive guide on where to sell a graphics card<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Dedicated Graphics Card<\/h2>\n

Below are the key features and drawbacks of getting a dedicated GPU for video editing.<\/p>\n

Advantages of a Dedicated GPU<\/h3>\n

The dedicated graphics cards have lots of benefits to take your video editing skills to the next level by providing you with an awesome performance boost. Let’s look at them individually:<\/p>\n

Overall Performance Boost<\/h4>\n

A good dedicated graphics card will significantly increase your performance by assisting the CPU. It boosts graphical processing which results in a great uplift in performance. In other words, a GPU shears the work of a CPU and decreases its loads.<\/p>\n

Graphical Improvement<\/h4>\n

Dedicated GPUs significantly improve the graphical quality and help you more efficiently tackle the video editing tasks by having more visual details. Furthermore, they also improve the overall display quality to make it go easy on your eyes.<\/p>\n

Memory Usage<\/h4>\n

A part of VRAM is shared with pc memory. In that way, it shares the load of RAM which gives your pc more free RAM to run more apps simultaneously. Plus, the VRAM is also much faster than normal memory. So this results in an additional speed increase.<\/p>\n

Disadvantages of a Dedicated GPU<\/h3>\n

The disadvantages of a dedicated GPU is not a deal-breaker. Everything has a cost, if you want to get something you have to give something.<\/p>\n

Overheating<\/h4>\n

Overheating caused by GPUs can be problematic, especially if you live in a hot country. It directly impacts your performance and causes a big performance drop. To overcome this, you have to install a good cooling system (liquid cooling is recommended).<\/p>\n

That said, you should also know what is hot for a GPU to determine if your GPU is overheating. Learn that with our detailed guide on what is hot for a GPU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Power consumption<\/h4>\n

Adding a dedicated GPU will eat more electricity than an integrated GPU. So, this will cause a jump in the electricity requirement but the difference is nearly incremented.<\/p>\n

Pricing<\/h4>\n

GPUs can be expensive. A good GPU for video editing can cost between $500 and $1000, provided that you’re able to find a good value for your money. However, here’s a table to give you an estimate of GPU pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 GPU Name<\/strong><\/td>\nMSRP<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GeForce RTX 3090<\/td>\n$1,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti<\/td>\n$1,200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GeForce RTX 3080<\/td>\n$700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti<\/td>\n$600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GeForce RTX 3070<\/td>\n$500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti<\/td>\n$400<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GeForce RTX 3060<\/td>\n$330<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Radeon 6900 XT<\/td>\n$1,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Radeon 6800 XT<\/td>\n$650<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Radeon 6800<\/td>\n$580<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Radeon 6700 XT<\/td>\n$480<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Note: The current prices of these GPUs vary on a variety of factors like silicon shortage and availability.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How Much VRAM Do I Need?<\/h2>\n

VRAM stands for Video Random Access Memory. It works like the normal RAM and stores data of active applications temporarily to make things snapper. The VRAM of the GPU pre-loads the Graphical data so that when you add transitions or preview the video you will get a buttery smooth experience.<\/p>\n

How much VRAM you need directly depends on the video quality or resolution of the videos you edit. If your want to edit videos at 720p, a 2GB VRAM will be acceptable. But if the video is 1080p resolution, which is the standard in 2021, a minimum of 4GB VRAM is recommended.<\/p>\n

When it comes to 4k video editing or even higher, go for a minimum of 6GB VRAM. If your 4k projects are graphics-intensive or you also deal with 8k video editing, go for 12GB VRAM or higher. This is because having even 6GB will not be able to give you a good experience in the era of 8k.<\/p>\n

That said, use this table to find a suitable GPU for your needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tier Level<\/strong><\/td>\nGPU Names<\/strong><\/td>\nVRAM (RAM of the GPU)<\/strong><\/td>\nMemory Bus Width<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
S Tier<\/strong><\/td>\nNvidia GeForce RTX 3090<\/strong><\/td>\n24 GB GDDR6X<\/td>\n384-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT<\/strong><\/td>\n16 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT<\/strong><\/td>\n16 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080<\/strong><\/td>\n10 GB GDDR6X<\/td>\n320-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia Titan RTX<\/strong><\/td>\n24 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n384-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A Tier<\/strong><\/td>\nNvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti<\/strong><\/td>\n11 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n352-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 6800<\/strong><\/td>\n16 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon VII<\/strong><\/td>\n16 GB HBM2<\/td>\n4096-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
B Tier<\/strong><\/td>\nNvidia GeForce RTX 2060<\/strong><\/td>\n6 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n192-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT<\/strong><\/td>\n6 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n192-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti<\/strong><\/td>\n6 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n192-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super<\/strong><\/td>\n6 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n192-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C Tier<\/strong><\/td>\nNvidia GeForce GTX 1660<\/strong><\/td>\n6 GB GDDR5<\/td>\n192-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT<\/strong><\/td>\n4\/8 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n128-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super<\/strong><\/td>\n4 GB GDDR6<\/td>\n128-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 590<\/strong><\/td>\n8 GB GDDR5<\/td>\n256-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D Tier<\/strong><\/td>\nAMD Radeon RX 580<\/strong><\/td>\n4 GB\/8 GB GDDR5<\/td>\n256 bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AMD Radeon RX 570<\/strong><\/td>\n4 GB\/8 GB GDDR5<\/td>\n256 bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650<\/strong><\/td>\n4 GB GDDR5<\/td>\n128-bit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What Other Components Are Important for Video Editing?<\/h2>\n

GPU is probably not all that counts for video editing. Below are the other hardware parts that impact the video editing performance and experience:<\/p>\n

CPU<\/h3>\n

\"cpu\"<\/p>\n

If you’re not taking the CPU seriously, you’re wrong. The CPU is a highly crucial hardware component for video editing. It can directly impact your video editing performance. A CPU with 8 cores can manage much more workload in a certain time compared to a 2 core CPU. So, be sure to pay special attention to the CPU other than the GPU.<\/p>\n

RAM<\/h3>\n

\"ram\"<\/p>\n

RAM serves up to store temporary data and the more you have, the better. The optimal RAM recommended for a video editing computer is 32 GB. That’s what most of the video editors go for. This kind of RAM will make multitasking smooth to help you be more productive and get things done faster. However, 16 GB RAM will also work fine for 1080p or 4k projects.<\/p>\n

Storage<\/h3>\n

The video files contain a lot of information and can consume a large amount of storage. A 4k or 8k video can alone take up many GBs of storage. So, the regular 500GB no longer works. What we recommend is to pair up your computer with a 1TB or 2TB hard drive to effectively store the large video files.<\/p>\n

Monitor<\/h3>\n

\"monitor\"<\/p>\n

The monitor can significantly impact your video editing experience. Different monitors have different capacities of colors, resolution, and refresh rates. So, it’s important to go for a suitable monitor for video editing. For instance, if you’re editing a 4k video project, a 1080p display will not offer pinpoint accuracy in your work.<\/p>\n

Motherboard<\/h3>\n

The motherboard serves up to form a connection between hardware parts. A fast motherboard can offer a blazing-fast connection for higher performance and vice versa. So, a powerful motherboard is recommended for video editing. Also, a good motherboard will also offer an efficient cooling heatsink and will support overclocking which can be helpful at times.<\/p>\n

That said, it’s also important to make sure the motherboard you choose works with the GPU you’re considering. Learn about that in detail with our guide on how to check motherboard compatibility with the graphics card<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Is There Any Reason to Have More than One Graphics Card for Video Editing?<\/h2>\n

\"do<\/p>\n

The requirement for two GPUs highly depends upon your needs and the type of video editing you do. If you’re an average video editor who manages the standard 1080p or 720p projects, you might probably not need that high of GPU power. But if 4k video editing is your everyday play, there can be the requirement for two GPUs.<\/p>\n

Whether you desperately need it or not, having two GPUs on your computer can efficiently improve the overall video editing performance and can help you be more productive. When a load of video editing tasks is distributed among two GPUs, there’s a significant performance increase.<\/p>\n

Now, how do you connect two GPUs for video editing? You will either need Nvidia SLI for that or AMD crossfire, depending upon the video cards you want to pair up. Whichever way you choose, here’s what you will need:<\/p>\n