Computer to edit 4K

[stuartbp]

I know little to nothing about video editing. I do know that my current desktop can not handle editing 4K video.

I'm wondering what specs the computers you 4K editors are using, and what you would recommend.

I don't use Mac. Any PC is fine with me. I don't need the top of the line fastest machine out there, just something that can handle the occasional 4K editing. primarily just piecing together video clips.

I have found some computers in the $800-1000 range that look like they would handle my needs. Just want to hear what everyone else is using...Desktop is fine also.

 

[BVC]

I use mac.

Pc/windows computers are pure junk. Sorry you won't convert to Mac.

(I use windows computer more than my mac so its not like I'm biased )

 

[stuartbp]

I use mac.

Pc/windows computers are pure junk. Sorry you won't convert to Mac.

(I use windows computer more than my mac so its not like I'm biased )

Well thanks for wasting my time then. The next person will say Mac is junk. I also use both and prefer PC and android over Mac and apple products. I happen to be typing this on an iPad that was setting on my coffee table, but I prefer my android devices because they don't feel the need to babysit me and tell me what I can and can not do.

So if anyone else actually wants to answer the question I posed that would be great.

 

[ELCHEAPO]

Something with a high end i7 cpu 2-4gb high end gpu & plenty of ram 16gb + oh and a ssd would be a great add on.

I've got a 5yr old desktop pc that really struggles even playing 1080p & 4k is very bad. So I record in 2.7k & this plays very well for some reason.

There are a few detailed threads on here about what pc set up people are using for 4k editing & they don't sound elcheapo

 

[ELCHEAPO]

This is probably the best thread for answers to your question
What computer is everyone using to edit 4K video? | DJI Phantom Forum

Your welcome

 

[John Locke]

ElCheapo is right, that thread is good. Any quad core i7 today will work, but you'll need a graphics card that supports a 4K monitor (2GB memory on the graphics board is enough) and you'll need a 4K monitor to appreciate the work you're doing. The biggest issue is the editing software. It needs to include the ability to make a proxy file in lower resolution (1080) for editing purposes, then when all done, it applies all the edits to the original 4K file. To determine if a CPU is a quad core, go to Intel Ark and type in the i7 part number, such as i7-4770.

 

[Craig]

I bought a ASUS Zenbook 501 and it works seamlessly editing 4K video. I too use Windows and Mac and this computer cost me $1450 and works better than my $2,300 MacBook. It is not much better than my MacBook in editing 4K video, but the price sure does kick its a$$.

 

[RedHotPoker]

Running an HP Envy Pavillion, i7. With a 2 terabite harddrive, and all the bells and whistles, water cooled, of course.
I could look up the other specs for you, if you need them.
Plays my Phantom 3 Pro' 4K vid just great. Really pleased with it.

RedHotPoker

 

[ParsnipHysorter]

I use an i7-2700k overclocked to 5 gHz. 16 gb ram. GTX 970 video card. Works very well.

 

[George Race]

I have an Acer Aispre V5 Laptop and a Dell T1700 Desktop. Both are fantastic with the 4K video from the P3P and OSMO. Both can be purchased on eBay, as factory rebuilt, for a reasonable price.
GR

 

[Luap]

The biggest issue is the editing software. It needs to include the ability to make a proxy file in lower resolution (1080) for editing purposes, then when all done, it applies all the edits to the original 4K file. To determine if a CPU is a quad core, go to Intel Ark and type in the i7 part number, such as i7-4770.

I can playback 4K no issue on my system, but as soon as I drop the footage in an editing program and I've tried different ones, the playback lags so bad that its not usable.
So what would be the minimum PC configuration required to edit P3 4K footage in realtime without proxy (without any fancy effects, just cuts) and what editing program (PC or MAC)?

 

[Grae]

Lots of love for PC out there! I use a custom built PC which was around $1000. I find custom built PCs offer the best value. Plus, you can push the specs up and choose from a range of brands when it comes to RAM etc. I would go for an i7 chip and the best graphics card you can afford that will handle 4K. As for RAM, I would look at 32gb ideally. In terms of cooling, I have two fans and one is part of a Corsair Hydro cooling system. It's not silent because of my spec, so you may want to look into that. I use Windows Pro 64 bit and this boots from an SSD which means I can turn it on and be working on a document in around 20 seconds - VERY important to me as the time this saves is phenomenal.


Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots mobile app

 

[Morkster]

Well thanks for wasting my time then. The next person will say Mac is junk. I also use both and prefer PC and android over Mac and apple products. I happen to be typing this on an iPad that was setting on my coffee table, but I prefer my android devices because they don't feel the need to babysit me and tell me what I can and can not do.

Agreed. I refuse to be a lemming and buy into Apples closed society.

So if anyone else actually wants to answer the question I posed that would be great.

 

[sticky photography]

I use Corel studio, edit in proxy first and it's not power hungry, then when you eventually save the final file it works from originals to make your 4k video, means you don't need all signing all dancing pc

 

[Shammyh]

Any Haswell+ i7 will be more than enough. 8+ GB RAM is a good idea as well.

Decent graphics won't hurt, but even the Intel integrated graphics is enough to drive a 4K display. Video editing work is not usually heavily dependent on your GPU unless your NLE supports GPU acceleration. That all said, any current gen AMD or Nvidia GPU should be up to the task.

I'd also strongly suggest an SSD for your scratch drive.

My personal setup:

4790k @ 4.7 GHz, 16 GB RAM, Nvidia GTX 970, 512 GB Samsung 850 Pro, 2x 3 TB spinning disks.

 

[stuartbp]

Thanks for all the feedback. I've done some PC modifications in the past. Costco has a descent deal on a Dell XPS 8900 that looks like it'll do a good job for me. might get a SSD at some point to load windows and a few other programs onto if I think it's necessary..depends on how much I get into this editing.

 

[BVC]

Well thanks for wasting my time then. The next person will say Mac is junk. I also use both and prefer PC and android over Mac and apple products. I happen to be typing this on an iPad that was setting on my coffee table, but I prefer my android devices because they don't feel the need to babysit me and tell me what I can and can not do.

So if anyone else actually wants to answer the question I posed that would be great.

Funny you say that. I came from Android after two years (note 3/4). I get it. We all have preferences.

The even funnier part about is.. You won't consider a mac. Mac = a brand that does certain jobs better than others.

Why did you buy a DJI product over another competitor product? Wouldn't that be the argument? One brand does certain things better than other brands..????


Anyway if you go PC you'll deff need something of decent hardware for sure but you'll want to make sure you get a CLEAN copy of windows. I suggest building your own PC and adding a copy of Windows to it vs buying a windows PC at the local store which is often full of bloatware

That's typically what kills windows computers and causes them to bog down.

 

[ParsnipHysorter]

Funny you say that. I came from Android after two years (note 3/4). I get it. We all have preferences.

The even funnier part about is.. You won't consider a mac. Mac = a brand that does certain jobs better than others.

Why did you buy a DJI product over another competitor product? Wouldn't that be the argument? One brand does certain things better than other brands..????


Anyway if you go PC you'll deff need something of decent hardware for sure but you'll want to make sure you get a CLEAN copy of windows. I suggest building your own PC and adding a copy of Windows to it vs buying a windows PC at the local store which is often full of bloatware

That's typically what kills windows computers and causes them to bog down.

Yeah I don't blame him though. I would not consider a mac either. Don't want to get into Mac/PC arguments because its mostly a matter of preference. But for $1,000 you can build quite the powerful Windows machine, but for the same price you're not getting much of a mac -- not something you would enjoy video editing on anyway.

 

[buzo831]

It's all a matter of preference. I love macs, but I also have a PC. I will say macs are better for creativity, including video editing. I use my PC for gaming (custom build 6700K with a GTI 980 TI at 1300mhz). You honestly don't need much for 4K trimming. A new iPhone can do it in iMovie so if you are just moving clips around, that might be all you need.

 

[tcope]

Switched (because someone wanted it more than me) from a Yoga 2 Pro to a Lenovo Yoga 900 with 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM. It lacks a video card with dedicated RAM but this think will render 4k w/o any problem. Screen is also 3k.

I'd say good CPU, SSD and at least 8GB of RAM are needed.