How Much RAM Do You Need for Video Editing?

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Content creating is something that has grown rapidly over the past couple of years. More and more people are getting into content creation and learning the art of video editing. People who have done video editing in the past can confirm that video editing could be quite taxing for any computer or laptop. A lot of people say that increasing the RAM will solve all problems when it comes to video editing but it is not exactly true. 

RAM is important when it comes to video editing but other factors are important for video editing such as GPU and CPU. All these parts together are responsible for the performance of any video editing application. Since RAM is one of the key things that are important in video editing here we will be talking about it. It is quite clear that the more RAM we have the better will be the performance of the video editing software. 

How does RAM work?

RAm which is also known as Random Access Memory is the chip that helps a computer or laptop to access multiple programs at one point in time. If you are multitasking then you are using your RAM. RAM and hard drives are both storage options in a computer. RAM is for all the short-term storage whereas hard drives are all long-term storage. 

How much RAM you will require depends on the type of work or application you are running on your computer. When it comes to video editing the RAM becomes very important because it is generally responsible for storing the workflow. If you don’t have enough temporary memory then it will be impossible to perform any video editing and it will end up in a struggle.

RAM requirements for video editing software?

It is quite clear that the more RAM we have the easier it gets when it comes to video editing. Before diving deep into this topic it is important to understand that video editing software also plays a very important role in this. 

The heavier and complicated the video editing software the more RAM will be required to run it. It is always important to keep in mind that video editing software will not be the only application running on the computer at a time. Applications like Spotify, Google Chrome will surely keep running while editing videos. There are 4 RAM options which are available in the market for video editing which are 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.

  • 8GB RAM

This is the minimum amount of RAM required for any computer to run any video editing software. Without 8GB RAM, none of the video editing applications will run. The problem of using 8GB RAM in video editing is after booting up, if users open Adobe Premiere Pro then the entire 8GB RAM will be used up and no other applications will be able to run properly in the background. If users are working on a comparatively smaller project then an 8GB RAM computer might work. It is not recommended to edit huge files in 8GB RAM because it will surely end up hanging the computer. With 8GB RAM, only basic productivity work can be done smoothly.

  • 16GB RAM

This is a popular RAM option for people who do video editing as a hobby. The 16GB RAM option is not a big upgrade but it surely can handle a few background tasks along with a video editing application. If users are editing 1080p videos on 16 GB RAM then they will surely face no issues. Editing and rendering 4K footage on a 16GB RAM computer could be tough because 4K editing will end up taking all the RAM and no other applications will be able to work properly in the background. 16 GB RAM is capable of rendering huge files in 1080p.

  • 32 GB RAM

This is the perfect RAM option that can handle almost any video editing software and video file. Editing 4K footage and rendering it on 4K will be very easy on a 32 GB RAM computer. Users will be able to run multiple applications along with a video editing application without any issue. All professional video editors are recommended to use this RAM for better efficiency.

  • 64 GB RAM

This specification of RAM is not a necessity but more of a luxury. A very few people are shooting 8K videos right now and the only computer that can handle 8K footage is a computer with 64 GB RAM. Since 8K screens are not popular right now there is no point in shooting 8K footage and editing 8K footage because it will be a waste. If you are thinking of experimenting and you have the extra cash to go for the 64 GB RAM then you should. The problem with this RAM is that it costs more than its actual worth now.

Can video editing be done with 8GB of RAM?

This is a very tough question to answer because people can edit small videos on 8GB RAM but it will surely heat the computer a lot. No background applications should run in the background because all the 8 GB of RAM will be required by the video editing software. All the video editing software available in the market asks for a minimum of 8GB of RAM to work but the process of editing is not at all smooth. 

The only way users will be able to edit and render videos on 8GB RAM without any problem is if they shoot 720p footage and edit and render them at the same resolution. 8 GB is not made to handle high-definition video files. If you are planning to buy a PC or laptop for editing then make sure you go for a higher RAM than 8 GB because it will not be able to deliver video editing properly.

What resolution footage is perfect for all video editing apps?

All video editing software is capable of editing footage up to 8K resolution. The most common resolution in which videos are shot and edited now is 1080p. All the popular video editing software can handle 1080p footage at both 60 fps and 120 fps. The most commonly used resolution for video capturing and rendering is 1080p at 60 frames per second. For this resolution, 32 GB RAM will be perfect. This RAM will be able to handle the footage and a few other background applications along with the video editing software without any problem. 

More and more people are getting into content creation and video editing and learning software like Final Cut Pro, After Effects, and Adobe Premiere Pro. If you are learning any video editing software and thinking of what RAM to use in your computer then make sure you read this article carefully. It is also important to understand that RAM will not be the only factor that comes into play when we talk about video editing. If you are upgrading make sure you find the processor and SSD which will make the video editing process much smoother. A 32 GB RAM will be perfect for all kinds of video editing work at this point.

FAQs

Can video editing be done in 8 GB RAM?

Yes, video editing can be done in 8GB of RAM

Does Adobe Premiere Pro work with 8 GB RAM?

Yes, Adobe Premiere Pro works in 8 GB RAM

How much RAM is good for all kinds of video editing?

64 GB RAM is perfect for all kinds of video editing.

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