Guide to Build A PC for Content Creation and Editing 2023

Are you thinking of building your own PC for content creation and video editing? While it may seem ideal if you have a budget crunch, PC building is all about making the right choices. It is exciting, the setup is fun, and it will even help you know the ins and outs of your machine in the long run. 

However, it is not all fun and games, as it requires detailed knowledge of the kind of components and builds to opt for. One wrong choice can be detrimental to all the parts. Besides the support and service you can get with a pre-built PC, custom-built PCs offer no third-party support.

If you have chosen to walk the path of custom PC building, worry not! In this blog, we will help you understand what it takes to build your own PC and choose the right PC components for content creation and video editing:

Know Each Component Thoroughly! 

The first step is to know what each component does. Your PC or desktop may look simple from the outside, with just a few buttons and USB slots, but it is a whole new world inside. The key components of your PC include:

• CPU: The PC’s brain processes all the activities and tasks. 
• Memory: RAM or temporary memory that will store temporary information to be accessed when working on a particular activity. 
• Storage: Also known as ROM, which could be your SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that helps store your data.
• Graphics Processing Unit: Special graphic card that will kick in when working on graphic-intensive activities.
• Motherboard: The electronic board that will house all the above components, ensuring they work as a single unit.
• PC Case: That essentially stores all the PC components and includes slots to put it all in place. It also houses multiple options to add fans or a liquid cooling setup to ensure that your high-end PC doesn’t heat up.
• Power Supply Unit (PSU): Which controls the power for your machine. You need to pick the right option depending on the machine you are building.

Now let us go deeper into how to pick each component:

Start by Selecting the Ideal Motherboard and CPU

The first step in building your own PC is to select a motherboard and CPU that is apt for your needs. For this, make sure you first zero in on the CPU or processor you will be choosing. The motherboard option is heavily dependent on the processor you choose.

For example, if you pick the i7-8700k (LGA 1151 socket processor), you’ll need a compatible socket 1151 300 series rather than a 200 series motherboard. Similarly, you will have a whole new socket for an AMD Ryzen processor. With the latest AMD processors being at par with Intel, deciding which CPU to opt for is tough. We highly recommend selecting an option based on your budget and the best choice between these two top brands.

Since finding the correct motherboard is essential, as all the other components will fit in with it, we recommend spending some time on this decision. The easiest way to find which motherboard is suitable for your CPU and other components is by doing some research. Or, you may even create a free account on this website (pcpartpicker.com) and start logging in your components to know if they are the right fit.

Maximize the Budget for the GPU

Whether you are using a free video editing software or a heavy-duty process-heavy offline version, a load of your entire video editing and rendering rests solely on this one component – the Graphics Card (Graphics Processing Unit). Any editing software will consume a huge chunk of memory space as they have multiple features to run with, these features do help to make them proper and exquisite.

So make sure you max out on the GPU and choose an option from either the AMD graphic cards or Nvidia, depending on which ones you find ideal. The latest options that can help future proof your device are:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
• AMD Radeon RX 6800XT
• Nvidia Quadro RTX A4000

Add in Storage and Memory

Video editing and content creation require you to have ample room for storage, especially since 4K content creation takes up a lot of space. With just a few minutes of footage, we are talking about a few GB (Gigabyte) files being created. So make sure you choose a storage option of at least 1 TB or above.

For storage, we also recommend having a separate SSD (Solid State Drive) ideal for installing your Operating System. This helps it start and process a lot faster, thanks to the higher speeds offered by the SSD compared to the HDD. The additional files or storage can be your HDD (Hard Disk Drive) which can max out on the storage front.

For memory, pick the latest DDR5 RAM options to ensure your video editing and rendering processes work smoothly. We recommend options above 16 GB, but you can add more as you go, depending on the slots available in your motherboard. 

Do Not Forget the PSU (Power Supply Unit)

The bulk of the attention often goes to the other components like the GPU or CPU, and the essential element, the component that regulates the power supply in your machine, is ignored.

This can be a big mistake, though, because if your PSU cannot handle your heavy-duty machine, it can end up damaging your entire PC.

For the kind of machine we have recommended here, an 850W PSU or above is ideal. In addition to capacity, make sure you also look into the device’s efficiency. 

Pick a PC Case That is Ideal for Your Build

Ultimately, all your PC components will need a large case to provide enough room for each component and help keep it cool.

Pick a case with options to install fans and other cooling components, especially for Liquid Cooling, if that is what you will be choosing.

Also, the air ventilation should be proper, as overheating or constant high temperature can damage the components in any part of the case. 

Conclusion

Since you are building your PC, you can ensure that you pick futureproof components while you cut back on the non-essentials.

Photo editing, video editing, rendering, and associated activities are graphic intensive and require a powerful PC; it is ideal to wait and have a reasonable budget to start with. However, that doesn’t mean you need every top-notch PC component in the market. 

Instead, focus on the necessity, as the key is to ensure that your new PC is ideal for handling all your intensive processes and can last you a few years.

In addition, a few things, like RAM (Memory), ROM (Storage), and GPU (Graphics Card), can be added or updated incrementally. Even with a decent budget, you can build a PC to help you get to work and last longer!