best (affordable) desktop for editing video

aforbes · 27 Jul 2021 at 13:21

Hi - I'm looking for a desktop tower/box (am told they are more powerful and cheaper than a laptop) to replace my 12 year old macbook pro. I am fed up with macs and the constant updating, lack of ports etc etc. I want another computer to last another 12 years!

I think I'm gonna cross over to something that's not a mac. I have a screen, a mouse and a keyboard...I not just need the thing that makes it all work.

I am so out of touch with what's what I'd love some advice - my main aim is to edit some 4k footage I have on a hard drive - so anything that's not too expensive or bulky that could do this would be excellent.

Then....do I need to buy a load of software to go on it or do PCs come with video editing software these days?!

Apologies for my ignorance - thank you in advance!!

Raymond Lin · 27 Jul 2021 at 14:19

Mac Mini with 16G of RAM, add a dock.

You cannot beat it for the Mac Mini price.

aforbes · 27 Jul 2021 at 14:31

thanks Raymond - Will that allow me to edit 4k footage?

Raymond Lin · 27 Jul 2021 at 14:35

aforbes said:
thanks Raymond - Will that allow me to edit 4k footage?

Easily (according to reviews). Skip to 9:44

Btw, it is the M1 Mac Mini, not the older stock one you might find getting sold at discount.

aforbes · 27 Jul 2021 at 16:30

Ah okay - thank you so much for this info. I was really hoping to escape the mac world (I don't like their ethics as a company) but may have to admit defeat ....is there no PC equivalent to a mac mini I wonder?

Raymond Lin · 27 Jul 2021 at 18:54

aforbes said:
Ah okay - thank you so much for this info. I was really hoping to escape the mac world (I don't like their ethics as a company) but may have to admit defeat ....is there no PC equivalent to a mac mini I wonder?

Not for the same horsepower for the same price, especially the price of hardware right now with silicon shortage.

aforbes · 28 Jul 2021 at 13:04

okay - I see. Still pretty spenny but I guess that's the nature of the beast. I wonder could a second hand one be trusted....

aforbes · 28 Jul 2021 at 13:05

ps thanks so much for your help I really appreciate it

aforbes · 28 Jul 2021 at 13:07

ONe more stupid quesiton - when you say 16GB do you mean 8core ram and 8 cpu or just 16GB ram (apologies for my ignorance!)

Raymond Lin · 28 Jul 2021 at 14:59

aforbes said:
ONe more stupid quesiton - when you say 16GB do you mean 8core ram and 8 cpu or just 16GB ram (apologies for my ignorance!)

RAM, do it when you spec it out, none of the internals are upgradable. The SSD size isn’t as important as it has thunderbolt but max ram for future proofing. The M1 chip for the Mac mini only has 1 type.

radderfire · 28 Jul 2021 at 15:10

You could also get a PC configured from Overclockers. Can't comment on exact performance you would get, but I'm sure that you could spec one that could cope with 4K video editing:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk...-office-micro-atx-configurator-fs-01t-tl.html

Spleen Sauce · 28 Jul 2021 at 18:41

aforbes said:
(I don't like their ethics as a company

Compared to who?

But yes, an M1 Mac running Final Cut is probably as good as you're going to get for the money.