Best Computer for Video Editing: Your Ultimate Guide to HP Workstations
You may have captured the best footage ever on film, but to create a Scorsese-worthy final product, your computer needs sufficient processing power to handle demanding video editing tasks.
While you might be familiar with popular video editing software, evaluating technical specifications like processor speed, GPU capabilities, and storage options can quickly become overwhelming.
We're here to help with a comprehensive guide to the best HP computers for video editing, including the technical specifications you'll need to efficiently complete your projects. We've selected desktop options across various price points to help you find the perfect balance between performance and budget.
Top HP Workstations for Professional Video Editing
1. HP Z8 Fury G5 Tower Workstation
The HP Z8 Fury G5 Tower Workstation represents the pinnacle of video editing performance. This high-performance desktop is our top pick for professional video editors who need uncompromising power and reliability.
- Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
- Intel® Xeon® Processor
- 16 GB ECC memory
- 512 GB M.2 storage
- NVIDIA® T400 Graphics (4 GB GDDR6)
Maximum Memory and Storage
The HP Z8 Fury G5 Tower Workstation comes equipped with 16 GB ECC memory, providing ample capacity for multitasking and handling complex video projects. ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory enhances reliability by automatically detecting and correcting memory errors, which is crucial for long rendering sessions.
For storage, the base configuration includes a fast 512 GB M.2 drive, with options to expand to larger or faster SSDs to accommodate your growing library of high-resolution video projects.
Incredibly Versatile and Powerful
What sets the HP Z8 Fury G5 Tower Workstation apart is its exceptional adaptability and raw processing power. This workstation caters to professional video editing needs at every level, from indie filmmakers to major production studios.
The system can be customized with more powerful processors and professional-grade graphics cards, ensuring swift performance for demanding tasks like:
- 4K and 8K video editing
- Complex 3D rendering
- Multi-layered effects processing
- Color grading in real-time
For professional video editors and filmmakers, the ability to upgrade components over time makes this workstation a long-term investment that can evolve alongside your growing technical requirements.
2. HP Z2 Small Form Factor G9 Workstation
The HP Z2 Small Form Factor G9 Workstation delivers professional-grade performance in a compact design, perfect for video editors working in space-constrained environments.
- Windows 11 Pro
- 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor
- 8 GB memory
- 256 GB M.2 SSD
- Intel® UHD Graphics 730
Despite its compact footprint, this workstation doesn't compromise on performance. The 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor delivers reliable multitasking capabilities, making it suitable for 1080p video editing and content creation work.
The 8 GB memory and 256 GB M.2 SSD storage provide a solid foundation, with upgrade options available to enhance performance for more demanding projects. The space-saving design is ideal for small studios, home offices, or editing spaces where real estate is at a premium.
3. HP Z4 G5 Tower Workstation
The HP Z4 G5 Tower Workstation strikes an excellent balance between performance and affordability, making it a versatile choice for video editors with diverse needs.
- Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
- Intel® Xeon® W3-2423 Processor (2.1 GHz, 15 MB cache, 6 core, 120W)
- 16 GB memory
- 512 GB M.2 storage
- AMD Radeon™ RX 6400 Graphics with 4 GB GDDR6 graphics memory
Professional-Grade Processing Power
The Z4 G5 Tower Workstation features the Intel® Xeon® W3-2423 Processor with 6 cores and 120W power, delivering exceptional performance for video rendering and processing. This workstation-class processor excels at handling resource-intensive video editing tasks while maintaining system stability.
Expandable Memory and Storage
The system's 16 GB memory provides a solid foundation for editing 1080p and 4K video content. As your projects grow in complexity, the memory can be expanded to accommodate more demanding workflows and multitasking requirements.
The included 512 GB M.2 storage ensures quick boot times and fast access to your video projects. The system also supports additional storage expansion, allowing you to create an optimal configuration with high-speed SSDs for active projects and larger capacity drives for archiving completed work.
Gaming Desktops for Video Editing
Video editing PCs and gaming PCs share many requirements: high-end graphics processing, fast CPUs, and ample RAM. Several HP gaming desktops deliver excellent video editing performance at competitive price points.
4. HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop
The OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop combines gaming prowess with video editing capabilities, making it a versatile option for content creators who also enjoy gaming.
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ Ultra9 285K (up to 5.70 GHz, 36 MB cache, 24 cores, 24 threads)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 (32 GB GDDR7 dedicated)
- Kingston FURY 64GB DDR5-5600 MT/s XMP RGB Heatsink (4 x 16 GB)
- 2 TB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ Performance M.2 SSD
Powerful Video Editing Graphics
The NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 GPU with 32 GB of dedicated GDDR7 memory delivers outstanding performance for video editing tasks. This graphics card accelerates rendering in popular editing applications, supports real-time effects processing, and handles high-resolution video playback with ease.
The system's Intel® Core™ Ultra9 285K processor with 24 cores and 24 threads excels at multi-threaded applications like video encoding and rendering. Combined with 64 GB of high-speed DDR5 memory, this configuration allows for smooth editing of 4K and 8K video content with multiple effects layers.
5. HP OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop
The OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop provides an excellent balance of performance and value for video editors who need powerful components without the premium price tag of dedicated workstations.
Intel-based model:
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ i5 14th generation processor
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Ti (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
- Kingston FURY 16 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s XMP RGB Heatsink (2 x 8 GB)
- 1 TB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
AMD-based model:
- Windows 11 Home
- AMD Ryzen™ 7 8700G (up to 5.1 GHz, 16 MB L3 cache, 8 cores, 16 threads)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
- Kingston FURY 16 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s EXPO™ RGB Heatsink (2 x 8 GB)
- 1 TB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
The OMEN 35L offers excellent performance for video editing applications like Adobe Premiere Pro. The Intel model features a powerful Core i5 processor with 20 cores and 28 threads, while the AMD model includes a Ryzen 7 processor with 8 cores and 16 threads. Both configurations provide exceptional performance for demanding video editing tasks.
The included NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ graphics cards with 8 GB of dedicated memory accelerate rendering times and support smooth playback of 4K video content. The system's efficient cooling design, featuring 2x 140MM front fans and 1x 120MM rear exhaust fan, keeps components operating at optimal temperatures, allowing for sustained performance during long rendering sessions.
Key Specifications for Video Editing Computers
How Many Cores Does a Video Editing PC Really Need?
Modern processors typically contain multiple cores, ranging from 4 to 32+ in high-end workstations. For video editing, the number of cores directly impacts rendering performance, with most professional editing software able to utilize multiple cores effectively.
Core recommendations for different video editing needs:
- Basic 1080p editing: 4-6 cores
- 4K editing with effects: 8-12 cores
- Professional 4K/8K workflows: 16+ cores
It's important to note that more cores aren't always better if the software can't fully utilize them. However, most modern video editing applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro are optimized for multi-core processing.
Cores vs. Clock Speed
While core count is important, clock speed also significantly impacts editing performance. A processor with fewer cores but higher clock speeds might outperform a processor with more cores but lower speeds for certain tasks. For video editing, a balance of both is ideal – high core counts for rendering and exports, and high clock speeds for timeline scrubbing and real-time effects.
What About RAM?
Insufficient RAM is one of the biggest bottlenecks in video editing performance. RAM requirements scale directly with video resolution and project complexity:
- 1080p editing: 16 GB minimum
- 4K editing: 32 GB recommended
- 8K or complex 4K projects: 64 GB or more
If you're using your video editing computer as your main workstation and frequently run multiple applications simultaneously, opting for more RAM becomes even more important. Most editing professionals consider 32 GB the sweet spot for current workflows, with room to expand as needed.
When operating near RAM capacity, the entire system slows down as it begins swapping data between memory and storage. This lag can severely impact your productivity when working with video content.
Is SSD Storage a Big Deal in a Video Editing Computer?
SSD storage dramatically improves video editing performance compared to traditional hard drives. Without moving parts, SSDs deliver significantly faster read/write speeds, which directly translates to:
- Faster project loading times
- More responsive timeline scrubbing
- Quicker application launches
- Improved export times for projects with many source files
For optimal performance, consider a tiered storage approach:
- Fast NVMe SSD (500 GB+) for operating system and applications
- Secondary SSD (1-2 TB) for current projects and media cache
- High-capacity HDD for archiving completed projects
This configuration provides the perfect balance of speed where it matters most and cost-effective storage for large media libraries.
Summary
When selecting a video editing computer, prioritize components that directly impact editing performance: processor cores, graphics capabilities, RAM, and storage speed. The best approach is to choose a system that exceeds the minimum requirements of your editing software, providing headroom for more complex projects and future updates.
HP offers a range of computers suitable for video editing, from professional-grade workstations like the Z8 Fury G5 to versatile gaming desktops like the OMEN 45L and OMEN 35L. The right choice depends on your specific needs, workflow requirements, and budget constraints.
For the ultimate video editing experience, consider exploring HP's complete range of workstations and gaming desktops, designed to deliver the performance and reliability that creative professionals demand.
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