How much do RAM do you need for video editing? 16GB, 32GB or 64GB? Does your computer freeze up when previewing video? You face the problem of video editor crash while working? If yes, I’ll try to help you and recommend the best RAM for video editing and tell you what to pay attention to when increasing the RAM.

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How Much RAM Is Needed for Video Editing?

RAM is the main temporary storage area of the entire computing system. RAM is faster than a hard disk, so the goal of video editing is to save as much information as possible in RAM. Although 8 GB of RAM sounds like enough, one-quarter of this is used by the operating system, leaving only 6 GB for you video editor.

It is possible to rank the RAM by capacity if considering several variants of video editing. The list starts with the smallest, taking into account the capabilities and formats of the video, clearly showing how much RAM is needed for video editing.

No, you really only need to fill 1 of them. If you do decide to fill both, only worry about getting 3 GB of RAM between the 2 of them, unless you are on a 64bit operating syste. So, say you are using windows, in order to use more than 3GB you would need to have Windows 64bit Edition. But 3 should be more than enough for pretty much everything. Before adding RAM, double check inside the computer first to ensure there is a slot free to take the new RAM – and that it is easily accessible: PCs usually have at least 2 RAM slots – some may have 3 or 4+. RAM comes shaped in physical strips. Each strip has a set amount of memory storage space ranging from 2GB to 32GB. Most laptop’s motherboards come with 2 to 3 slots for RAM. If your laptop has 8GB of RAM, it probably uses two 4GB strips of RAM in separate slots. Putting RAM To The Test. For use case testing we used an Alienware 15 R3, equipped with an Intel Core i7-6700HQ, 16GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX970M graphics card.To obtain data on memory. How much memory is needed will be dictated by both your software requirements and by the amount of memory your system can accept. Most modern desktop motherboards have 2, 4, or 8 memory slots with 4 being the most common. Memory kits also come in kits of 2, 4, or 8 modules depending on the platforms for which they were intended.

• Read more about the best video editing softwares.

8GB – will suit you if you are editing 720p files. 4K editing is impossible or it will be unbearable. You may have to close other apps.

16 GB – will be enough if you are editing 1080p commercials with almost no effects or want to edit 4K files. You will have problems with background tasks. Is 16GB RAM enough for 4K editing? It depends on the complexity of video montage you do.

32 GB – will allow editing all kinds of files, including 4K, working with long videos (full-length movies) or creating many visual effects. This is the optimal capacity of RAM needed for video editing.

64 GB – an impressive amount of RAM. It is a must for those who plan to edit 8K files or work with advanced moving graphics in Adobe After Effects in combination with 3D modeling and animation in Cinema 4D. These files will not work on computers with 8-16 GB, and they will be slowed down in the case of 32 GB.

Considering the capabilities of 16GB vs 32GB RAM video editing, I can state that 16GB RAM is the minimum for video, and 32GB RAM is ideal.

• Read more about the best computer for video editing.

What to Know Before Buying RAM?

Do you know that after installing RAM, it simply may not give you the necessary speed? Moreover, you may not have the place to install it. That’s why you must take a few points into consideration.

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Make sure that your computer has free memory slots and determine their number before thinking about the best RAM for video editing. A perfect way to check the max allowable amount of RAM and its type is documentation of the computer or motherboard.

You can also find information on the manufacturers’ website. If you have Windows 10, you can do this by running Task Manager. Another option is to use a software utility or an online service, for example, CPU-Z. It is a free utility that can scan your computer and inform you about the installed memory and available slots.

For example, there are 2 RAM slots on your laptop, the chipset supports a maximum amount of 16 GB. Thus, the best option for this model is purchasing two identical modules of 8 GB.

Overall, you will benefit from the principle of dual-channel memory architecture (which is preferable, because the memory works with doubled bandwidth), that requires two modules of the same size and speed in two slots.

• Read more about the best monitor for video editing.

Decide on RAM Speed

The 'speed' of the memory or its clock speed indicates how many times per second the memory can read or change its data. This speed is measured in MHz and greatly affects the overall performance of your processor.

The minimum clock speed for DDR4 starts at 2133 MHz and without a certain maximum value, as these modules can also be overclocked. This increase also leads to an overall boost in their bandwidth – a complex indicator of RAM capacity. It takes into account the data transfer frequency, bus width and a number of memory channels.

The computer will work quickly if the RAM and the processor bus bandwidth are equal. Otherwise, the system will use a lower indicator. Also, if you install modules from different manufacturers on your computer, there may be a slight error in speed. Therefore, a lower indicator will be used, and you will not get a potential advantage. It will be great if you purchase and install RAM from one kit.

What Is the Best RAM for Video Editing?

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To save your time, I prepared a short list of RAM for video editing modules. They are used by video editors for building video workstations.

1. Corsair Vengeance LPX (8GB x 2) 16GB

This 16 GB kit is positioned as one of the best RAM for gaming. You can increase your RAM load with an aluminum radiator. This RAM fully supports XMP 2.0 to facilitate overclocking. The small form factor makes this RAM ideal for mini and micro ATX motherboards and not large bodies. Address Fixthephoto company for specialized and inexpensive video editing services.

2. Crucial Ballistix Sport LT (16GB x 2) 32GB

Use intense After Effects or Fusion effects with the Ballistix 32 GB kit. This fast RAM is designed to improve performance and is already optimized for the popular X99 platform. It is ideal for simultaneous work of more than one video editing program. This RAM for video editing is faster than standard DDR4 memory. The kit is made for a very easy installation. Therefore, you do not need to worry about the BIOS configuration settings after installation.

3. Kingston HyperX Impact for Mac 16GB (2 x 8G)

Do you know that Apple charges lots of money for RAM upgrades? However, you can save some cash if you use a third-party kit.

This RAM is available in several frequencies, which give you an opportunity to use it for a variety of Macs. All in all, it is the best RAM for video editing that will help speed up your laptop. Take it into consideration if you are eager to make use of some advanced features.

• Read more about the best budget monitors.

Why Do You Need to Increase RAM?

Increasing RAM is one of the most popular ways to upgrade a computer quickly. However, are you sure that buying additional RAM will change what you need? Maybe it isn’t the problem at all? I suggest to find out what affects RAM.

Rendering Speed

RAM does not greatly affect the rendering speed or visualization with drawing. CPU and GPU are responsible for this task. However, if your computer has 8 GB and you increase it to 16 GB, you may notice a difference in rendering speed.

PC will be able to allocate more resources in RAM, allowing your CPU and GPU to have more resources as well. Remember that having a good video card, processor and SSD is even more important than buying additional RAM. However, its increase can really upgrade the existing configuration.

If you are dealing with a lot of moving graphics, more RAM will help you work faster and more efficiently. Programs like Adobe After Effects require a significant amount of RAM, especially when using effects that are heavy for drawing, such as particles. Unlike video, in dynamic animation, graphics can become very complex. As a result, your computer will work slower.

• Read more about how to get Adobe After Effects for free.

Work with Large Files

If you are editing 4K video or RAW 42-megapixel photos, storage space and RAM are paramount. One RAW image file can take up 100 MB, and 4K video files can be multi-gigabyte. Your computer will process such files slowly without enough RAM. If you need to do it fast but your computer lags, you may refer to wedding video editing services.

Preview

The main use of RAM in video editing software, in addition to running the program, is caching preview files. Caching means pre-processing or calculating effects and layers for a preview visualization. This usually happens automatically as soon as you play or view the timeline.

Now a 720p preview takes up significantly less RAM than 4K video. There are quite complex compression algorithms that allow video editing programs to use compressed data, but the difference is still huge. High-resolution footage requires more RAM.

Best Motherboard for Video Editing?

Now some of the 9th-gen Intel motherboards can use up to 128 GB of RAM (i.e. 4x32 GB DDR4 DIMM). So, buying memory with these capabilities will be a good decision.

Gigabyte Z390 UD

Consider the Gigabyte Z390 UD (Ultra Durable) if your budget is too tight. This ATX motherboard has 4 slots for RAM DDR4, software-controlled case fans, a 1 x PCIe M.2 (Key M) slot and 8 and 4-pin 12V ATX power inputs.

Moreover, it features six USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an HDMI video output and two PS/2 ports for a mouse and a keyboard.

ASRock X399 Professional Gaming sTR4

Нou have a wider range to select from if your budget isn’t limited. The ASRock X399 will be a great choice in this case. You won’t find too many motherboards created especially for the Ryzen Threadripper processors.

This processor is one of the best. However, you will enjoy the video editing even more with ASRock X399. This tandem works perfectly if you need to do several tasks at the same time. The motherboard can support up to 128GB of DDR4 memory and includes 4-way SLI or Crossfire configurations.

Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI

Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI is considered to be one of the best models on the market with ATX form factor. Its price is quite reasonable for such a set of great features which are able to improve your video editing. Intel product has reinforced PCIe slots and RGB lighting. It manages only 8th and 9th-gen LGA 1151 socket with 4 DIMM sockets of up to 64GB capacity.

Ann Young

Hi there, I'm Ann Young - a professional blogger, read more

Let’s face it. Smartphones are doubling up on the memory game faster than personal computers ever did. Until two weeks back, I was using a smartphone that had the same amount of RAM as my desktop. Of course that changed when I made the decision of adding another stick, bumping it up to 16GB.

RAM or Random Access Memory is crucial for any computer system, it’s short-term memory for your PC which stores the most frequently used programs and instructions to speed up the overall system. It is also the fastest medium of storage in your system when compared to say hard disk drives. RAM is also responsible for multitasking as it allows for multiple programs to load at the same time.

On the PC, RAM acts as a buffer between your traditional storage and your CPU. Think of it as a temporary space for information that programs and CPU need in order to perform a task. Once you turn off a PC, all information stored within the RAM module is lost, which is why it takes a bit longer for programs to start up when you have just turned on the PC versus programs that have already offloaded data into the module.

With the increase in bandwidth of internet, data and media consumption, the need of having a fast system is increasing by the day. One of the easiest way give a boost to your computer is by getting more RAM.

Here is a simple guide on how you should choose your system memory, be it an upgrade or if you are building a new PC.

How much RAM do I need?

This isn’t a very difficult question. It all depends on your needs. Need more performance, then you need more RAM. If you feel your existing system has slowed down on loading programs, throw in another stick. As I mentioned above, RAM is responsible for loading programs faster than traditional storage. Upgrading will clearly lead to better efficiency thereby improving overall performance.

A simple way to know if you need more RAM is to start your workflow, then goto the Windows Task Manager (hit CTRL+ALT+DEL) and enter the Performance section. On Windows 7 or 8/8.1 you will see the RAM section at the bottom. If you are using Windows 10, there will be a RAM box on the left, hit that and you will see the statistics of your system memory. Now theoretically, if the available free memory is less than 20-25 percent an upgrade could improve some performance. If average system RAM usage hits the 100 percent mark then you should definitely consider an upgrade.

In case you are building a new system, 8GB of RAM has become a standard. However if you are building a system say for gaming then 16GB to about 32GB of RAM should be ok. If you are building a system for production work, I would suggest 32GB or even higher so that programs can load faster.

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Selecting the right RAM for your system

This is where you need to be mindful. There are a bunch of things that you need to consider before you go into the market to buy a new RAM module. For the ones who are upgrading, first and foremost, you need to check if your system allows for RAM expandability. If you have built a PC or bought a laptop in the past five years or so, then there is a high chance that it will have an extra slot to add more RAM. Consider checking your motherboard or laptop manual to confirm. On that note, remember that laptop RAM is not the same as desktop RAM.

Next you need to check what version of Windows you are using. There are two versions of almost all Windows versions based on the system architecture. While most have moved to a 64-bit version, there are still many systems that run on 32-bit. If you are running a 32-bit edition of Windows, then you are limited to just 4GB of RAM. If you are running a 64-bit edition of Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 then you do have the upgrade capability. For a full list of compatibility, visit here.

There are some technicalities when it comes to buying RAM.

RAM comes in various varieties. The most commonly used are DDR SDRAM or double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory. DDR2 SDRAM is commonly found in computers made after the year 2003, DDR3 SDRAM in computers made after 2007 and lastly DDR4 SDRAM is what most current PC’s use and DDR5 SDRAM is what’s on the horizon.

Then there are RAM speeds, similar to your processor, the RAM speeds are measured in MHz or megahertz. Now it is advised to use the fastest memory but to be honest you won’t be able to see the difference between a RAM running at 2133MHz and 2400MHz, unless you are benchmarking performance. While RAM speeds have topped as much as 4133MHz, processors have a RAM speed limitation, but they can still run at high speeds by making some adjustments in your system BIOS. Latency or timing is another thing to consider. It is denoted by four digits like 12-13-12-32. All you need to know is that lower the number means better performance.

Also it is advisable to use multi-channel kits or basically use two sticks or four sticks that combine to give you the desired total amount of RAM. Say you need 32GB of DDR4 SDRAM, buying two 16GB sticks would give more optimised performance rather than one 32GB stick. Plus, if one of the RAM’s fail, you can easily swap the faulty one out, instead of buying a single stick all over again.

Keeping the above in mind, you need to be careful when adding more RAM to your system. Suppose you have 8GB of RAM in your system and you want to add another 8GB. You will have to be careful about the variety you choose, it has to have the same clock speed and if possible, the same timing as your previous stick although this can be adjusted automatically by the system.

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If your budget allows, I would suggest you go for a dual-kit with a proper heat sink. Some well known brands that offer heatsink based RAM are Corsair, Kingston, Crucial and G.Skill. For laptops however you might not get all the mentioned brands, but make sure you stick to the supported size and clock speeds.

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Pricing

Now I have a solid reason for bringing up this topic. Pricing for RAM has been going up since the last year on a global scale. It is also predicted that the rates will further increase till the year ends. So in case you have been planning on adding more or simply building a new system, it is probably wise to upgrade now before rates hit sky-high.

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I recently went to one of India’s biggest IT market in New Delhi to get a fair idea of how much RAM costs. DDR4 based laptop RAM cost anything around Rs 2,700 for 4GB and about Rs 4,700 for 8GB. DDR3 based laptop RAM is priced about Rs 2,000 for 4GB and an 8GB stick would cost around Rs 3,800.

As for desktop RAM, a good heat-sink equipped DDR4 RAM costs anything between Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,200 for 8GB and 16GB for Rs 8,500 to Rs 9,000. All the prices mentioned are exclusive of GST which is 18 percent.