With video editing software becoming increasingly advanced and video files growing ever larger, many video editors wonder if investing in a computer with 64GB of RAM is overkill or worth the cost. In this article, we’ll examine the RAM requirements for video editing and help you determine if 64GB of RAM is truly necessary for your workflow and video projects.
What is RAM and Why Does it Matter for Video Editing?
RAM, or random access memory, is a type of computer memory that temporarily stores data that your computer’s processor needs quick access to. When you’re video editing, both the video editing software and the video files you’re working with get loaded into your RAM.
Having enough RAM is important for a smooth and seamless video editing experience. If you don’t have enough RAM for the projects you’re working on, you may experience:
- Lag and choppiness when editing and previewing videos
- Frequent program crashes and freezes
- Long render times
Upgrading your RAM is one of the best ways to improve performance and speed up your video editing workflow. But do you really need 64GB of RAM? Let’s dig deeper.
How Much RAM Do You Need for Video Editing?
The amount of RAM you need for video editing depends on a few key factors:
1. Video Resolution
Higher resolution videos require more RAM to edit smoothly because of their larger file sizes. Here are some common video resolutions and the recommended RAM for editing them:
| Resolution | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|
| 720p | 8-16GB |
| 1080p | 16-32GB |
| 4K | 32-64GB |
| 8K | 64GB or more |
2. Video Codec
The video codec used to compress the video file also impacts RAM requirements. Codecs like HEVC and ProRes require more RAM than older codecs like H.264.
3. Video Editing Software
Complex professional software like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro need more RAM than simpler consumer programs. At a minimum, pro software requires 16GB RAM but benefits from 32GB or more.
4. Number of Clips
The more video clips you need to edit at once, the more RAM you’ll need. Even at lower resolutions, editing a project with many clips can require 32GB or more of RAM.
5. Special Effects
If you use a lot of effects like color grading, transitions, titles and animations, these require more RAM to render and preview in real-time. Consider 32GB or 64GB of RAM for complex effects-heavy projects.
When is 64GB of RAM Recommended or Required?
Based on the factors above, here are some common video editing workflows and use cases that can benefit from or require 64GB of RAM:
Editing 4K or 8K Video
Ultra high definition 4K and 8K video takes up a lot of RAM. Editors working regularly with 4K footage may find 32GB of RAM is not quite enough, making 64GB a better choice.
For extremely demanding 8K editing, 64GB becomes essential for smooth playback and rendering.
Working with RAW Footage
RAW video files from high-end cameras like RED and Canon Cinema require enormous amounts of RAM due to their massive file sizes and data-heavy nature. 64GB or even more is recommended when editing RAW footage.
3D Animation and VFX
If you work with 3D animation, visual effects (VFX) and motion graphics in programs like Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, After Effects and Nuke, these projects can easily use up 64GB of RAM or more.
Multi-Camera Editing
Editing footage from multiple cameras at once places high demands on RAM. The need to synchronize and preview angles from 4+ different high-res cameras means 64GB of RAM provides smoother performance.
Detailed Color Grading
Extensively color grading long 4K or 8K projects in DaVinci Resolve can require 64GB of RAM or more to work without lag, especially when using node-based grading.
What are the Downsides of Having 64GB of RAM?
While 64GB of RAM can certainly provide a performance boost for many video editors, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:
- Cost – 64GB RAM kits can cost hundreds of dollars more than 32GB options.
- Overkill – If you mainly work on simpler 1080p projects, 64GB is likely overkill and you won’t see much added benefit.
- Other Bottlenecks – Your CPU, GPU, storage speeds and monitor resolution can also bottleneck performance, reducing the impact of extra RAM.
- RAM Compatibility – Having to buy all new 64GB RAM may be prohibitive if your motherboard doesn’t support it.
Do You Need Faster Clock Speeds with More RAM?
When purchasing a 64GB RAM kit, you’ll also need to consider RAM clock speed, measured in MHz.
Faster RAM clock speeds can provide a performance boost in RAM-intensive tasks like 4K video editing. But with 64GB RAM kits, you may have to settle for slightly slower speeds than 32GB options since fitting more memory modules on the motherboard can make achieving fast speeds more difficult.
That said, as long as your RAM speed is at least 2666MHz or faster, you should still see benefits in editing. Going with 3200-3600MHz RAM is ideal if your system supports it. Just don’t sacrifice capacity for speed when upgrading.
Can You Have Too Much RAM for Video Editing?
For most video editing needs, having more than 64GB of RAM is likely overkill and unnecessary. Very intensive 3D and VFX work with huge datasets may call for 128GB or beyond, but for typical 4K and 8K editing, 64GB is plenty.
The key is using your system’s capacity wisely. Having unused RAM sitting idle doesn’t improve performance. With a 64GB system, be prepared to take on major projects that can utilize all that memory. Otherwise, save your money and stick with 32GB or less.
Conclusion
64GB of RAM is ideal for hardcore 4K and 8K video editing, 3D/VFX work, multi-cam editing and heavy grading/effects use. However, many videographers can still get by well with 32GB.
Carefully assess your workflow – if you consistently work with RAM intensive formats like RAW video and demand real-time feedback when editing and applying complex effects, the performance boost from 64GB of RAM may be worth the investment. But for lighter 1080p projects, it’s likely overkill.
By understanding where extra RAM makes the biggest difference and when your workflow can benefit from increased capacity, you can decide if stepping up to 64GB is the right call for smoother, faster video editing.