As a video editor, you must have the most effective tools available to do your job, including reliable graphics cards. The success of any good video will depend significantly on the graphics card’s performance. The truth is that technology never really stands still, and there are always better-performing products coming into the market.
Thus, you must replace your old equipment with the latest technology to keep pace with the competition. When new technology becomes available, you have to be able to understand and utilize it. This article will help you determine which graphics card is best for video editing and let you decide if your current tools need upgrading.
What are graphics cards?
A graphics card or GPU is a computer component that can process and output images, video, and other types of information. It is an expansion card with a processor, memory, and circuits to perform high-performance calculations and output images to the display.
The most straightforward graphics card looks like a small motherboard with several chips. It was created to speed up the performance of computer games and other graphics-intensive applications. It is built into the frame of a computer’s display, making the images and videos on your monitor seem realistic.
Graphics cards can be classified into two types:
Integrated GPU
Integrated graphics (IGPs) are built into the motherboard of your computer. They have limited to no upgradeability, and you’ll find them in low-priced desktops, personal computers and laptops. The integrated GPU is less potent than those on discrete graphics cards, but they still work well for light gaming and non-demanding tasks like web browsing, word processing, or simple graphics programs.
Discrete GPU
A discrete GPU is a graphics card that does not fit inside the processing unit or CPU. Instead, it resides separately on a motherboard as an expansion card with advanced features like improved memory storage or greater graphical power. You can buy different card designs with different strengths, but they all work together.
Are graphics cards needed for video editing?
The ways you view and edit videos are changing. As the industry shifts from writing text with a mouse to drawing with a pen, graphics cards have become even more critical. With 4K video now commonplace, and 8K on the horizon, you’ll need a fast GPU to keep up.
Almost all video editing applications need graphics cards to achieve their full potential. In addition, video editors build complex workflows based on various programs, so if you do not have the tools required to create your video within that workflow, it will be difficult for your final product to be as successful as you would like.
Top graphics cards for video editing
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090
This high-performance graphics card is designed for video editors who want the best value per dollar. It features some of the most advanced technologies in the industry, such as real-time ray tracing and DLSS, bringing realistic scenes to life with fully detailed shadows and reflections.
PowerColor Radeon RX 550
With the largest factory-overclocked base clock of 1190MHz and a boost clock of up to 1244MHz, this graphics card delivers excellent performance at an affordable price. This card also includes an easy-to-install backplate that prevents damage during transport and overclocking.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Ti
The RTX 2060 Ti is the most powerful graphics card you can buy. It packs 6GB of GDDR6 memory and has a formidable cooling solution to keep your graphics card at peak performance.
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT
The Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT is the natural evolution of AMD’s best multi-GPU solution in terms of core and memory. The new card delivers 35 percent more performance with up to 5x the power efficiency and supports innovative technologies like Radeon Chill, front panel control, and 3DMark benchmarking.
Graphics cards make your videos much more incredible and make a big difference. We hope you find this list helpful for your next graphics card purchase.
