Photographer Manny Ortiz uses both Windows and Mac computers to edit his photos and video work, so when it came time to choose his next laptop he had a choice: 15-inch MacBook Pro or spec-ed out Dell XPS 15. He chose the PC, and in this video he offers the top 5 reasons why he made that choice. Final Cut Pro offers the most advanced organizing tools of any professional video editing system. Easily tag entire clips or clip ranges with metadata for searching, and create Smart Collections that automatically collect content according to a set of custom criteria.
Posted on by Updated Dec. 16, 2018, with revisions to my recommendations based on additional personal experience. Last week, Apple announced upgrades to the venerable Mac mini. And this upgrade turned a diminutive system into a powerhouse. So much so that I’m getting a ton of email about whether we can use the Mac mini for video editing. The short answer is: Yes.
NOTE: on using the Mac mini for video editing with Final Cut Pro X. This provides real-world performance data.
Like all computers, you get the best possible performance by buying a fully-tricked out, top of the line system. And, like all computers, that may require more money than you have to spend. So the purpose of this article is to help you prioritize balancing cost vs.
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION (All images courtesy of Apple.) Based on my research, the new Mac mini is a solid machine for video editing, with the ability to configure the system with up to 64GB of RAM, a 6-core Intel i7 desktop-class processor, and a 10Gigabit Ethernet port. The I/O available on the new Mac mini allows users to connect a number of devices through its 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports, 2 USB-A ports, HDMI 2.0 port, and analog audio output jack. With these ports, you can connect a 5K display plus a separate 4K display, or up to three 4K displays.
NOTE: The system offers Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, this means that you’ll need to purchase an adapter to connect any Thunderbolt 2 devices. These adapters are readily available from a number of vendors, including Apple, for about $50. Links. Mac mini Overview:.
Mac mini Tech Specs: The system also natively supports:. Up to three 4K displays: Two displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 3 plus one display with 4096-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0. – OR –. Up to two displays: One display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 3 plus one display with 4096-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0 LARRY’S PRIORITIES When it comes to optimizing a computer system for video editing, when you can’t purchase the top of the line, here are my spending priorities:. GPU.
RAM. Storage speed and capacity. CPU speed Increasingly, both Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro CC are leveraging the GPU for effects, rendering and export. However, the Mac mini does not give us an internal choice for GPU. When it comes to optimizing a computer system for video compression, my priorities shift:. CPU speed. Storage capacity and speed.
RAM. GPU While some video transcoding and compressing codecs are multi-threaded (which means they take advantage of multiple cores in a CPU), many others are not. These single-threaded codecs take advantage of pure CPU speed more than the GPU. UPDATE: I’ve been using the Mac mini outlined here for about two weeks, and running a series of media compression tests with it. Based on this, I’ve changed my recommendations for both RAM and SSD capacity.
THOUGHTS ON THE GPU Here’s the key point behind deciding which GPU to get. A graphics processing unit is optimized for pixel manipulations: texturing, rendering, color grading, exporting anything that involves manipulating the colors of pixels.
All you are getting when you purchase a “higher-grade” GPU is more speed. Not better quality, just speed. If you are a student, a hobbyist, or someone with indeterminate deadlines, there’s no compelling reason to get a faster GPU; the faster speed doesn’t justify the cost. If you are someone living with constant deadlines, who does a lot of effects and color grading, and needs projects exported “yesterday or sooner,” then a faster GPU makes sense. One of the big limitations of the original Mac mini was its reliance on an Intel Iris graphics card.
This was woefully underpowered for any serious graphics work, such as video editing. That changed with the latest release. All configurations of the new Mac mini use the Intel UHD Graphics 630 card. For editors who are working primarily in HD with limited motion graphics and effects, or who have deadlines that are flexible, the Intel UHD Graphics 630 will work well. For users who need faster performance, for example, working at higher resolutions such as 4K, with RAW video, or with more complex graphics and effects, the Blackmagic eGPU or newly announced Blackmagic eGPU Pro are great options for these types of graphics-intensive tasks. The updated eGPU Pro includes a Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics card with 8GB of high bandwidth memory. The card offers similar performance to the graphics card in iMac Pro.
Links. Here’s a link for more information on the Blackmagic Design eGPU:. Here’s an Apple KnowledgeBase article on how to setup FCP X in macOS Mojave for an external eGPU: My recommendation is to go with the internal GPU, until you find yourself spending too much time waiting. A slower GPU does NOT mean you can’t edit, it simply means that tasks like rendering and exporting may take a little longer. If you need more speed, add an external GPU as your budget allows. THOUGHTS ON RAM The Mac mini ships with a minimum of 8 GB of RAM, which can be user-upgraded to 16, 32, or 64 GB.
The good news here is that you can upgrade the RAM at any time, without needing to make a decision at the time of purchase. 8 GB of RAM is fine for HD editing in both Final Cut and Premiere. 4K and above frame sizes benefit from 16 GB of RAM. I have not found a compelling reason to install more than 32 GB of RAM.
While the extra RAM won’t hurt, you won’t see as big a performance boost as you will by going from 8 to 32 GB of RAM. (As a note, all my iMac systems have 32 GB of RAM.) While you can buy RAM from Apple and have it factory-installed, you can save hundreds of dollars by buying RAM from reputable third-party companies like. UPDATE: My revised recommendation is that for a video compression system, 8 GB of RAM is fine. For video editing, more RAM is better. To keep costs low, you can purchase the minimum 8 GB configuration, then upgrade to at least 16 GB from a third-party source as you need more.
If your workflow feels fast enough, you have enough RAM. If you are spending too much time waiting – add more. THOUGHTS ON THE CPU Apple makes it hard to compare CPUs because one is an i3, another is an i5 and the third is an i7. In looking for an understanding of the differences, I found this recent PC Magazine article: “If you want a plain and simple answer, then generally speaking, Core i7s are better than Core i5s, which are in turn better than Core i3s. Nope, Core i7 does not have seven cores nor does Core i3 have three cores.
The numbers are simply indicative of their relative processing powers. “The more cores there are, the more tasks (known as threads) can be served at the same time. The lowest number of cores can be found in Core i3 CPUs, i.e., which have only two cores. Currently, all Core i3s are dual-core processors.” i5 CPUs are quad core, but “they don’t support Hyper-Threading which is the ability of a single core to serve multiple threads. “This is one of the many reasons why Core i7 processors are the creme de la creme.
Not only are they quad cores, they also support Hyper-Threading. Thus, a total of eight threads can run on them at the same time. “The upshot is that if you do a lot of things at the same time on your PC, then it might be worth forking out a bit more for an i5 or i7. However, if you use your PC to check emails, do some banking, read the news, and download a bit of music, you might be equally served by the cheaper i3.” Here’s the link to the full article: My recommendation is to upgrade to the 6-core i7. Video editing and compression, especially at larger frame sizes, requires a beefy processor. Also, it’s important to mention that these are all Intel 8th-generation 65W desktop-class processors — not mobile processors meant for notebook computers.
THOUGHTS ON STORAGE The Mac mini comes with up to 2 TB of internal SSD which, according to reports, is blindingly fast. The problem is that in today’s media environment, 2 TB is not enough storage. I regularly shoot projects that take multiple terabytes of storage. So, even if I invested in a 2 TB SSD, I’d still need to buy external storage. Remember, also, as your frame sizes increase or you move to HDR or high-bit-depth media, a single spinning hard drive won’t be enough. You’ll either need to purchase a RAID or another SSD.
Frankly, for a full suite of editing apps, plus the macOS, you really only need 100 GB of storage. So if you are on a tight budget, a 256 GB SSD will be enough. Personally, I like having a bit more space for exports and working files. UPDATE My recommendation is the 512 GB SSD and reserve it for the macOS, applications and general workspace. Then, store all your and projects on externally connected media using Thunderbolt 3; preferably a RAID.
After using this system for two weeks specifically for video compression, I find that the 512 SSD is the sweet spot for storage. 256 GB is acceptable, but very limiting when you need to create high-quality work files. THOUGHTS ON INTERCONNECTION For the first time since the iMac Pro, the new Mac mini includes the option to install 10 Gb Ethernet port.
This option is especially useful for users who keep media on shared storage or for configurations that require high-bandwidth networking today or in the future. For comparison, a 1 Gb Ethernet connection can transfer data up to 128 MB/second. A 10 Gb Ethernet connection can transfer data up to 1.25 GB/second; ten times faster. However, there are several “gotchas” here, because to take full advantage of this high-speed connection you will also need:. Servers that attach to the switch using 10 Gb Ethernet or faster.
A data switch capable of processing data at 10 Gb speeds. Cat 6 or 6e cabling between the switch and your computer. I fully applaud Apple for adding this connection – it is valuable and needed! However, unless the rest of your network also supports 10 Gb Ethernet – or will be upgraded to do so – adding this option won’t make any difference in your data transfer speeds. HERE’S MY RECOMMENDED CONFIGURATION This screen shot illustrates what I recommend. Regardless of which Mac mini you start with, you’ll end up at the same configuration for the same price: $1,499 (US).
Also, remember that the Mac mini is just the computer, you’ll also need to purchase a monitor, keyboard and mouse. UPDATE: This is the system I purchased and I’m very happy with the system. It is a workhorse for media compression – which is my principle reason for buying the unit. I only use it as a back-up system for video editing. I’m also planning on using it as a media asset management server, I’ll have more on that after the first of the year. EXTRA CREDIT Here are two relevant articles that may also be of interest to you:. I’m going to buy this Mac Mini and add 32 GB of RAM for my video editing of HD only.
I have a Thunderbolt 1 GoFlex 3 TB 7200 SATA drive for my FCPX work running at 180 read/write, which is enough currently for my work. My MacBook Pro 17″ 2.2 MHz 2011 is working well with 16 GB of RAM, except I just tried to setup 3 camera multicam and it couldn’t handle it, so instead I stacked the three clips and manually cut between them, no big problem. How much does FCPX use the drive when editing vs the CPU/GPU? Do I need to upgrade the external drive.
I can get a 3 bay PCIe chassis with three 1 TB SSD cards for $680 that runs about 2000 read write, but I don’t know if I actually need that since the Mac mini is so much better than my MacBook Pro. Michael: Lots of questions.
Let me help:. 32 GB of RAM is great – but more than needed for HD editing. What you will do with this much RAM is future-proof your computer. Multicam editing, unlike stacking clips, plays all streams simultaneously. This means that you need MUCH more bandwidth from your storage to edit multicam. For example, editing three cameras requires 4x the bandwidth of a single camera.
Thunderbolt 1 is getting old. The Mac mini only supports Thunderbolt 3, which is 4x faster. As well, you’ll need to buy converters for a PCIe chassis for Thunderbolt. You’d be better off buying a Thunderbolt 3 RAID directly and save the hassle. There are many to choose from. Multicam is all about storage bandwidth and capacity.
The CPU is needed for editing, the GPU for effects. Howie: Good questions. The trade off you make between CPUs is speed. Yes, you can use the i5, it won’t be as efficient as the i7, but it will cost less. Yes, it can edit 4k. But, you will need FAST storage, and it may not edit HDR 4K as smoothly as you would like. I haven’t noticed any loud noises, though I was pushing it for compression, not editing.
When the CPUs were maxed, the system still was not very loud. Your opinion may be different, as loud means different things to different people. Yes, as long as they attached via USB-C. I don’t have a recommendation for memory card readers. Hi Larry, I am looking to replace my 2010 for editing FCPX. I know almost anything is better but am concerned about what I need to replace it with for best future use. I heard an bad report about the Graphics card int uhh 630 or editing and am impressed with the reports about the Mac mini so I am in a quandary as to what to go with.
I do like the mobility of a Mac bk pro but hate issues like I have had that eventually sent me to the library to finish a project. What would would you recommend and why from the 2015-2018 models? And is there a place besides Apple refurb to get a satisfactory reconditioned model?
Veronica: First, and this is REALLY! Important, repeat after me: “There is no perfect system and someone will write something bad about everything.” Repeat that until you believe it, because it’s true.
Second, the only possible answer is: “It depends.” It depends upon what is important to you. MacBook Pros are optimized for portability, but tradeoff CPU speed (for heat reasons) and GPU power (for space reasons). IMacs have more power and cost less, but are much harder to move around. So, your first choice is which is more important: portability or power?
Next, more recent computers will do more faster, but any computer released in the last three years will edit video perfectly. Any GPU will render video perfectly. The trade off is speed, not image quality. The more you spend, the faster you go. So, how important is speed compared to price? The Mac Mini is lovely, but the GPU is underpowered.
This is fine for databases, media compression and business tasks, but less so for video editing and video effects. Again, not in quality, but in speed.
So, look at your budget, figure out what you really NEED and are willing to pay extra for. Then, for refurbished gear, look at Larry. Brian: Smile well, ah, it depends upon what you mean by “adequate” and “video editing.” Sadly, there’s no perfect answer. What VRAM does is allow the GPU to hold more of the image in very fast memory, as opposed to accessing the much slower hard disk.
If you are working with very large, very complex renders, more VRAM will be faster. But more vRAM doesn’t create higher quality and it won’t allow you to do something that you can’t do with 4 GB. So, if your deadlines are crushing, your images huge and your effects complex, 8 GB of vRAM will be faster than 4 GB. However, if you are doing “normal” editing, you probably wouldn’t notice the difference.
Unal: “It depends” If you are using lots of effects and color grading, the GPU in the iMac will be better. If you are doing editing with limited effects, the Mac mini system is excellent. (You could buy an external GPU for the Mac mini, but, at that point, you’d could buy an iMac.) If you need portability, get the MacBook Pro, but it’s graphics don’t equal the GPU in an iMac except at the extreme top end of the MacBook Pro. In both cases, though, I recommend transcoding the HEVC media into ProRes 422.
Editing, rendering and exporting will all be much smoother and faster.
Hoping to buy a new laptop for video editing in 2019? You're in the right place. Whatever skill level you're at, we've got an option for you below – from high-powered Macs and Windows PCs through to Chromebooks and budget video-editing laptops. Having the right and hardware can make a world of difference.
After all, choose the wrong tools and you'll waste hours in post-production wrestling with erratic touchpads, squinting at pixelated images and drumming your fingers as your work slowly exports. No one wants that. You might be surprised to discover that some of the best video editing laptops are gaming systems. With lashings of CPU and graphics power, they’ll chew through creative software and encode videos faster than any standard laptop. For that reason, our pick for the best video editing laptop is the Acer Predator Helios 500. (Prefer a desktop?
Take a look at the elsewhere on the site.). In this guide, we'll help you pick the right video editing laptop for you, no matter your budget or skill level. As well as our pick of the best overall machines, we'll show you the best budget video editing laptops (under £500/$500) and our favourite mid-range options (£1,000/$1,000) too. Whether you're a Mac fan or a Windows wizard, we've got you covered. Read on for our pick of the best video-editing laptops out there. Acer Predator Helios 500. Pricey top-end configurations Our pick for the best video-editing laptop right now is Acer’s 17-inch gaming-focused Helios 500.
This Windows machine has a few tricks up its sleeve to make it one of the fastest laptops you can buy for any kind of multimedia work. Along with a built-in 2TB hard disk that’s great for storing loads of media files, as well as 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, it has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 – a high-performance graphics card that can accelerate plugins and visual effects. But it has another trick up its sleeve, since you can either order it with with a six-core Intel Core i9, or an eight-core AMD Ryzen processor. Eight cores can outperform six, and in some cases, this nudges the AMD Ryzen slightly ahead of Intel’s Core i9 chip for video editing. 15' MacBook Pro (2018). Expensive larger storage capacities Apple’s flagship 2018 MacBook Pro is near the top of our list because it remains a superb laptop for video editing. It comes in two screen sizes, with the larger, more powerful 15-inch model now equipped with a six-core eighth-generation Intel Core-i7 processor and up to 32GB of memory – which will make a big difference when rendering and exporting video.
The true-tone Retina display looks brilliant, and the Touch Bar can be a very useful tool when working with video editing software. While the pricing quickly skyrockets for models with the largest storage capacities, the fast Thunderbolt 3 ports let you keep your massive high-resolution video files on external storage arrays for editing.
Odd webcam position The Windows 10-based Dell XPS 15 is a wonderful-to-use piece of kit in every department. The beautiful combination of 4K 3,840 x 2,160 resolution InfinityEdge display (the bezel is barely there) and top-of-the-range graphics card will make your footage sing as you chop and cut. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 card is powered by 4GB of video RAM, which doubles that of the MacBook. The graphic capabilities of this beast of a PC top anything else in this price range.
There's a Kaby Lake processor and 8GB of RAM as standard under the hood, but you can pay extra to ramp up the RAM to a roaring 16GB. It's also worth noting that there is an update to the Dell XPS 15 in the pipeline. The newer version should have an OLED panel, and may have the webcam in a more sensible place. This may also mean the price will drop on older models.
Huawei MateBook X Pro. Webcam not great The likes of Dell, Apple and Microsoft have dominated the top of most 'best laptop' charts for a while now, Huawei been busy designing a PC to break up the monopoly. With the staggeringly good Huawei MateBook X Pro, it has well and truly achieved that goal.
There's little doubt that you'll be wowed by the gorgeous design of the X Pro, but it's the hidden inside parts that impress the most. You know that you're going to get a unit powerful enough to process heavyweight video files with ease when you see the 8th generation Intel chip, 512GB SSD and up to 16GB RAM on the spec sheet. But what you won't see on there is any indication of just how long the battery will last you – handy if you plan to work on your videos on the go. And your creations will look at their very best on the dazzling 13.9-inch display boasting a 3,000 x 2,080 resolution. This isn't merely one of the best laptops out there for editing your footage, we reckon it's among the very best laptops in the world right now. Microsoft Surface Book 2.
Fulcrum hinge could cause problems You don't need to be in the film industry to know that the sequel is rarely as good as the original. But quite unlike Jaws, Speed and The Exorcist, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a definite improvement on the first generation. In fact, the Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a mere whisker away from toppling the XPS 15 for best Windows laptop for video editing. But when it comes to 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrids, there are none finer. Give the 15-inch screen a tug and it satisfyingly detaches from the keyboard, enabling you to use it as a huge tablet. Handy if you have a work in progress that you want to pass around a table.
But, coming with the Surface Pen stylus, it also means you can get more control using the touchscreen for seamless video edits. Study the Surface Book's spec sheet and it impresses at every line. The 3,240 x 2,160 resolution display is sharper than the majority of laptops on the market (including every MacBook in existence) and 4K footage will look just how you imagined it. The presence of the GPU and Nvidia GeForce chipset gives it yet a further boost in the graphics department, while the stacks of RAM and state-of-the-art Intel processor (all configurable) make it a processing monster.
If the words of praise keep getting drowned out by volume of the price tag, then the original Surface Book is still available and would still make a more than competent companion to any video editor. You have to settle for a 13.5-inch screen, but the savings can reach as much as a grand. Apple MacBook Air (2018). No longer the affordable option Before 2018, the MacBook Air was Apple’s most affordable Mac, but only capable of basic video editing as it hadn’t been updated for years. That all has changed. The newest MacBook Air now has a high-resolution display, faster eight generation dual-core processor and more memory, all of which make a big difference to its video editing credentials.
Unfortunately, it’s no longer the affordable option it once was, but it could still be called Apple’s most portable video editing laptop. Lenovo Yoga 720. No HDMI The Lenovo Yoga 720 hits a real sweet spot between price tag and capabilities. It may not quite have the power or street smarts of the premium machines from Apple, Microsoft or Dell, but there's much to like – including the smaller impact it will have on your bank balance.
It manages to offer a full HD 15-inch display for somewhere close to a grand, if not under. And with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card as standard, you'll have the ability to experiment with effects not alien to those more powerful machines. It lacks none of the elite finish either, with the aluminium casing and backlit keyboard common to more expensive laptops. We do rather rue the lack of an HDMI out port. If you like to instantly transmit your work in progress to a bigger screen then you'll need to find another way of going about it.
But as far as compromises go, it feels like a small one. You still get an accurate touchscreen for fingertip control of your footage and sufficient processing power for frustration-free use. HP Pavilion 15.
Keyboard isn't great It isn't easy to find a decently specced laptop with a large screen and still get change from £500/$500. But that trusty stalwart HP has somehow managed to produce a cheap laptop that isn't a disaster zone: the HP Pavilion 15. This isn't one for the pros, but if you're a beginner or keen amateur learning the ropes of video editing, the Pavilion is a good choice.
Even the entry-level models have loads of storage for rolls of footage, and a little extra cash can get you more RAM, a better Intel processor or a full HD display. MSI Prestige P65 Creator.
144Hz screen more suited to gaming MSI has delivered the goods here with the Prestige P65 Creator, a fantastically light laptop that looks as great as it performs. An optional six-core Intel processor, Nvidia GeForce graphics card (up to a GTX 1070) along with 16GB of memory will make your footage render at super fast speeds. It has some great visual touches, with chamfered edges around the chassis, and a lovely large trackpad.
If you snag the limited edition version, you can get a 144Hz screen as well.