When you’re a video editor, having the best tools to do your job is extremely important but if your current technology is out of date, how do you know what the best replacement would be?
Well, we thought we would offer some help and share our picks of the best graphics cards for video editing in 2022.
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With the options on our list, we feel like any video editing work that you need to do will be done with ease, not only making things easier for you this year but hopefully making you more successful as well.
So get rid of that old graphics card and get ready for an upgrade!
15 Best Graphics Cards for Video Editing
When you look at our list of the best graphics cards for video editing, there are two things you’ll notice right off the bat: a lot of cards are either AMD or Nvidia. These are the two big players in this space so a lot of the best graphics cards come from them. We also managed to sprinkle in a few other brands just to make things easier.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Founders Edition Graphics Card — Best graphics card for video editing (Editor’s Choice)
- PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 550 — Best graphics card for those on a limited budget
- NVIDIA ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge — Best graphics card for performance and price
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT — Best for Mac Pro
- Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT — Best competitor of Nvidia
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super — Best budget-friendly video editing graphics card
- GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3080 — High-end value graphics card
- AMD Radeon Pro VII — AMD’s Pro powerhouse
- Nvidia Quadro RTX 6000 — Best graphics card for professional video editing
- MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 — The best graphics card at a mid-range price
- Nvidia GTX 1650 Mini ITX — Best compact graphics card
- Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 — Best for CUDA acceleration
- AMD RX 570 — Best graphics card for budget-conscious
- Zotac GeForce RTX 2060 Super Mini — Best mini graphics card
- Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G — Best entry-level graphics card
- Nvidia Titan RTX — Best performing graphics card
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What is the best graphics card for video editing?
How to choose a graphics card for video editing
Graphics Card Memory
You want to find a graphics card with at least 4GB though 6GB would be better. In addition to video editing, if you do any kind of gaming in your off-hours, having enough memory to handle video editing and gaming is ideal. If you play at a very high resolution such as 4K, then you will want to look for a card with 8GB of memory.
Ports
Having the right ports on your graphics card is critical as not every monitor is the same. Some have HDMI, some have DisplayPort and older monitors may only have a DVI port. Before you buy a graphics card, you want to make sure that the card has the right ports for your monitor so you don’t need to spend more money on an adapter.
Form Factor
Buying an incredible graphics card won’t help you at all if you can’t get it to fit in your case. You will want to pay attention to the card’s length, height, and thickness. A graphics card can come in different variations from half-height or slim, single-slot, double-slot, or even triple-slot. Even if a graphics card only takes up one or two slots in your case, if it comes with a big heatsink and fan shroud, it might end up blocking an adjacent slot. You want to be sure you check the specs before you choose.
TDP
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TDP, otherwise known as Thermal Design Power measures how the heat dissipates but it also provides you with an estimation of the number of watts you’ll need to operate the card at stock settings. Generally, a 600W power supply unit (PSU) can handle just about any graphics card except for some of the most powerful ones. In those cases, a PSU of 800W is enough for any single GPU even without it being over-clocked.
Power Connectors
Many graphics cards tend to need more power than the standard maximum of 75W that is provided by the x16 PCle slot and need to connect to supplemental PCle power connectors. These come in 6- and 8-pin varieties and some cards may have one, two, or may even have six-and-eight pin ports on the same card. You may want to upgrade your power supply if it doesn’t have the supplemental connectors that you need.
TFLOPS / GFLOPS
TFLOPS or GFLOPS are also known as an indication of the maximum theoretical performance that a GPU can deliver. The core count multiplied by the clock speed, and then multiplied by two will give you the TFLOPS for a GPU. This will tell you how much faster one chip is in comparison to another.
Price
While not as important as the other features, what you need to keep in mind when it comes to purchasing the best graphics card is price. Keeping in mind your requirements, you should look for cards that match your price range. That said, for VFX designers and video editors who rely on VRAM, spending a few additional dollars can help immensely in the long run.
But, for newbies just getting started and working on a budget, a $200 graphics card will more than suffice. If you’re a student, on the other hand, check out our best video editing computers that can make things easier for you when on the move.
The Best Graphics Cards for Video Editing in 2022
1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Founders Edition Graphics Card (Editor’s Choice)
The best graphics card for video editing
Architecture: Ampere architecture | RAM: 24GB
The GeForce RTX 3090 FE is a titan-class graphics card that is flash-fast. It delivers exceptional performance on all fronts and comes with a lot of memory. The card provides 60+ FPS constantly for 4K ultra videos. With minimal noise and amazing power, it is equipped with cooling technology to keep your PC up and running smoothly for a long duration.
You won’t be finding a GPU more powerful easily and it is for serious designers and gamers. The professional applications used by creatives run 30% faster with RTX 3090 FE. So, if you are in for some real supernova speed, then this is the finest piece out there in the market.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Astounding value for professionals | ➖ RTX 3080 isn’t far behind |
| ➕ Beast gaming performance | ➖ Quite expensive |
| ➕ Some 8K gaming is possible with HDMI 2.1, AV1 decode | |
| ➕ Quiet and smooth operation | |
| ➕ Super cooling |
Latest Price on Amazon:
2. PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 550
Best graphics card for those on a limited budget
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Architecture: GCN 4 architecture | RAM: 4GB Video RAM
While it’s not a show stopper, the PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 550 is the best graphics card for everyday activities. Most graphics cards end up tearing a hole in your pocket, but with the RX 550, you can get a graphics card at under $300.
The only drawback with this graphics card is its limited performance. While the other graphics cards come with a whopping 8 to 12GB of video RAM, the PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 550 has only 4GB. What does this mean? Well, although your typical design work may be a whole lot smoother, video editing and gaming aren’t.
The RX 550 is the best choice for individuals looking to play games with lighter specs and carry out tasks that aren’t too demanding. That said, for the everyday individual, the RX 550 is the best graphics card to choose.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Impressive features. | ➖ Slower than many of the options out there. |
| ➕ Does not require an additional power connector. | |
| ➕ Does not overheat. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Country of origin: China
- Package height: 3.0"
- Package length: 9.5"
- Package width: 7.7"
3. NVIDIA ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge
Best graphics card for performance and price
Architecture: Performant Ampere Architecture | RAM: 12GB video RAM
The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 is a graphics card right in the mid-range. With 12GB of video RAM, this graphics card is more than enough for most of your video editing and gaming needs.
With IceStorm 2.0 Cooling, Active Fan Control, and Freeze Fan Stop, this card makes sure things don’t get overheated. Other than this, the device is also 8K ready and comes with DirectX 12 Ultimate, so running games and high-definition videos are almost effortless.
Whether you’re looking to mine crypto, work on visual effects for videos, or even do 3D modeling, the Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 can get the job done smoothly.
While there are several heavier hitters, this one from GeForce is one of the best graphics cards in the mid-range.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ 12GB of Video RAM. | ➖ Better alternatives are available in a slightly higher price range. |
| ➕ More affordable compared to competitors. | |
| ➕ Comes with Performant Ampere Architecture. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- NVIDIA Ampere architecture, 2nd Gen Ray Tracing Cores, 3rd Gen Tensor Cores
- 12GB 192-bit GDDR6, 15 Gbps, PCIE 4.0; Boost Clock 1807 MHz
- IceStorm 2.0 Cooling, Active Fan Control, Freeze Fan Stop, Metal Backplate
- 8K Ready, 4 Display Ready, HDCP 2.3, VR Ready
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1, DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan RT API, OpenGL 4.6
4. AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
The best graphics card for a Mac Pro
Architecture: Big Navi architecture | RAM: 16GB
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT delivers some record-breaking results at a price that won’t be burning a hole in your pocket. Surely, it gives a tough competition to Nvidia’s extreme range of GPUs. Gamers can easily get a 4K gaming experience using this high-end graphics card. With a memory of 16GB (GDDR6) and higher clock speed plus added die space, you are sure to get a power-packed performance while playing games and running high-end applications.
If you play a lot of DirectX 11 games, then this is definitely the right GPU for you. Also, if you are looking for some decent graphic designing experience, then you expect some good stuff from this GPU.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Splendid build | ➖ A great amount of power supply is required (750W) |
| ➕ Great for gaming | ➖ Driver-stability issues were reported |
| ➕ 7-nanometer production process | ➖ Runs hotter compared to most GPUs |
| ➕ Solid DX11 performance | ➖ Loud fans |
| ➕ Lots of overclocking headroom |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Axial-tech fan design has been enhanced with more fan blades and a new rotation scheme.
- Dual ball fan bearings can last up to twice as long as sleeve bearing designs.
- An all-aluminum shroud, reinforced frame, and metal backplate enhance durability.
- MaxContact heat spreader features a super flat surface for improved thermal transfer.
- 144-hour validation program puts cards through a series of stringent tests to ensure compatibility with the latest games.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Boost clock: Up to 1750 MHz
- Game clock: Up to 1615 MHz
- Memory clock: 14 Gbps effective
- 4 outputs: 3 x DP, 1 x HDMI
5. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super
The best budget-friendly graphics card for video editing
Architecture: Turing architecture | RAM: 6GB video RAM
While it’s not the newest graphics card on our list, the GeForce GTX 1660 Super from Nvidia is still an excellent option if you’re looking for a good graphics card for editing video and happen to be on a budget. While it’s not dirt cheap, the cost of a card like the 1660 Super will provide you will better performance and last a lot longer than if you spent much less.
While video export speeds are slower than the GeForce RTX-series cards, the lower price makes up for that. The only real downside is the amount of video RAM the card has. With 6GB, higher performance cards will have an obvious edge when it comes to editing 8K and high frame rate 4K video.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Good performance | ➖ Lacking RTX features |
| ➕ Doesn’t get too hot | ➖ Just 1 HDMI and DisplayPort |
| ➕ Idle fan stop feature is available |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- NVIDIA Turing architecture, with 1530MHz core clock and 1830MHz boost clock speeds to help meet the needs of demanding games.
- 6GB GDDR6 (192-bit) on-board memory, plus 1408 CUDA processing cores and up to 336GB/sec of memory bandwidth provide the memory needed to create striking visual realism.
- PCI Express 3.0 interface: Offers compatibility with a range of systems. Also includes DisplayPort, DVI-D and HDMI outputs for expanded connectivity.
- Turing Shaders: Featuring concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations, adaptive shading technology, and a new unified memory architecture with twice the cache of its predecessor,...
- NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Capture and share videos, screenshots, and livestreams with friends. Keep your drivers up to date and optimize your game settings. GeForce Experience lets you do it all,...
6. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3080
A great graphics card with high-end value
Architecture: Ampere architecture | RAM: 10GB
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 is another huge GPU that utilizes WINDFORCE 3X system for cooling and offers an awesome boost in clock speed. When compared with RTX 2080Ti, it delivers 30-50% improved performance and a great cooling plus noise-free experience. If you compare this beast with RTX 3090 FE, then you will find aesthetics better for the 3090 FE. However, the performance is similar and cooling is better for 3080. The high-end graphics card delivers next-gen 4K performance and gamers, creatives, and professionals will find this expensive piece extremely cool (literally).
This card comes with the new Windforce 3X cooling system. This card uses two larger 90mm fans in the center and rear of the card. It also has an 80mm fan near the mount. These are lined with ridges to guide airflow smoothly down to the heatsink. The center fan spins in the opposite direction to decrease the turbulence effect and reduce the heat.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Improved build quality | ➖ Hefty design |
| ➕ Effective cooling solution | |
| ➕ Long lifespan | |
| ➕ High out-the-box clock boost |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- GeForce RTX 3080
- 10 GB GDDR6X Memory
- Memory Clock: 19000Mhz
- PCI Express x16 4.0
- Digital Maximum Resolution: 7680 x 4320 Pixels @ 60Hz
7. AMD Radeon Pro VII
AMD’s Pro powerhouse is a great value
Architecture: Vega architecture | RAM: 16GB video RAM
While they are cheaper than their Nvidia equivalents, the Pro series from AMD is certainly up for any tasks that you need them for and the Radeon Pro VII is no exception. If the work you’re doing doesn’t require you to have CUDA, then the Pro VII is one of the best all-around Pro cards that are available today.
A great card for video editors and gamers alike, the card can drive 6 screens at 4K, 3 at 5K, and even drive an 8k display (if you can find one). The Radeon Pro VII from AMD is a great card at a not so cheap price but compared to other options on the market, the capabilities it offers make it worth the cost.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ 16GB VRAM | ➖ Lacks HDMI port |
| ➕ PCle 4.0 support | |
| ➕ A great number of display port outputs (6) |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 100-506163
- Item Package Quantity: 1
- Country of origin:- China
- Package Dimensions : 10.0L x 10.0W x 5.0H (centimeters)
8. Nvidia Quadro RTX 6000
The best professional graphics card for video editing
Architecture: Turing architecture | RAM: 24GB video RAM
If you’re a video editor or perhaps work in CAD design, you need to have a graphics card that can handle 3D modeling and producing the final renders of a design you’ve been working on in the best possible detail. This is where the Quadro RTX 6000 from Nvidia shines. With 4608 CUDA cores and 24GB of RAM, the RTX 6000 isn’t designed for gamers, it’s specifically designed to be used by professional apps that require perfection frame-by-frame.
While the price may cause some sticker shock, the RTX 6000 is a stable card for graphic and design professionals looking for a graphics card that can handle everything they do during their day.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Suitable for dense GPU configurations | ➖ No backplate |
| ➕ Two power connections (6-pin and an 8-pin) |
Latest Price on Amazon:
9. Mac Mini with Apple M1
Apple changes the game again
Architecture: Rosetta 2 architecture | GPU: 8 core
With its new M1 ARM-powered chip, the Mac Mini from Apple has rewritten what a GPU can do. The Apple architecture combines the elements of a computer into a single chip and has taken the industry by storm. Programs like Final Cut Pro and Davinci Resolve have been optimized for the M1 which means that an M1 powered Mac mini might be a better investment than buying a discrete GPU or external GPU setup for editors at a relatively similar price.
While this is a great option, there are some flags to keep an eye on. This is the first generation of Apple’s new series so features such as eGPU support and RAM expandability are missing.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Fast performance | ➖ Only 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports |
| ➕ Great support for most software | ➖ Minor hiccups with compatibility and a few features |
| ➕ Affordable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
- 8-core CPU packs up to 3x faster performance to fly through workflows quicker than ever*
- 8-core GPU with up to 6x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games*
- 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
- 8GB of unified memory so everything you do is fast and fluid
10. MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1660
The best graphics card at a mid-range budget
Architecture: NVIDIA Ampere Architecture | RAM: 12GB video RAM
When it comes to running VR, gaming, capturing live streams, and editing videos, the MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 is a great option to work with. The GTX 1660 comes with a dual-fan design to ensure things don’t overheat.
This graphics card comes in the mid-range, making it a good choice for those working on a restricted budget. While there are several graphics cards out there, the GTX 1660 comes with an MSI Afterburner that enables full control of the graphics card.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ No external power cable is needed | ➖ Performance is mediocre |
| ➕ Compact | |
| ➕ Quiet |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
- Boost Clock: 1830 MHz
- Memory Interface: 192 bit
- Video Memory - 6GB GDDR5. Power consumption- 120 W. Recommended PSU - 450 W
- Output: DisplayPort x 3 (V1; 4)/ HDMI 2; 0B x 1
11. Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000
CUDA acceleration and peace of mind in one bundle
Architecture: Turing architecture | RAM: 16GB video RAM, latest GDDR6 RAM
There’s an old saying. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” For many video editors, this adage sums up choosing a graphics card that works with their editing software, runs quietly, has good support, a solid warranty, and is worth the extra money paid for it. Many insist on using Quadro cards from Nvidia despite the power to cost ratio being hard to justify.
For those stalwarts, because of its more stable drivers, we would pick the RTX 5000. It offers 16GB of video RAM and has benchmarks in Premiere Pro from Adobe that are comparable to the RTX Titan or RTX GeForce 2080ti and with the price coming down, it’s a bargain compared to other professional Nvidia graphics cards.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Power connections located at the top end that avoid humping | ➖ No backplate |
| ➕ Easy to integrate into existing platforms | ➖ No HDMI port |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- CUDA Cores: 3072 / NVIDIA Tensor Cores: 384 / NVIDIA RT Cores: 48
- GPU Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 with ECC / Bandwidth: 448 GB/Sec
- System Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x16
- Four DisplayPort 1.4 Connectors
12. AMD RX 570
A great graphics card for the budget-conscious
Architecture: GCN architecture | RAM: 8GB video RAM
A fantastic entry-level graphics card for video editing, the RX 570 from AMD comes with 8GB of memory and has more than enough power for just about all of your video editing needs. At such an affordable price, it’s almost too good to pass up. The card is more powerful than many other comparable options as well as being more affordable. If you’re in the market for a high-quality graphics card without a high-quality price, you may want to consider the RTX 570 from AMD.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Excellent gaming performance | ➖ In comparison to Nvidia GPUs, it is lagging in power efficiency |
| ➕ Compact | ➖ Architecture is not much changed in comparison to previous-gen |
| ➕ Great build quality | ➖ Not much improvement over RX 470 |
Latest Price on Amazon:
13. Zotac GeForce RTX 2060 Super Mini
The best mini graphics card
Architecture: Turing architecture | RAM: 8GB video RAM
If you’re building a mini PC, it doesn’t mean that when it comes to adding a graphics card, you have to choose a lightweight GPU. With the GeForce RTX 2060 Super Mini from Zotac, they’ve made sure that you can access Tay Tracing at an affordable price. While some features like SLI support, RGB lighting, and VirtualLink for VR are missing because of its smaller size, if you’re looking for a graphics card that can give you excellent performance in a small package, the GeForce RTX 2060 Super Mini from Zotac is a great choice.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Excellent ventilation | ➖ Caught between two cracking AMD RX cards |
| ➕ Great performance | ➖ Yet not cheap |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Turing architecture ray tracing cores tensor cores nvidia dlss
- 8gb 256-bit gddr6 14gbps boost clock 1650 MHz
- Ice storm 2 0 cooling
- 4k ready 4 display ready super compACt 8 3-inch length
- 3 x DisplayPort 1 4 1 x HDMI 2 0b
14. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G
A great entry-level graphics card
Architecture: Turing architecture | RAM: 8GB video RAM
When you look around at the sheer number of different graphics cards available, it can feel like the only ones you can find are the uber-expensive ones that are hard to afford. Thankfully, the GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G from Gigabyte is a great entry-level card at a great price.
The affordable price is just the start of this great card. With a quality factory overclock plus all of the ports you’re gonna need, you should have no problem editing videos on several monitors or even playing a game in your downtime. A great price and a multi-display capability? That’s a great bargain in our books.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Great cooler (WindForce 3X cooler) | ➖ Plastic backplate |
| ➕ Logo lights up with RGB lighting | ➖ No NVLink SLI support |
| ➕ Fans turn off when idle | ➖ Overclock doesn’t do much for real-world performance |
| ➕ Can do 1080p games at over 60 FPS |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Powered by GeForce GTX 1660 integrated with 6GB GDDR5
- Wind force 2x cooling system with alternate spinning fans
- Intuitive controls with AORUS engine
- 6GB 192 bit GDDR5; 90 millimeter unique blade fans
- 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
15. Nvidia Titan RTX
When you need the absolute best performance from a graphics card
Architecture: Turing architecture | RAM: 24GB video RAM
For those of us who might not be professional video editors, it shouldn’t mean that we can’t access high-end graphics cards to help us get the performance we deserve. That’s where the Titan RTX from Nvidia comes in. The Titan is designed to excel in video editing, CAD design, and machine learning.
With two eight-pin connectors, you need to make sure you have a power supply that can handle such a beast. 24GB of video RAM is more than enough memory to process high-resolution video files and rendering is done with ease. If you’re looking for a card that can turn your PC into a video editing beast, then the Titan RTX from Nvidia is a perfect choice.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Memory is large and ideal for professionals (24GB) | ➖ Only marginally faster than 2080 Ti |
| ➕ Great performance | ➖ Expensive |
| ➕ Extraordinary frame buffer | ➖ Poor FP64 abilities in comparison to Titan V |
| ➕ It’s golden in color |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- OS Certification : Windows 7 (64 bit), Windows 10 (64 bit) (April 2018 Update or later), Linux 64 bit
- 4608 NVIDIA CUDA cores running at 1770 MegaHertZ boost clock; NVIDIA Turing architecture
- New 72 RT cores for acceleration of ray tracing
- 576 Tensor Cores for AI acceleration; Recommended power supply 650 watts
- 24 GB of GDDR6 memory running at 14 Gigabits per second for up to 672 GB/s of memory bandwidth
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best graphics card for video editing?
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Founders Edition Graphics Card is the best graphics card for video editing as it has 8GB of GDDR6 memory, and the RTX 3060 is clocked at 14 Gbps.
What is the best budget graphics card for video editing?
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super is the best budget graphics card for video editing. Although the video export speed is slower than the GeForce RTX-series cards, the lower price makes up for it.
Is RTX 3080 good for video editing?
Yes, the RTX 3080 Ti is good for video editing and other creative tasks. But if you are looking forward to high-resolution (for say 4k) video editing, RTX 3090 is a better bet.
How much RAM do I need to edit a 4K video?
For HD video, 16 GB of RAM is fine. But for 4k and 6k video editing, you need a minimum of 32 GB of RAM.
The Best Graphics cards for Video Editing in 2022
The best graphics cards can make any of your work look incredible. From video editing to animation, having a good graphics card can mean the difference between taking your career to the next steps or watching as you miss out on another client. We hope that our list of the best graphics cards for video editing in 2022 has shown you the possibilities that are out there so you can choose the best one for you.
If you’re working with videos, you’ll likely need to transcribe your audio into text for captions and beyond. We use and recommend Rev.com for their transcription services that feature same-day delivery and 99% accuracy.
You can also read our blogs on Best Video Editing Software and Best Laptops for Video Editing.
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