As a video editor, you demand performance. Editing - and exporting - is a resource-heavy process. It requires a high level of computing power. And most of us have found ourselves wanting to speed things up by boosting that power.
In this tutorial, we’ll take a look at video cards. They’re important if you want to streamline your video production workflow. However, the subject can seem pretty daunting. But we have you covered.
Read on for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about video graphics cards.
What is a Video Card (And Why Do I Need One?)
What is a video card? Well, video cards are a piece of hardware that you install in your computer. They’re meant to render graphics on built-in or external displays. A video card is also called a GPU (short for Graphics Processing Unit).
Every computer has some type of video card already inside or integrated into the processor. Fundamentally, they power every visual that you see. But for advanced, graphics-heavy tasks like video editing, these default options often fall short.
Dedicated video cards are physically attached to your computer’s motherboard. Generally, they look like small circuit boards with a series of connectors. A new video card can dramatically boost the performance of your computer. This is crucial for video editing.
It's important to know that many users report that processor (CPU) specs and amount of memory (RAM) are the most important factors in system performance. But if you want to stretch performance even further, an upgraded graphics card might do the trick. Plus, many apps increasingly leverage the GPU for enhanced performance.
Consider this. Every year, it seems that video becomes even higher in resolution. We have 4K, 5K, and beyond. But naturally, this footage is very graphics-intensive. Similarly, effects like animations and transitions grow ever more advanced. With an upgraded video card, you’ll enjoy benefits every day.
Video cards accelerate editing performance. The editing process will run more efficiently. Graphics will look their very best on your display(s) of choice. And you’ll see the age-old delays in exporting diminish. Fundamentally, a new video card makes your editing more efficient and effective.
What Kind of Video Card Do I Have?
You may be wondering: what kind of video card do I have? Although upgrading is desirable, it pays to know what you’re using. After all, you need to know the specs that you’re already running to truly define what an “upgrade” will be.
Fortunately, it’s easy to identify what kind of video card you have. If you’re running Windows, go to the Device Manager. To launch Device Manager, search for it in the search box in the lower left corner of your screen. With Device Manager open, you’ll see video cards on the Display Adapters dropdown.
On macOS, click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. Then, go to About This Mac > More Info > System Report. On the left side of the Systems Settings, click Graphics/Displays.
Note: most Macs do not allow you to change the graphics card. The previous generation Mac Pro allowed you to swap graphics cards, but all new Macs now feature custom Apple Silicon processors. These processors do not support custom GPU's or eGPU's.
Before upgrading your video card, always perform this check step. This way, you’ll know the specifications of your current setup. You can choose upgraded hardware based on this knowledge.
5 Quick Tips to Choose the Best Video Card
We answered the question, “what is a video card?” And we looked at the benefits of updating your video card hardware. But how should you go about it? How can you be sure you’re getting the very best video card that you can (while staying on budget?)
Below are five key tips to help you.
1. Focus on the Mission
A video card is an optimized product. In other words, specific video cards are meant for specific tasks. Your first step is deciding exactly why you want to upgrade your video card.
If you’re a video editor, there are many video cards built specifically for these tasks. They’re built to dramatically enhance video graphics and the speed of your workflow.
The same is true if you have other goals in mind, like gaming. There are countless GPUs out there with gaming first and foremost in mind. The key is to identify hardware that’s built to help with your mission. If you’re an editor and buy a gaming card, you won’t see as great a boost as you would by using a video editing graphics card.
2. Consider Your Display Specifications
Keep in mind: video cards drive graphics. But where do you visually see these graphics? On your monitor or display, of course. The best graphics card in the world will fall short if your display won’t support its outputs.
The key measure here is refresh rate. What refresh rate does is determine how many times (per second) that a display redraws an image. The higher the fresh rate, the sharper and smoother your visuals become. It ultimately helps steer all-important measures, like frames per second (FPS). That’s crucial to video, and the higher, the sleeker the visuals become.
Here, be sure to familiarize yourself with your display’s specifications. Be sure that your graphics card fully supports them. Similarly, don’t invest in a graphics card that dramatically exceeds what your display is capable of. If you do, leave room in your budget for a display upgrade as well.
3. Make Sure the Card is Compatible
The last thing you want is to invest in a video card that you can’t use. There are several things to keep in mind as you consider compatibility. In essence, these are split into two categories. You need the right connections, and you need to be sure the graphics card will fit inside your computer’s case.
Remember, video cards attach to your motherboard. In 2024, PCIe is the most common connection format. However, you may find older cards running on different formats. While these may work with your computer, it’s usually best to stick with PCIe hardware.
Additionally, consider the physical size of the graphics card. Some can be very large, and depending on your computer’s case, they might not fit inside.
4. Keep Things Cool
A powerful video card is immensely resource-intensive. As you choose a video card, be sure that it includes an adequate cooling method. If this is absent, you can damage the video card (and even the entire computer). Plus, cards that run hot will sharply diminish your performance. The last thing you want is a computer crash when you’re editing your next great video!
Video cards from reputable brands will usually take care of cooling for you. Look for cards that use active cooling. Active cooled graphics cards have fans attached. This helps ensure they stay cool even while running with intense performance.
Depending on your setup, you may need to pursue more options like liquid cooling. It’s a good idea to make sure your computer tower case is in an open space with open air around it. This way, you can enjoy maximum graphics performance thanks to regulating temperatures.
5. Balance Price and Performance
It’s easy to get mired up in endless lists of specifications as you choose a video card. And indeed, it’s possible to spend almost any sum of money on a video card. My advice here is to keep things balanced. Think about the performance gains you need. And always consider your budget. Let’s face it: none of us enjoys spending money if we don’t get benefits from it.
With your ideal performance boost in mind, it’s time to go shopping. Try to find video cards that deliver improvements, while staying within your budget. By embracing this idea, and the other tips above, you’ll enjoy dramatically better video edits every single day.
Common Video Card Questions Answered (FAQ)
We’ve asked and answered “what is a video card?” We’ve learned how to identify what video card you are using now. And I showed you quick tips and tricks as you shop for a new video card. But you may still have a few questions. Read on for answers to three common questions about video cards.
1. What Video Card is Best for Video Editing?
Again, there’s no single answer for this! The trick is to choose a video card that is optimized for editing. But there are key features that you’ll want to look for. These are the performance specs that deliver hugely improved editing performance.
Needless to say, high GPU performance is imperative. Video editing is a heavyweight task, even for the fastest machines. I’d also be sure to look for cards optimized for your choice of video editing apps. Not every card will be compatible with all software, so be sure to explore what your software requires before investing in a new video card.
Also, be sure to know the amount of VRAM (video memory) that you have available. A good baseline is 8GB of VRAM, with higher values needed for ultra-high resolution content.
2. What’s the Difference Between Nvidia and AMD?
When you choose a video card, you’ll see the Nvidia and AMD brand names over and over. These are the two most common types of video card. But what’s the difference? Which one is better?
Again, this comes down to your individual use case. For video editing, Nvidia is most often mentioned as the preferred choice. Specifically, Nvidia leads with ultra-high resolution graphics like 4K, 5K, and beyond. AMD is more budget-conscious.
3. How Do I Find Drivers for my Video Card?
Video cards are hardware that you install in your computer. But for them to work, you’ll typically need to install a driver. A driver is software that lets your computer control and work with the video card.
Generally, drivers are included when you purchase a video card. You may find them as a download link, or even on a CD or USB drive. If you need a driver later on, start with the manufacturer of the video card. Go to their website, and you should find a list of drivers. There, you can download and install them in order to control your video card with ease.
The Top Source for the Best Video Project Templates (For 2024 and Beyond)
When you upgrade your video card, you’ll unlock a new world of video editing performance. Take full advantage with premium video project templates from Envato Elements. The library is vast!
For a flat monthly rate, you can download and use as many premium video templates as you want. With thousands to choose from, finding the perfect template is a breeze. There are designs for Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, and more.
That’s only scratching the surface. As an Elements subscriber, you’ll enjoy unlimited access to over 15 million digital assets. Among these are stock videos, fonts, music, and more. These resources help you create amazing videos with your new video card setup.
When you choose a premium template from Envato Elements, you’ll enjoy:
- Ease of use. If you’re not a video editing expert, don’t worry. Templates are meant to be easy to use.
- Time savings. Templates let you drop your own multimedia into place. They save you precious time as you edit.
- Inspiring designs. It can be hard to decide how best to share your content on video. Templates help you with creative designs! You’ll see new and creative ways to bring your video projects to life.
As you can see, Envato Elements is the best value for video editors in 2024 and beyond. Join today and start exploring the huge library of content! You’ll never regret it.
Explore Video Card Options Today
In this tutorial, you learned all about video cards. We explored key criteria to help you choose a video card for your video editing work. Remember to consider VRAM performance, cooling technology, and more.
By choosing a video card built for editing, you can dramatically elevate your daily work. Graphics will look their best as you edit. And you’ll benefit from gains in export performance when you’re ready to share your work with the world.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to shop for a new video card today! Each time you edit videos, you’ll enjoy the performance improvements. And your audiences will be more inspired than ever by the amazing work you create.
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