Video editing is surprisingly accessible these days, with even mainstream rigs capable of handling some video workloads. But suppose you’re serious about content creation or want to become a video editor. In that case, you’ll want to step up and get the best GPU for video editing you can afford.

A good video editing graphics card (GPU) will help you work faster and on more complex projects, going heavy on effects and processing without impacting processing and render times. So if you want to take your video editing workflow to the next level, these are the cards you’ll want to consider.

The Best GPUs for Video Editing

1. Asus TUF GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition

If money’s no object and you want the best consumer GPU for video editing, look no further than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. With 24 GB of VRAM and a ton of GPU processing power, there’s really no workload that this GPU can’t handle.

The RTX 4090 dominates Puget System’s DaVinci Resolve testing suite, its 2960 points well ahead of the GeForce RTX 4080 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. The RTX 4090 excels in GPU Effects testing in particular, scoring 258 points compared to the RTX 4080’s “measly” 189 points.

If you use a lot of effects and processing when editing videos, the RTX 4090 is the card for you. It shouldn’t have any issues processing ultra-high-res files either, so you won’t be limited to 4K here.

However, one area where Nvidia’s new RTX 40-series cards stumble slightly is RAW video editing performance in DaVinci Resolve. The RTX 4090 only scores 81.8 points in Puget System’s benchmark, significantly behind the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX’s 93.5 points. So if you use DaVinci Resolve and work primarily (or exclusively) with RAW footage, the RX 7900 XTX may be a valid alternative.

It’s a similar story in Adobe’s Premiere Pro. Despite its less GPU-intensive nature, the RTX 4090 is at the top of the pack in overall Premiere Pro performance. It dominates GPU Effects performance but once again stumbles in a format-specific test. However, this time it’s H264: the RTX 4090’s 54.4 points trail the RX 7900 XTX and even Intel Arc A770 at 68.1 and 72.5 points, respectively.

Conversely, the RTX 4090 dominates both cards in Premiere Pro RAW processing, posting 66.1 points compared to 39.5 and 40 points for AMD and Intel, respectively. So, even with the minor performance regression with the 4090 (the RTX 3090 scores 69.4 points in the same test), Nvidia still rules the roost here.

If you want to stick to consumer graphics cards, Nvidia’s RTX 4090 is the best of the best—albeit with a price to match. While it’s not quite as dominant as its near-$2000 price suggests, it’s still a video editing powerhouse for effects work, AI, and processing. Add to that the 24 GB of video RAM, and it’s an excellent buy for those who need this much power.

2. XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Black

Nvidia has traditionally dominated video editing tasks, but AMD’s RX 7900 XTX shows that AMD may finally be able to compete in some areas. AMD’s flagship card also offers 24 GB of VRAM at nearly half the price of Nvidia’s top-end offering, making it a compelling “value” option if you require that much video memory.

The RX 7900 XTX is a capable performer in DaVinci Resolve, with a 2745-point overall score in Puget Systems’ PugetBench test. It’s up there with Nvidia’s top-end cards in most tests, with GPU Effects testing being the only area where the RTX 4090 truly dominates.

Interestingly, AMD takes a commanding lead for RAW processing in DaVinci Resolve, with the RX 7900 XTX scoring 93.5 points in PugetBench compared to the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090’s 77.9 and 88.1 points, respectively. So if you work with RAW in DaVinci, the RX 7900 XTX may be the card to get.

Unfortunately, AMD can’t quite keep that up in Premiere Pro. While the RX 7900 XTX once again competes favorably with Nvidia’s pricier offerings, managing an overall score of 1405 vs. the RTX 4090’s 1505 points, it has one major failing that may trip some users up.

For whatever reason, the RX 7900 XTX falls flat when processing RAW footage in Premiere Pro. It only manages 39.5 points in Puget Systems’ PugetBench, significantly behind the RTX 4090’s 66.1 points. Recent updates seem to have improved the situation slightly, but the RX 7900 XTX is still considerably worse in this particular test than the higher-end RTX 40-series cards.

As long as you’re not working with RAW media in Premiere Pro, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a compelling high-end alternative to Nvidia’s RTX 4090. It isn’t quite as good at GPU-powered effects and processing, but it’s comparable elsewhere and even takes the lead in some scenarios. And if those scenarios apply to your workflow, this GPU is worthy of your attention.

3. Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming OC

Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4080 is a strong card hobbled by an overly high MSRP, and that extends to its use as a video editing card. However, the RTX 4080’s great video editing performance in DaVinci Resolve and most aspects of Adobe Premiere Pro still makes it a card worth checking out at the $1000 price point.

The RTX 4080 ties AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XTX in Puget System’s PugetBench testing in DaVinci Resolve, scoring 2768 points vs. the AMD GPU’s 2745 points. The Nvidia card performs slightly better in most DaVinci tests, but can’t compete with the RX 7900 XTX’s 93.5-point performance in RAW media tests. The RTX 4080 only scores 77.9 points, a minor regression from the RTX 3080.

Adobe’s Premiere Pro is a much less GPU-intensive editor, but the results are broadly similar. The RTX 4080 has a similar advantage in PugetBench scores here, with an overall score of 1439 points vs. the AMD GPU’s 1405 points.

Nvidia’s GPU trades blows with AMD’s top-tier GPU here; it has a slight advantage in GPU Effects testing, lags when processing HEVC footage, but dominates with RAW footage. So if you work with RAW footage in Premiere Pro, the RTX 4080 is the card you want over the AMD RX 7900 XTX.

However, the RTX 4080 has eight gigabytes less of video RAM and usually costs about $100 to $200 more than the RX 7900 XTX, making it a poorer value proposition overall. That said, if you work with Nvidia-friendly formats and programs and can’t afford to stretch to the RTX 4090, the RTX 4080 is a solid GPU. It’s just not necessarily the best-value option out there.

4. Asus TUF GeForce RTX 4070 OC Edition

Nvidia’s RTX 4070 strikes an excellent price-to-performance ratio for video editing. Its solid performance and handy 12 GB of VRAM make it the ideal choice for content creators and semi-professional video editors who may not need the power its bigger siblings possess.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 scored 2130 points overall in Puget System’s DaVinci Resolve testing, putting it on par with the significantly more expensive RTX 4070 Ti. This is a healthy 20% improvement over the previous-generation RTX 3070, and it even beats AMD’s previous-gen flagship, the RX 6900 XT.

The RTX 4070 essentially makes the RTX 4070 Ti look like a waste of money in DaVinci Resolve, equalling its overall score and coming close to it in most tests. The RTX 4070 Ti only beats the RTX 4070 in Puget System’s GPU Effects testing; even then, the 4070 Ti’s 149 points isn’t too far ahead of the 4070’s 134 points.

The RTX 4070 even acquits itself reasonably well with RAW media (RED and BRAW). It managed 69.8 points in Puget Systems’ testing, outsourcing all previous-gen cards. To be clear, it can’t compete with higher-end cards like the RTX 4080 or RTX 4090, but it’s still capable enough and will do a decent job when needed.

Moving to Adobe Premiere Pro sees broadly similar results. The RTX 4070 matches the RTX 4070 Ti (1304 points vs. 1318 points) and outperforms previous-gen flagships from AMD and Nvidia.

Interestingly, the RTX 4070 outperforms even AMD’s $1000 RX 7900 XTX in the most recent Premiere Pro tests, possibly because Adobe’s suite is far less GPU-intensive than DaVinci Resolve. The RTX 4070 even tops the charts in Puget System’s HEVC testing in Premiere Pro, its 55.6-point score outperforming even the RTX 4090’s 53.3-point result.

Overall, the RTX 4070 is a great GPU for video editing, especially if you’re sticking to 4K and below. It’s a particularly impressive GPU in Adobe Premiere Pro, competing with and outperforming cards twice its price in most tests. Unless you’re a dedicated video editing professional who works with 6K or 8K footage, this is about all you’ll need.

5. Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Eagle OC 12G

If you’re on a tight budget but want a dedicated GPU for video editing, look no further than Nvidia’s trusty RTX 3060 12 GB. It’s a solid card capable of decent performance in DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro, especially considering its now sub-$300 price.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 scores 1970 points overall in Puget System’s DaVinci Resolve testing, putting it above the higher-end RTX 3060 Ti. This is likely down to the 3060 12 GB’s extra video memory, which comes in handy in video editing scenarios.

However, it’s worth noting that the RTX 3060 doesn’t outperform the Ti everywhere: the higher-end card does a better job in GPU effects, scoring 95 points to the 3060’s 80 points. So if you’ll be using a lot of effects in DaVinci, the RTX 3060 Ti may still be worth it. For everyone else, though, the RTX 3060 is a great choice.

Let’s be clear: the RTX 3060’s 1970 points puts it near the bottom of Puget Systems’ table. But that’s not as bad as it may seem: while the 3060 can’t compete with most other cards out there, it’s also way cheaper than every other card on the list. You can get an RTX 3060 for less than $300, making it an amazing budget GPU for video editing.

In Premiere Pro, the RTX 3060 lags slightly behind the RTX 3060 Ti but is still incredibly close. The RTX 3060 equals the pricier Ti across all Puget Systems’ Premiere Pro tests, except GPU effects. Even then, the RTX 3060’s 92.7-point result is only a couple of points behind the RTX 3060 Ti’s 95.3 points.

Overall, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is the best budget graphics card for anyone who wants a dedicated GPU for video editing. While integrated GPUs have come a long way, dedicated cards like the RTX 3060 are still an excellent investment, allowing for higher-resolution footage and more intensive processing.

If you’re just dipping your toes into video editing, this is the GPU to go for—especially if you can get one at the roughly $300 prices they’ve been going for as we write this.

Before You Buy

Buying a GPU for video editing is a bit different than buying one for gaming. You’re still chasing performance, but it’s not quite as straightforward as “more FPS = better.” So let’s discuss some factors and specs you’ll want to know when shopping for a video editing GPU.

Do You Need a Dedicated GPU for Video Editing?

If you’re working on simple projects, you may find that your CPU’s integrated GPU will suffice for video editing. However, you’ll likely run out of juice very quickly once you get into more complicated video editing work.

That’s where a dedicated graphics card for video editing can provide a more enjoyable video editing experience. Effects, heavy color grading, and complex transitions all benefit from the extra grunt of a dedicated graphics card, which is why professional video editors won’t work without one.

Dedicated GPUs can also reduce render times significantly, especially in Adobe Premiere Pro. An Nvidia graphics card, for example, can take advantage of Premiere Pro’s Mercury Playback Engine to cut render times in half. Time is money if you’re doing professional video editing, so a dedicated GPU will be worth its weight in gold here.

So, while you may not necessarily need a dedicated GPU for video editing, we don’t think there’s any compelling reason to go without one.

How Much VRAM Do You Need?

VRAM is one of the most important specs for a video editing GPU, as it directly influences how much video data you can load simultaneously. The more video RAM your GPU has, the more video data you can load. So, for example, a GPU with 16 GB of VRAM can load more (or higher resolution, higher bitrate) files than one with 8 GB of VRAM.

If you’re working with 4K video, we recommend a 12 GB GPU; it’ll give you more headroom than 8 GB and allow you to work on complex projects. If you’re working with 6K or 8K footage, go for 16 GB to be safe. Full HD and lower resolutions are easier to work with; even 6 GB should suffice.

Since you can’t upgrade your VRAM, we recommend over-speccing when buying a graphics card for video editing. You don’t necessarily have to blow your budget, but try to get a GPU with as much video memory as possible within your price constraints.

Know Your Workflow

Some graphics cards will perform better in some tasks than others, and even the mighty Nvidia RTX 4090 stumbles against cheaper opposition in certain workloads. So when shopping for a video editing GPU, be sure to check how a GPU performs with your workloads and the video editing software of your choice.

For example, AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a great graphics card for most video editing work. However, it struggles with processing RAW footage in Adobe Premiere Pro, performing significantly slower than a comparable Nvidia graphics card. If that’s the file format and program you use, you’re better off with a modern Nvidia GPU.

Similarly, Nvidia’s RTX 40-series GPUs are slower than the RX 7900 XTX and Intel Arc A770 when handling HEVC footage in the same program. You can compensate for this with an Intel CPU (which lets you use Intel Quick Sync for HEVC), but those on AMD systems will want to consider the AMD or Intel GPUs instead.

Unfortunately, inconsistent performance in video editing is a hallmark of recent GPUs, and nothing out there tops the charts in every test or scenario. You’ll have to decide the areas in which you really need the performance and focus your search on GPUs that excel there.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re serious about video editing, getting the best graphics card you can afford is essential. Not only does it speed up your work, but it also opens up a lot more options for how you edit and process your videos.

That said, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars if you can’t afford it. Sure, a card like the Asus TUF GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition will handle any video editing task you throw at it, but you can get by just fine with more value-oriented cards like the Asus TUF GeForce RTX 4070 OC Edition and Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Eagle OC 12G.

Want to focus on streaming instead? Check out our list of the best graphics cards for streaming, some of which will do double duty as video editing GPUs too.