What's the difference between RAM and VRAM?
RAM is the primary memory used by your computer and is responsible for loading the OS and running programs. The more RAM you have will allow your computer to run multiple programs simultaneously which improves your system performance.
VRAM or Video RAM has a singular purpose of loading and storing video data. More VRAM means that you can handle displaying more 2D and 3D images. This will mostly be handled by the video card (GPU) especially during rendering, which makes it an important piece of building the best high-speed video editing computer you can.
What determines your memory requirements for video editing?
- What programs are you using?
Every software programs have minimum system requirements to work. Adobe Premiere Pro requires a minimum 8GB RAM but they recommend 16GB or more. Your system should at minimum comply with those specs. - How many programs are open at once?
The more RAM you have means you can use more than one program at a time. Some programs eat up more RAM than others so depending on what is open and how many programs are running at a one time can impact your performance. - What type of media are you using?
Are you using Full HD, 4K or 8K? These all play a factor in how much RAM you will need. Also important is the bit-rate you are recording in. The higher the resolution and bit-rate your camera can record in, the more RAM you will need. If you are doing motion graphics, having more RAM is definitely needed if you want to work quickly and efficiently.
In conclusion, RAM and VRAM are both important for video editing. The more RAM and VRAM you have will allow you to work with higher resolution files, and handle more projects quickly and easily.
