Building a powerful video editing PC doesn’t have to drain your bank account. Thanks to advancements in hardware and more competitive pricing, it's now possible to assemble a high-performance editing machine that handles 1080p and even 4K footage — all while staying within a reasonable budget. Whether you're a content creator, freelancer, or hobbyist, this guide will help you choose the right components for a budget-friendly video editing PC using reliable and cost-effective parts available at UpgradeDaddy.com. From CPU and RAM to storage and GPU options, we'll walk you through everything you need to edit smoothly without overspending.

Defining "Budget-Friendly" for Video Editing

A capable budget editing rig should balance:

• Fast CPU performance, especially with multi-core rendering

• Sufficient RAM to handle timelines, previews, and multiple apps

• Responsive storage for smooth file access and real-time playback

• Basic GPU acceleration to speed up effects and export

Our goal: a system under $1,100 – $1,200 that delivers smooth editing in Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, or similar.

Core Components: CPU, RAM, GPU & Storage

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

• 6 cores, 12 threads, excellent multi-core performance

• Integrated Vega graphics allow you to edit without needing an immediate GPU upgrade

• Upgrade Daddy offers this, making it a top value CPU choice

RAM: 32 GB DDR4 3200 MHz (2×16 GB)

• 32 GB is now the sweet spot for editing 1080p and 4K footage

• Dual‑channel ensures full memory bandwidth

• Look for Upgrade Daddy’s 32 GB kits, often priced well under $150

GPU: Midrange CUDA/ROCm‑compatible card

• For accelerated effects and rendering, consider a used NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super or new RTX 3060

• The 1660 Super is still a solid edit/work GPU and commonly stocked by UpgradeDaddy

Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

• Fast file access and smooth playback heavily depend on SSD speed

• UpgradeDaddy carries reliable 1 TB NVMe drives for under $100

Recommended Build from UpgradeDaddy

Adding an additional SSD for scratch disks or upgrading to an RTX 3060 or used RTX 2060 Super may increase total to $1,050–$1,200, still within budget.

Performance Breakdown

Editing Experience:

• 6-core CPU handles multiple 4K streams and effects efficiently

• 32 GB RAM ensures smooth playback and editing with background tasks

• NVMe SSD prevents stuttering during playback and rendering

• A midrange GPU accelerates encoding, real-time effects, and GPU-rendered previews

Upgrade Path:

• Future additions like RTX 3060/4060 for faster exports

• Drop-in to 64 GB RAM for heavy multitasking and large project files

• NVMe expansion for scratch disk enhancements

Tips to Maximize Value

• Watch UpgradeDaddy’s deals for combo discounts on CPU+MB kits

• Consider a used GPU option to save hundreds without much performance sacrifice

• Opt for tool-less cases and modular PSUs for cleaner, easier builds

• Apply BIOS updates and enable XMP to run RAM at rated speeds uninterrupted

Conclusion

You can build a smooth, budget-friendly editing machine without breaking the bank. By selecting the Ryzen 5 5600G, 32 GB RAM, a fast NVMe, and a capable midrange GPU—all available at UpgradeDaddy—you get a system primed for 1080p–4K editing. Plus, you'll retain strong upgrade paths as your needs grow.