Hot Rod Box

Have you noticed that computer years are a lot like dog years? Just a few scant years back, computer-based video editing was a fringe activity reserved for production houses and those who could afford to be on the bleeding edge of technology. In what seems like the blink of an eye, editing systems are everywhere, from boardrooms to schoolrooms and even family rooms. In reality, this process has happened in predictable steps that mirror advances in the computer industry. Multi-gigahertz processors, larger hard drives and huge chunks of affordable memory have all contributed to the current state-of-the-art in desktop video editing.

But what if your computer isn't exactly the fastest thing on the planet? Is there any point in trying to edit video with last year's model? Absolutely! In fact, with some simple upgrades and tweaks, virtually any modern computer can edit video.

First Things First
Before we get started, let's define "any modern computer." Your machine's processor should have at least a 1.0 GHz processor from AMD or Intel. Your computer case should have at least one empty drive bay. As for operating systems, this article will focus on Windows machines, although much of the hardware advice applies to Macs too. And don't even think of upgrading or tweaking your machine until it's stable and running predictably under normal circumstances. This isn't an article about how to fix your computer and we're looking for a happy box with no serious issues. If you already have or are considering a specific piece of editing software, check the manufacturer's minimum system requirements (which truly are minimums), but pay closer attention to their recommended system requir…