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Under $900

Budget Video Editing PC Under $900 (2025)

Ryzen 5, 32GB RAM, RX 6600 GPU build for smooth 1080p/4K editing in Premiere or Resolve.

💰 Actual Cost: $789.84Save $1210 vs PremiumUpdated December 7, 2025

Building a video editing PC doesn't have to cost thousands—many creators start on tight budgets but still need solid performance for rendering, scrubbing timelines, and GPU-accelerated effects. At $900, you won't get a Hollywood workstation, but this guide delivers a complete, balanced tower build capable of handling real workloads like 1080p projects flawlessly and 4K with proxies or lighter edits.

We'll cover every component you need, from CPU to case, with real products that work together seamlessly on PCPartPicker. Expect 4K preview playback in Resolve, fast exports in Premiere, and multitasking without stuttering—perfect for YouTubers, wedding videographers, or students. This setup uses AMD for value and future-proofing, leaving ~$110 buffer for taxes/shipping.

Realistic limits: No 8K editing or heavy VFX farms here; for that, double the budget. But you'll avoid bottlenecks and have clear upgrade paths.

Budget Philosophy

For a $900 video editing PC, I allocated ~35% to CPU+GPU (critical for multi-threaded renders and CUDA/OpenCL acceleration), 20% to RAM (minimum 32GB for smooth 4K timelines), and 20% to storage (fast SSD primary). The rest goes to mobo/PSU/case for reliability without excess. This prioritizes performance-per-dollar over RGB bling or overkill cooling.

Why splurge on core compute? Editing software like Premiere leans on CPU cores/clock for effects, GPU for playback/export, and RAM to avoid swapping. Saving here means frustration. We save on chassis (perf-neutral) and basic mobo features (no need for 10G LAN). Trade-off: Solid 1080p/4K light vs premium 8K beasts.

Total build hits $790, verified on PCPartPicker/Amazon Oct 2024 prices—proven compatible, with AM4 platform for cheap upgrades.

Where to Splurge

  • CPU: Multi-core performance drives timeline scrubbing and exports; cheaping out causes 2x longer renders.
  • GPU: Hardware acceleration in Resolve/Premiere speeds exports 3-5x; integrated graphics choke on effects.
  • RAM: 32GB minimum prevents crashes on 4K; 16GB bottlenecks multi-layer edits.

Where to Save

  • Case: Budget airflow cases cool fine; you're not sacrificing thermals or perf.
  • Motherboard: Basic B550 boards have all ports needed; no loss in stability for editing.
  • PSU: Reliable 80+ Bronze handles load spikes without risking components.

Recommended Products (9)

#1essentialCPU

AMD Ryzen 5 5600

6-core/12-thread processor handles multi-threaded editing tasks like rendering and effects.

$118.99
15% of budget
AMD Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is a budget king with 6 cores at 4.6GHz boost, perfect for Premiere/Resolve workloads. At $119, it punches above its weight vs Intel rivals.

Fits budget by using mature AM4 socket—cheap mobos/RAM. Vs $300 Ryzen 7600, you lose ~20% IPC but save $180 for GPU/RAM. Excellent value for 1080p/4K proxy editing; Cinebench scores rival pricier chips.

Running total: $118.99 (Remaining: $781.01)

Pros

  • +6 cores/12 threads excel in PugetBench Premiere
  • +Low 65W TDP for cool/quiet operation
  • +Unlocked for mild OC
  • +AM4 ecosystem is cheap/long-lived

Cons

  • -No integrated graphics (needs discrete GPU)
  • -DDR4 only (DDR5 pricier)
  • -Aging socket vs AM5

Upgrade Option: Ryzen 7 5700X ($179) - 8 cores for 30% faster exports

Budget Alternative: Ryzen 5 5500 ($89) - Lose 10-15% multi-core speed

Check Price on Amazon
#2essentialMotherboard

MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI

Reliable base with PCIe 4.0, WiFi, and BIOS flashback for easy Ryzen compatibility.

$109.99
14% of budget
MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI

Compact mATX board with solid VRM for Ryzen 5, 2.5G LAN, WiFi 5—everything for editing without extras.

Budget fit: $110 vs $200 premium boards; no RGB waste. Compares well to Gigabyte—same stability, user reviews praise easy BIOS.

Running total: $228.98 (Remaining: $671.02)

Pros

  • +Built-in WiFi/BT saves $30 dongle
  • +PCIe 4.0 for fast SSD/GPU
  • +4 RAM slots for future 64GB
  • +USB 3.2 ports galore

Cons

  • -No rear USB-C
  • -mATX limits expansion
  • -Basic audio codec

Upgrade Option: ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS ($149) - Better VRMs for OC

Budget Alternative: Gigabyte B450M DS3H ($79) - Lose WiFi/PCIe 4.0

Check Price on Amazon
#3essentialRAM

Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3200

32GB capacity for lag-free 4K timelines and multitasking with browser/Photoshop.

$69.99
9% of budget
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3200

Low-profile DDR4 kit at CL16—stable for editing, XMP easy. $70 steals vs 64GB kits.

Ideal budget: Handles Premiere's RAM preview. Vs $120 3600MHz, minimal 5% gain not worth it. 4.8/5 stars on Amazon for reliability.

Running total: $298.97 (Remaining: $601.03)

Pros

  • +True 32GB for 4K multi-cam
  • +Lifetime warranty
  • +Low height fits coolers
  • +Great PugetBench scores

Cons

  • -3200MHz not fastest
  • -No RGB
  • -CL16 vs premium CL14

Upgrade Option: G.Skill Ripjaws V 3600 CL16 32GB ($89) - 10% faster previews

Budget Alternative: 16GB kit ($39) - Crashes on complex projects

Check Price on Amazon
#4essentialGPU

ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB

GPU acceleration for effects, color grading, and exports in Resolve/Premiere.

$199.99
25% of budget
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB

8GB GDDR6 card crushes 1080p/4K playback (Resolve optimized). $200 new vs $400 RTX 4060.

Budget hero: AMD drivers excel in DaVinci. 60fps 4K preview; export 2x faster than iGPU. Highly rated for value.

Running total: $498.96 (Remaining: $401.04)

Pros

  • +8GB VRAM for 4K textures
  • +Great Resolve performance
  • +Quiet dual fans
  • +PCIe 4.0 ready

Cons

  • -Weaker Adobe CUDA vs Nvidia
  • -No RT cores
  • -Higher power draw (132W)

Upgrade Option: RTX 4060 8GB ($299) - Better Premiere CUDA/encoding

Budget Alternative: RX 6500 XT ($139) - Halves VRAM/performance

Check Price on Amazon
#5essentialStorage (Primary)

WD Black SN770 1TB NVMe SSD

Fast boot/OS/apps/scratch disk for quick timeline loading.

$69.99
9% of budget
WD Black SN770 1TB NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 SSD at 5150MB/s read—ideal for 4K footage cache. $70 vs $120 Samsung 990.

Perfect budget: Dram-less but reliable (5yr warranty). Loads projects 2x faster than SATA.

Running total: $568.95 (Remaining: $331.05)

Pros

  • +5,150MB/s speeds
  • +1TB for OS+projects
  • +Heatsink optional
  • +Great endurance

Cons

  • -No DRAM (slower sustained writes)
  • -No encryption

Upgrade Option: Samsung 990 PRO 1TB ($99) - DRAM + 7,450MB/s

Budget Alternative: 500GB ($39) - Fills up fast with RAW footage

Check Price on Amazon
#6recommendedCPU Cooler

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Keeps Ryzen cool under render loads for sustained boosts.

$35.90
5% of budget
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Dual-tower air cooler outperforms stock 20°C cooler. $36 value king.

Essential for long sessions; vs $60 AIO, no leaks/pumps. Top Amazon reviews.

Running total: $604.85 (Remaining: $295.15)

Pros

  • +Beats 240mm AIOs
  • +6 heatpipes
  • +Quiet fans
  • +AM4 bracket incl

Cons

  • -Large (fits most cases)
  • -No RGB
  • -Install fiddly

Upgrade Option: Noctua NH-U12S ($69) - Quieter premium

Budget Alternative: Stock cooler (free) - 10-15°C hotter

Check Price on Amazon
#7recommendedPSU

Corsair CX650M 650W 80+ Bronze

Modular reliable power for GPU+upgrades.

$69.99
9% of budget
Corsair CX650M 650W 80+ Bronze

Semi-modular, fully Japanese caps—safe for 450W build. $70 vs $120 Gold.

Headroom for RTX 4070 upgrade. Gold-rated reliability.

Running total: $674.84 (Remaining: $225.16)

Pros

  • +Modular cables
  • +10yr warranty
  • +Quiet
  • +GPU ready

Cons

  • -Bronze efficiency
  • -No 12VHPWR

Upgrade Option: Corsair RM750x Gold ($109) - Fully mod/quieter

Budget Alternative: EVGA 600W ($49) - Non-modular mess

Check Price on Amazon
#8recommendedCase

Deepcool CC560 ARGB

Airflow-focused mid-tower for cool GPU/CPU.

$64.99
8% of budget
Deepcool CC560 ARGB

Mesh front, 4 ARGB fans incl—great thermals under $65.

Budget aesthetics without perf hit. Vs $120 Lian Li, same cooling.

Running total: $739.83 (Remaining: $160.17)

Pros

  • +Pre-installed fans
  • +Good cable mgmt
  • +Tempered glass
  • +GPU vert support

Cons

  • -Basic I/O
  • -No USB-C front

Upgrade Option: Fractal Meshify 2 Compact ($129) - Premium build

Budget Alternative: Basic $40 case - Worse airflow/dust

Check Price on Amazon
#9recommendedStorage (Secondary)

Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD

Bulk storage for footage archives.

$50.01
6% of budget
Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD

Cheap 7200RPM drive for raw files. $50 for 2TB.

Complement SSD; reliable CMR not SMR. Final total: $789.84 (Buffer: $110.16).

Pros

  • +Massive cheap storage
  • +Quiet
  • +3.5yr warranty

Cons

  • -Slow vs SSD
  • -No encryption

Upgrade Option: 2TB SSD ($119) - All-fast storage

Budget Alternative: Skip - Rely on external drives

Check Price on Amazon

Start with PCPartPicker.com to verify compatibility (all parts green here). Tools: Phillips screwdriver, anti-static wristband ($5), thermal paste (incl with cooler). Time: 2-3 hours for beginners.

Order: 1) Install CPU/cooler/RAM on mobo outside case. 2) Mount mobo in Deepcool case. 3) Install PSU, cable loosely. 4) Add SSD/HDD/GPU. 5) Cable manage (modular helps). 6) Boot to BIOS (Del key), enable XMP/DOCP for RAM, update BIOS via USB flashback if needed.

Tips: Watch Linus/ GamersNexus build guides. Test with MemTest86/Cinebench before OS. Use Windows 11 free trial or Ubuntu for Resolve. First boot? Fans spin, no POST—reseat RAM/GPU.

Budget Tips

  • Use PCPartPicker for real-time prices/deals—alerts save $50+.
  • Buy from Amazon/Newegg for fast ship; Micro Center if local for bundles.
  • Prioritize new CPU/GPU/PSU—avoid used for safety; OK for case/RAM.
  • Skip peripherals (monitor/KB)—reuse or $100 budget later.
  • Linux (Ubuntu) free OS boosts Resolve perf 20%.
  • Hunt sales: Black Friday drops GPU $50.
  • Don't cheap PSU—fires kill builds.
  • Start sans HDD; add external USB for footage.

Common Mistakes

  • Skimp on RAM (<32GB)—crashes galore in 4K.
  • Cheap PSU—GPU spikes fry components.
  • Overbuy case/RGB—wastes 10% budget on zero perf.
  • Ignore compatibility—stuck AM4? No, but plan DDR5 later.
  • No secondary storage—SSD fills, workflow halts.

Upgrade Roadmap

First: GPU to RTX 4060 Ti ($350) for Nvidia CUDA in Premiere—doubles exports, ~$300 swap. Second: RAM to 64GB ($70) for heavy 4K/no proxies. Third: CPU to Ryzen 7 5800X ($200) or AM5 platform ($400 total) for 8+ cores.

These hit biggest bottlenecks (GPU/RAM first per Puget Systems). Wait on case/PSU. At $1200 total, you're pro-level; $1500 matches $2500 prebuilts.

Path: Year 1 basic, Year 2 GPU/RAM, Year 3 platform refresh.

Related Topics

budget pcvideo editing pcunder 900ryzen buildpc componentsbudget editing2025 pcamd rx6600premiere prodavinci resolvepcpartpicker
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