Last update on 2024-04-12 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Alienware laptops are powerful beasts that can handle intense gaming, VR sessions, and other heavy workloads.
They sit at the high end of the gaming laptop category, and you can see many satisfied users among gamers. However, you might wonder if they can perform their best for video editing, as well?
Read on to find out about the specifications a laptop should have for handling professional video editing, and get the best Alienware laptop for this purpose.
Can Alienware Be Used for Video Editing?
Many Alienware laptops exceed the specs and features you need for video editing. They’re still called “Gaming Laptops,” however, they’re more than capable of handling intense video editing sessions.
Almost all of these laptops come with top-of-the-line Core i7 processors, at least 16 GB of RAM, 6 GB GPU, and a high-capacity SSD.
When you head onto Dell’s website and search for Alienware laptops, you’ll see a section at the left menu bar that allows you to “Shop by Use”.
You can tick many options, including Multitasking, Photo Editing, Productivity, Video Streaming, and, more importantly, Video Editing.
What Spec Laptop Do You Need for Video Editing?
Software
Before thinking about specifications, you need first to decide what video editing software you’ll use. If you’re a pro editor, you already have a favorite package. If not, do the research now because it directly affects the laptop features you’ll need.
For instance, to use the Final Cut Pro app, you’ll need a Mac—forget about Windows-based laptops.
Adobe Premiere Pro app relies on the CPU and RAM, whereas the DaVinci app puts its load on the GPU. So, you’ll have to choose your laptop, considering the app’s needs.
Video Editing Resolution
You also need to consider the type of video you’ll be editing. If it’s only going to be 1080p resolution, you can cut down on CPU, RAM, and storage to cut your costs. But editing at 4K is a different story.
CPU
Video editing is a highly CPU-intensive task, especially when working with high resolutions. So much like when you want a strong processor for programming or gaming, the more cores your processor has, the better it’ll perform. An Intel Core i5 processor is as low as you should go, and an i7 is ideal.
Storage
The speed and capacity of the hard drive play an essential role when editing video. Faster drives perform basic operations without lagging. That’s why pros recommend you get an SSD hard drive to ensure high speed.
As far as capacity is concerned, invest in it as much as you can. Since you’re looking for a laptop, you don’t want to carry around an external hard drive. So, go for at least 500 GB.
RAM
The RAM plays an essential part in the computer’s speed when editing videos since it’s where the computer stores all the temporary files you create.
8GB or 16GB RAM is recommended, especially for 4K resolution. Go higher if you can!
GPU
The GPU is the component that turns the data into the pixels you see. Your laptop’s GPU must be optimized for precision, meaning it should have a lower clock speed to process deep 10-bit colors.
Overclocking your GPU lets you achieve higher frame rates, so if you buy a gaming laptop, you’ll need to use the overclocking software it comes with to adjust the clock speed.
Display
Many people prefer a bigger screen for precise editing and comfort. So, the display size is another factor to consider.
Accessories
Think about the accessories you’ll be using, like a mouse, external hard drive, USB, SD card, and so on, and make sure the laptop has the correct ports and slots.
Also, since video editing will quickly drain the battery, consider the laptop’s battery life.
Best Alienware Laptops for Video Editing
Alienware Area-51m R2
Last update on 2024-04-12 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
The Alienware Area-51m R2 laptop uses desktop-grade hardware to boost its performance. Plus, the design has an Alien feel to it with the famous RGB lights.
You get lots of configuration options. So, you can choose the CPU, GPU, RAM, hard drive, and other components to suit your video editing needs.
For the processor, you can choose from the 10th generation i7 or i9, though there are other options available.
You’ll get several choices for the hard drive, ranging from 256GB to 4TB lightning-fast SSDs with a very high transfer rate. You could get 16, 32, or 64GB RAM.
You get to choose from multiple options for the GPU, including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER and AMD Radeon RX 5700M.
With the Area-51m R2, you’ll get a 17.3-inch (1080p/4K) display with either 72% NTSC color gamut or 100% sRGB color, which is perfect for detailed video editing.
This laptop is rich with ports and an industry-leading cooling system that will prevent overheating in fierce video editing sessions.
Pros
- Attractive design.
- 10th Gen CPU.
- Lots of hard drive options up to 4TB SSD.
- Multiple memory options up to 64GB.
- Powerful GPU options.
- 17-inch display up to 4K resolution.
- Full sRGB color.
- Lots of ports and slots.
- Great cooling system.
Cons
- Big and heavy.
- Relatively low battery life.
- Noisy fans.
- Expensive.
- No 4K resolution with full sRGB coverage.
Alienware m15 R3
Last update on 2024-04-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
The Alienware m15 R3 has a very attractive aesthetic design and might be the best choice for those who like minimalistic gadgets. It’s Alienware’s most thin laptop with a 15-inch display, making it lighter than many of its competitors.
The m15 R3 first came with the 10th generation Intel Core i7 CPU, but you can now upgrade it to an i9.
The hard drive options include 256GB, 512GB, and 4000GB SSD, and your choice of memory is between 16GB and 32GB.
You can consider multiple graphics cards, including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070.
More importantly, you get to choose between the 15.6″ FHD 300Hz 300-nits display with 100% sRGB color or the 15.6″ OLED UHD 60Hz 400-nits DCI-P3 color, which might suit you better as a video editor.
This laptop has lots of different ports and slots. It stays cool to the touch even when under heavy editing loads.
Pros
- Sleek Design.
- Thin and less heavy than most counterparts.
- 10th Gen CPU.
- Multiple hard drive options up to 4TB SSD.
- 16 and 32GB RAM options.
- 15-inch display capable of 4K resolution.
- Capable of full sRGB and 400-nits DCI-P3 color.
- Lots of ports and slots.
- Great cooling system.
Cons
- Low battery life.
- Expensive.
- Loud fan noise.
Which Laptop Is Best for 4k Video Editing?
A laptop for 4K video editing needs a strong CPU, and Alienware is famous for using industry-leading processors. Both Area-51m R2 and m15 R3 feature CPUs that are great for editing at 4K.
Other than a powerful CPU, you need a fast SSD, 32GB of RAM, and a robust graphics card. You should also get a laptop that can be upgraded in the future because video editing usually gets more resource-intensive every year.
Area-51m R2 and m15 R3 are both exceptional devices in terms of hardware and upgradability.
Lastly, color accuracy is a vital factor for video editing. sRGB covers a smaller color spectrum, whereas DCI-P3 covers a broader range. So, in this category, which is an important one, the Alienware m15 R3 wins.
Final Thoughts and Best Pick
Between the two Alienware laptops we reviewed, the Area-51m R2 has more configuration options, though it has lots of features in common with the m15 R3.
They’re both great laptops for video editing, but if you also want to use your laptop for intense gaming sessions, the Area-51m R2 is the more suitable choice.
On the other hand, for those who care about color accuracy, the m15 R3 is better. It’s also the obvious option if you want to carry around the laptop.
If you also want to edit photos, read about the suitable Alienware laptops for Photoshop editing.
