You just upgraded to DaVinci Resolve 17 (or you are about to). But you want to know the minimum recommended hardware specifications to enjoy a successful editing process. After all, DaVinci is like any other high-powered software. It needs a solid foundation to run on, and without it, many of its incredible features will end up falling flat in terms of performance. So, do yourself (and your computer) a favor and ensure your hardware specs meet all the recommended standards for two major kinds of users: one is a free version another is a studio version.
Building a PC Optimized for DaVinci Resolve
The post-production industry is starting to migrate from Apple workstations to PC workstations. Apple, traditionally the platform for many creative professionals, is slowing down the development of its ‘workstation’ class hardware. Plus, their ‘workstation’ class hardware has become rigid, with very little ability to upgrade components and limiting the useable lifespan of that gear. This is causing many pros to buy a Windows PC optimized for DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro.
Mixing Light Interview Podcast
In this interview Eric Bowen about the overall Mac and PC workstation landscape. Eric is a design consultant for ADK Video and works as an IT expert for Northern Kentucky University in their Fine Arts department. He helped us understand the history of Mac and PC workstation development and the how / why PC hardware has taken big strides forward (and why Apple has let the Mac Pro fall behind). We also talked generally about how RAM, CPU, GPU, and BIOS all interact to determine system performance with digital media software apps.
Minimum system requirements for macOS
macOS 10.15 Catalina
8 GB of system memory. 16 GB when using Fusion
Blackmagic Design Desktop Video version 12.0 or later
Integrated GPU or discrete GPU with at least 2GB of VRAM.
GPU which supports Metal or OpenCL 1.2.
Minimum system requirements for Windows
Windows 10 Creators Update.
16 GB of system memory. 32 GB when using Fusion
Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 10.4.1 or later
Integrated GPU or discrete GPU with at least 2GB of VRAM
GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 11
NVIDIA/AMD/Intel GPU Driver version – As required by your GPU
Minimum system requirements for Linux CentOS 7.3
32 GB of system memory
Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 10.4.1 or later
Discrete GPU with at least 2GB of VRAM
GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 11
NVIDIA/AMD Driver version – As required by your GPU
In this 60-minute webinar, Matt Bach covers:
- What the various components in a computer actually do
- How DaVinci Resolve utilizes each of those various components
- What hardware is best for different workflows (1080p, 4K, 8K, Fusion VFX, etc.)
- Where to spend your budget to get the best performance
- Computer hardware “marketing” terms to watch out for
Please visit Puget system’s hardware recommendations for professional builds.
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Your computer should meet these minimum system requirements to run DaVinci Resolve 17. These are not set-in-stone specs. However, from a professional editing perspective, these requirements will ensure you can experience the software without major hiccups or slowdowns.
Processor (CPU)
For optimal performance, your computer needs an Intel i5 processor or better. We recommend an i7 processor for the best experience, but an i5 can pass when dealing with less CPU-intensive video editing. If going the AMD route, we recommend either the Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, or (for best performance) the Ryzen 9.
RAM
The absolute minimum RAM (memory) your computer should have is 12GB. However, that likely still won’t be enough in the long run. 16GB of memory is optimal, and 32GB (or higher) is the absolute best.
Graphics
Your computer either has an integrated or dedicated graphics card. This hardware spec can make a significant difference in your DaVinci Resolve 17 experience! With that said, you need a gamer-worthy video card, like the NVIDIA RTX or the GeForce RTX. Aside from a killer GPU, your video card also needs the right amount of VRAM. For 1080p editing and below, 4-6GB should be ok. Opt for at least 8GB of VRAM if you work with resolutions higher than 1080p. You can always run DaVinci Resolve 17 with an external GPU too.
To finish off this Live Stream Extravaganza, Founder and President of Puget Systems Jon Bach sits down with Houston Bennett to give us some insight into the current state of the computer hardware industry.
FINAL HARDWARE THOUGHTS
Ideally, you want your CPU to be optimal, have adequate free memory, and run on low hard disk utilization. You also want your hardware to meet the bare minimum requirements of an i5 processor or equivalent, 16GB of memory, and a dedicated GPU.
