Building a Computer for Adobe After Effects

Technically, Adobe After Effects will run on a wide variety of systems from low end laptops to high end workstations. But to get the best performance and therefore the most enjoyable user experience you'll want to build or buy a system that is configured to maximize the components After Effects relies on the most.

Understanding these essential components and how they work together can transform your rendering times from hours to minutes and prevent those frustrating workspace bottlenecks. Let's explore each critical element of your ideal After Effects workstation PC.

Overview

The most important components for an After Effects PC build are:

CPU (processor) - is the most important component for After Effects. The clock speed (in GHz) affects how fast your viewer is updated, and individual frames are rendered. A Higher core count allows for more frames to be rendered simultaneously, thus rendering and previewing entire compositions faster.

Memory (RAM) - second most important component is the RAM. The amount of memory in your system directly impacts the length (in frames) of preview you can playback in real-time. With less RAM After Effects will utilize your hard drive which will be slower to create and potentially not real-time playback.

GPU (video card) - the GPU is not heavily utilized by After Effects except in the Advanced 3D Renderer and select plugins. In these cases NVIDIA GPUs tend to preform better than AMD or other brands.

Recommended Build

Ultimate Build

Budget Build

CPU (Processor)

While After Effects leverages multiple aspects of your hardware, the CPU remains the most critical component for peak performance.

In recent years the AMD Ryzen options tend to offer the best combination of performance, reliability and price. If you prefer to go with an Intel processor we recommend the Intel Core Ultra i9 285K as the best option.

For heavy workloads, and projects with longer runtimes consider AMD Threadripper 7000 Series or an Intel Xeon processor, both of which offer higher core counts and support up to 512GB RAM (and beyond).

Best Value

AMD Ryzen 9950X3D

PRICE: MSRP $649

For most users, the AMD Ryzen 9950X3D or 9950X is the best CPU for After Effects as they strike an ideal balance between cost and performance. Both options feature 16 cores, 32 threads and up to 5.7 GHz clock speed, while the X3D variant features an 128MB of L3 cache vs 64MB for the 9950X.

Most users have found the AMD Ryzen series of processors to be more reliable to the similarly priced Intel chips and thus they are our first choice.

Shop Ryzen 9950X3D

Multi-Frame Rendering

Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR) allows you to render multiple frames at the same time. To maximize MFR's benefits, you'll need a CPU with strong multi-core performance, like AMD Threadripper 7000 Series.

Best For Rendering

AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000 Series

PRICE: $2,000 - $10,000

If faster render times are important for you and you have the budget, a Ryzen Threadripper Pro with 32 or more cores will be your best option. For example, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX 64-Core or the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX 96-Core offer 4 and 6 times the cores of the Ryzen 9950X. Additionally, these Threadripper PRO chips allow for more RAM by supporting up to 2TB. The only downsides of these impressive CPUs are their prices and their single core performance which lags behind the 9950X and other chips with fewer cores.

Best Budget Option

AMD Ryzen 7700X / 7900X

PRICE: $399 - $549

If your budget is limited we recommend looking at these AMD Ryzen options. The Ryzen 7 7700X offers 8-cores at 4.5 GHz and the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 12-cores at 4.7 GHz. Both of these options powerful enough to get you started working with After Effects (and many other applications).

Best Intel Option

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

PRICE: MSRP $599

If you prefer or need an Intel CPU we recommend the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K with 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and a clock speed of up to 5.7 GHz.

When it comes to choosing your CPU, there is no right or wrong answer. Your choice should align with your specific needs. The Ryzen options offer higher clock speeds and faster interactivity, but the higher core count Threadrippers excel in rendering multiple frames with the downside of a slower clock speed.

GPU (Graphics Card)

Your GPU choice plays a distinct yet different role in After Effects performance. While After Effects relies more heavily on CPU power, you'll still need a supported graphics card to guarantee smooth playback and responsive viewport interaction.

Best Performance

NVIDIA RTX 50 Series

PRICE: MSRP $549 - $2000

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 12GB offers the best value with the RTX 5090 32GB stepping in as the most powerful option with the most VRAM in the GeForce lineup.

If you'll be using this computer for applications other than After Effects, such as DaVinci Resolve, Blender or Unreal Engine (amongst others) the added power and VRAM of the RTX 5090 will be an enormous improvement. Not to mention the 5090 serves as the most future proof option if Adobe decides to make the GPU more important to the rendering or playback process in the future.

Best Budget Option

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

PRICE: $200 - $400

When looking for a budget conscious GPU option the AMD Radeon lineup offers tremendous value. Due to the use of NVIDIA chips in AI applications they can hard to locate and with inflated prices. This is where AMD Radeon cards offer a better price point and very good performance for applications such as After Effects.

However, if you want to use an NVIDIA GPU that is budget friendly, consider the RTX 4060 TI which can often be found for less than $500.

Memory (RAM)

Memory capacity serves as a cornerstone for After Effects performance, directly impacting your ability to handle complex projects. Your RAM requirements scale with framerate, resolution and composition length. More RAM means more cached frames, resulting in longer previews and potentially faster renders.

How much RAM do I need?

• 64GB: Minimum for 1080p/2K projects
• 128GB: Recommended for 4K work
• 256GB (or more): Ideal for 4K+ resolution and longer compositions

Best For Ryzen 9950X

Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM 192GB (4x48GB) 5200MHz

PRICE: $400 - $700

With the AMD Ryzen 9950X (or 9950X3D) you can max out your system with 192 GB of RAM (4 x 48GB). However, many users on Reddit and elsewhere have voiced issues with instability when adding 4 RAM DIMM (sticks) to their motherboards.

What we recommend doing is using a slightly slower RAM at 5600MHz or 5200MHz if you plan to max out your memory at 192GB with 4 DIMMs. We have used Corsair Vengeance and the Crucial Pro RAM listed here in our personal builds and have experienced no stability issues.

Otherwise, if you only plan to use 2 DIMM slots, you can use a higher MHz such as 6000MHz or 6400MHz.

Motherboard

Your motherboard choice will be directly tied to your CPU and RAM choices because you'll need to match the motherboard to the correct CPU socket type and the type and quantity of RAM you want to use.

Here are our recommendations organized by the CPU options we've listed above.

AMD AM5 Socket (Ryzen 9950X, 9950X3D, 7700X, 7900X)

AMD sTR5 Socket (AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000 series)

Intel LGA 1851 Socket (Core Ultra Series 2 Intel Processors)

Storage (Hard Drives)

Since your storage configuration directly impacts After Effects' performance, you'll want to implement a strategic multi-drive setup for peak speed and reliability.

Adopt a three-drive approach for maximum workflow efficiency:

1. Install your OS and After Effects on a primary SSD/NVMe. (1-2 TB)
2. Store project files on a secondary SSD or NAS system. (2-4 TB)
3. Dedicate an NVMe drive for media cache and scratch disk. (1-2 TB)

*Also consider a NAS or external RAID array for additional redundancy.

Don't work directly from external drives if at all possible, as this can cause performance bottlenecks. Instead, work from your internal drives and use external storage for backups and archiving.

Here are our recommended M.2 storage options:

Backup storage options:

Case

Choosing a computer case is largely a matter of taste, but you do need to make sure that it fits your component parts, in particular the motherboard size (most likely ATX) and your graphics card. Most cases will fit a wide variety of components, but some could be too small, so keep that in mind.

Aside from the size and appearance, consider that a case can have an effect on the temperature that your computer runs at (i.e. the efficiency of air flow) and how noisy the computer is - how loud are the cooling fans.

Fractal Design North XL

PRICE: ~ $170

The North XL from Fractal Design has been well received topping many best of lists. It offers a simple elegant design that also provides ample air flow and temperature regulation. We recommend the XL model as that offers you the most flexibility in arranging your components inside the case.

NZXT H6 Flow

PRICE: ~ $130

The NZXT H6 Flow offers a dual chamber design with great thermal performance and a wraparound glass panel for a direct view of your internals. NZXT have a reputation for crafting quality components that look at stylish as they perform.

Power Supply

The power supply may not be the most exciting component, but it is critical that you choose a PSU with enough wattage to support all of your components, in particular the CPU and the GPU. Here are a few of our preferred PSU options:

If you want to find the exact wattage you'll need for your system, there is a nice little calculator from the team at be quiet! that will help you identify exactly which size PSU you'll need.

Audio Hardware

In most cases the audio hardware that is included in your motherboard will be adequate for After Effects audio monitoring during playback.

To upgrade your audio to a fully professional setup consider adding the following components:

• Studio Monitors / Speakers
• Headphones
• Audio Interface

FAQs

Can Overclocking My Hardware Components Improve After Effects Rendering Speeds Significantly?

While you can gain 5-15% faster rendering through overclocking, it's generally not worth the stability risks and potential hardware damage. Instead, focus on optimizing your After Effects settings and maintaining stock speeds.

What Cooling Solutions Work Best for Intensive After Effects Rendering Sessions?

Upgrading from the stock CPU heatsink/fan almost always improves your thermal performance. There are numerous options available both in liquid and air cooling varieties.

Plan to spend between $50 and $100 for a decent after market solution, anything over the $100 range is probably not going to improve your thermal performance but might offer other bells and whistles such as LED lights or other styling options. Also be sure to install case fans in a push-pull configuration, and guarantee proper thermal paste application.

And consider a high-airflow case for ideal heat dissipation.

Does Using Multiple Monitors Affect After Effects Performance or Hardware Requirements?

You'll need a sufficient GPU for multiple monitors, but it won't greatly impact After Effects performance. Just make sure your graphics card has enough VRAM to handle your display setup's total resolution.

How Do I Identify Hardware Bottlenecks Affecting My After Effects Workflow?

Monitor your CPU, RAM, and disk usage in Task Manager while running After Effects. You'll spot bottlenecks when any component hits 100% usage or when RAM fills up during previews.

How Often Should I Clean My Computer's Hardware to Maintain After Effects Performance?

You should consider cleaning your computer's internal components every 6-12 months, removing dust from fans and heatsinks. For external drives used in After Effects, run maintenance checks monthly to prevent performance degradation.