Choosing workstation PC specs for CAD and video editing starts with the software, not the parts list. CAD modelling, rendering and video editing load a PC in very different ways, so a machine that flies in one can feel slow in another. Get the balance right and your team spends less time waiting on the computer. Get it wrong and you can pay for cores or a graphics card the software barely uses.
What matters most in a workstation for CAD?
For everyday CAD modelling, the processor's single-core speed matters most, because much of the work in programs like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor and Revit runs on one core at a time. Rebuilding a model, regenerating drawings and many common commands don't spread across lots of cores. A processor with high clock speeds and strong single-core performance keeps that work snappy.
Rendering and simulation are different. They split the work across every core they can find, so if your team renders or runs analysis often, more cores pay off. Some renderers use the graphics card instead, which moves the money from the processor to the GPU.
Do you need a professional graphics card for CAD?
Not always, but check your software's certified hardware list before deciding. Professional cards such as NVIDIA's RTX professional range and AMD's Radeon PRO range come with drivers tested and certified for specific CAD programs. Some vendors only support their software on certified cards, and some features may only be available on them. Gaming cards often run CAD well and cost less, but if something goes wrong on uncertified hardware, the software vendor may not help.
For 2D drafting and modest 3D work, a mid-range card is usually plenty. Large assemblies, complex 3D models and GPU rendering benefit from more video memory.
What matters most in a workstation for video editing?
For video editing, the graphics card and its ability to decode your footage matter as much as the processor. Modern editors such as Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve use the graphics card heavily for effects, colour work and playback, and Resolve leans on it especially hard.
Footage format matters too. Many cameras and phones record in compressed formats like H.264 and H.265 (HEVC), which are hard work to play back smoothly. Hardware decoding on the graphics card, or on Intel processors with built-in graphics, makes timelines far smoother. Support for some formats, such as 10-bit 4:2:2 footage, varies between Intel, NVIDIA and AMD, so check your camera's format against the hardware before you buy.
Already have a workstation that feels slow? Open Task Manager's GPU graphs during playback and exports. If the graphics card sits idle while the processor is maxed out, the software isn't using the card for that job, or your footage isn't being decoded in hardware. Our post on spotting a CPU or GPU bottleneck explains the same idea for games.
How much memory and storage does a workstation need?
Most CAD and video workstations should start at 32GB of memory, with 64GB or more for large assemblies, 4K editing with effects, or several heavy programs open at once. Running out of memory makes the PC fall back on the drive, and everything slows down.
For storage, separate drives keep things quick and tidy:
- A system drive for Windows and your programs: a fast NVMe SSD.
- A project drive for active jobs and media: a large NVMe SSD, so scrubbing through footage or opening big models doesn't stall.
- A cache or scratch drive for render and preview files, if you edit video. It keeps the constant writing off your project drive.
- Backup to a separate device or the cloud. A workstation full of client work without a backup is a business risk, not just an IT one.
Which specs matter most for each type of work?
| Workload | Spend first on | Then |
|---|---|---|
| 2D drafting | Processor single-core speed | Memory, a mid-range graphics card |
| 3D CAD modelling | Processor single-core speed, a certified graphics card | Memory for large assemblies |
| Rendering and simulation | Processor core count, or the GPU for GPU renderers | Memory, cooling |
| Video editing | Graphics card and hardware decoding | Memory, fast project and cache drives |
What makes a workstation reliable enough for business?
Quality power, good cooling and the right memory. A workstation runs flat out for hours during renders and exports, so it needs a quality power supply, cooling that keeps it at full speed without throttling, and a case that keeps dust under control. Workstation platforms such as Intel Xeon and AMD Threadripper PRO support ECC memory, which detects and corrects memory errors. That's worth considering for long simulations or renders, where a crash late in the job costs hours. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) protects open work from blackouts and brownouts.
How do we spec a workstation for your business?
We start with the software your team runs, the size of your files and how often you render or export, then check the vendor's published system requirements and certified hardware. From there we build and stress test the machine in our Midland workshop, set up Windows, and move your files and settings across. See our business workstations and office PCs for the full service, or start a spec with our online PC builder, which has a workstation option.