Choosing the Right Laptop Processor for Heavy Applications: A Guide to Video Editing and Graphics Design
When it comes to choosing the right laptop processor for heavy applications such as video editing and graphic design, the decision can be quite complex. The type of application and the kind of editing you plan to do play a crucial role in determining the necessary processor power. In this guide, we explore the different types of processors and their suitability for various tasks in video editing and graphic design.
Understanding the Types of Tasks Involved
Firstly, it is important to understand the types of tasks that are involved in video editing and graphic design. The nature of the task largely determines the level of processor power required. For example, transforming an actor in a film into yourself requires significant processing power because it involves deep pixel manipulation, complex rendering, and real-time adjustments. However, straight-up editing tasks, such as cutting scenes together, do not typically require such powerful machines.
The level of detail and the number of key frames also determine the processing power required. For instance, in animation, where tweening involves key frames, the processor needs to handle real-time calculations and adjustments. This is different from live-action editing where the changes between key frames might not require as much processing power.
Effects, especially in complex scenes, often require substantial processing resources. For example, simulate a massive destruction scene involving multiple landmarks requires not just the processor, but also the computational power of a render farm from companies like ILM or Pixar. These scenes can have multiple destructions happening simultaneously, require realistic physics simulations, and involve intricate camera movements.
Similarly, recreating historical events, such as bringing Lincoln to life and having him march through the city, is a monumental task. This requires advanced processing capabilities and potentially a network of powerful computers to handle the rendering and simulation demands.
Recent Developments in Laptop Processors
There have been recent developments in laptop processors, particularly the promotion of new Qualcomm ARM CPUs for Windows. Qualcomm has been marketing these processors as twice as fast as Apple's M2 chip, which is renowned for its performance in video and image editing.
However, the real-world performance of these processors has not lived up to the hype. According to various benchmarks, these processors are roughly equivalent to the processing power of an iPhone 12 Mini, which is significantly less powerful than expected. Some stories attempting to mitigate this issue have pointed out factors such as the processor not reaching its claimed 4 GHz maximum speed or the need for firmware updates. Despite these potential improvements, the processors still fall short of the high-performance expectations in the industry.
Therefore, until there is a significant improvement in processing power, Apple's M1, M2, and M3 chips remain at the forefront of the market for professionals in video editing and graphic design. These chips have proven their worth through consistent high performance, efficient use of resources, and overall user satisfaction.
Conclusion
When choosing a laptop processor for heavy applications like video editing and graphic design, it is essential to understand the nature of the tasks involved. Straight-up editing tasks, while still important, do not typically require a superpowerful processor. However, more complex tasks such as animation and special effects, especially in scenarios requiring massive destruction scenes or intricate historical simulations, will require significantly more processing power.
Currently, processors like Apple's M1, M2, and M3 chips remain the gold standard for professionals in these fields. While there have been promises and marketing about new processors like Qualcomm's ARM CPUs, their real-world performance has not yet reached the expectations set by their marketing claims.