Is an SSD drive nesseccary for video editing?

[Will Dano]

So my budget is about $1650 and I have successfuly found the parts that I need for my computer.

Specs:

32GB Ram
2 TB HHD
GTX 770 4GB
i7 4770k

I'm going to be using this computer for high quality visual effects and animations.

My question is, I know that when you open a program with an SSD, it will load it about 10 seconds faster than if you don't have an SSD; BUT is the 10 second difference really worth the $250?

Can yo list the advantages of having an SSD? And is it really worth all that money?

 

[jimmysmitty]

The advantages of an SSD are that Windows and apps will load way faster, the OS and apps will feel smoother. The problem is that you have more limited space.

Honestly I have worked on systems without SSDs and I can't go back. Once you get used to the fluid movement of an SSD its like heaven and a HDD is like Earth. I still have 2 2TB in a RAID 0 for games and storage but OS is always going to be on a SSD.

 

[StrangeDaze]

I put my entire Steam library on an SSD. While the startup time savings was nice, the size restriction was a let down. Honestly, 7200rpm HDDs work just as good. Though for an operating system - I will always use an SSD as I'm constantly powering it up/shutting down, and that time savings is worth every penny. But if you leave your PC on all the time, and don't mind waiting a few more seconds to get into a program, I don't think I'd use an SSD and just put that money into a reliable 7200rpm HDD as big as I could afford.

 

[Will Dano]

I put my entire Steam library on an SSD. While the startup time savings was nice, the size restriction was a let down. Honestly, 7200rpm HDDs work just as good. Though for an operating system - I will always use an SSD as I'm constantly powering it up/shutting down, and that time savings is worth every penny. But if you leave your PC on all the time, and don't mind waiting a few more seconds to get into a program, I don't think I'd use an SSD and just put that money into a reliable 7200rpm HDD as big as I could afford.

The only time I open my current pc is when I wake up. Whenever i'm not using it, I just put it to sleep. I think i'm going to follw your advice and get the SSD out of the equation. Instead, ill get a 3TB HHD, not 2TB. Seriously considering this...

 

[popatim]

Skip the 3tb and get 2 more 1 or 2tb drives.
For video editing you want an os/programs drive, a source drive, and a destination drive so that no drive is trying to read and write at the same time. Some even recommend a setup where os, programs, source, destination, and scratch drives are all recommended to be separate drives.

 

[kenrivers]

I have edited with and without an SSD and after using an SSD I won't go back to a traditional drive for the OS drive. However, I have my editing machine set up like this:
SSD for OS and most programs including the editing software.
1st HDD for video project and asset files.
2nd HDD is used as the export drive.
I open the editing program (stored on the SSD) then open the project file from the 1st HDD and the export final clip to the 2nd HDD.
I agree with popatim, skip the 3TB drive and opt for 2 1TB or 2TB drives.