Q. I want to start shooting high-definition videos. So, I’m going to need a desktop computer to edit them. Am I right in assuming I’ll need a powerful machine? My budget is under $2,000, and I will probably stick with Windows. I could build a computer, or buy one. What do you recommend?
—Sam in Mobile, AL, listening on WAVH 106.5 FM Mobile, AL 

However, some people play cutting-edge games. Others edit a lot of video or photos. Those require horsepower.

Fortunately, the competition in the Windows computer business is really fierce. That holds down prices and forces powerful components to market. You can get a killer desktop for less than $2,000.

Here is what I recommend for an excellent desktop:

• Microprocessor – I would buy near the top of the line. All of my recommended chips are 64-bit. For Intel, I’d go for a Core i7. This family offers five microprocessors. Some are fast, others are very fast. All offer four cores. Advanced editing and game software may be able to use them. For AMD, I would look at any of the X4 chips. They also have four cores. Intel’s chips are rated at higher speeds. But you probably won’t notice the difference. Buy on price.
  
• Operating system— Use Windows 7 Ultimate. You may still find Vista machines in stores. Vista works fine, but Windows 7 will be viable longer. Also, spring for the 64-bit version. That will allow you much more memory. Lots of RAM is important in video editing.
  

• System Memory – I would start with a minimum of 4 gigabytes of RAM. I wouldn't worry much about the RAM's speed. There are differences, but they are not significant. Be sure your motherboard will handle at least 8GB of RAM. You may want to add memory in the future.
  

• Video card – You’ll need a minimum 512 megabytes of RAM. Either ATI or Nvidia-equipped cards are fine. Many video cards today have a gigabyte of memory. If you can find one on sale, go for it.
  

• Hard drive - Video files are big. And you need lots of space to edit them. Get the biggest hard drive you can afford. Remember, you can install several hard drives in most desktops. Your budget may limit you here. But storage space is important for video editing. You could start with one drive and add more later. External hard drives are more convenient but more expensive. They'll probably be slower, too. They’re much easier to install, though.
  

• Monitor - If you have a good monitor, stick with it. That will save you some money. If not, you can get a large flat panel for a few hundred dollars. Check the response time. I'd look for one at 8 milliseconds (ms) or less. That should ensure that the monitor can handle motion well.
  

• Other stuff -  Front USB ports are nice. And you'll need an audio system. That should be a given on a high-end machine.

Should you buy a computer, or build your own? Collecting parts and building the computer is more of a hassle. You might prefer to spend that time editing video. However, builders get exactly the components they want. And they save some money. Plus, do-it-yourselfers don’t fear opening the box for repairs or modifications. I generally build my personal machines.