After Effects System Requirements Jun 2026

Intel’s 13th/14th gen (high boost clocks) or AMD’s X3D series (large cache helps with preview caching).

4K monitors sound great, but After Effects’ UI scaling is inconsistent. At 4K, some effect controls become microscopic. At 1080p, you lose screen real estate for layers, timeline, and effects panels. after effects system requirements

That’s the real system requirement.

No machine will make After Effects “instant.” You can spend $10,000 on a Mac Pro or custom Threadripper build, and you will still wait for: Intel’s 13th/14th gen (high boost clocks) or AMD’s

Here is a breakdown of what you actually need based on how you use the software. after effects system requirements