(Resolution width × height × color depth × frames in preview) × (layers + effects) = RAM requirement.
That’s the real system requirement.
For 1080p at 32-bpc with 50 frames of preview: ~3 GB per frame. That’s 150 GB just for one second of preview at 50 fps. You see the problem. after effects system requirements
Here’s the truth: They are not for working . (Resolution width × height × color depth ×
The deepest requirement isn’t on Adobe’s spec sheet: Build the best machine you can afford, then learn to work around the software’s limits. Cache. Proxy. Pre-render. Sleep. Render overnight. That’s 150 GB just for one second of preview at 50 fps
Adobe publishes three tiers of requirements: Minimum , Recommended , and Optional (for VR/4K+). Most users glance at the Minimum column, breathe a sigh of relief, install the software, and then wonder why their timeline chugs at 3 frames per minute.