After Effects is primarily for most tasks: track mattes, shape layers, expressions, and the classic render queue.

Quick Sync or AMD Ryzen 3000 / Threadripper 2000 series or newer. Note: Support for Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) is mandatory. Systems using Intel 3rd Gen or older processors cannot install current versions. 2. Random Access Memory (RAM) After Effects uses RAM for "RAM Previewing," which stores rendered frames for smooth real-time playback. Minimum: 16 GB of RAM. Recommended for HD: 16 GB. Recommended for 4K+: 32 GB or more. Expert Insight: For high-end professional workflows, 64 GB is often cited as the threshold for "astonishing" efficiency, allowing more rendered frames to stay in memory. 3. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) While many 2D tasks are CPU-bound, the GPU is vital for the

Not all effects use the GPU. Those that do (e.g., Gaussian Blur, Lumetri Color, Deep Glow, Element 3D) become vastly faster with a strong GPU. The in AE is entirely GPU-dependent.

As of the 2023-2024 releases (version 24.x), Adobe lists the following baseline. Note: These minima are insufficient for professional use.