Recommended System Requirements for Handbrake [2021 Update]

Handbrake is a great open-source video transcoding and DVD ripping program. Here's list of system requirements for Handbrake that can be used to help make sure the hardware in your system will work with Handbrake. The list covers the very basic of hardware that is required to run Handbrake. For CPU-intensive 4K video transcoding, ensure you have much better hardware configurations.

Best Free Handbrake Alternatives - WinX DVD Ripper

WinX DVD Ripper works as a great free alternative to Handbrake, available for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, macOS (10.6 - Big Sur). It can handle a wider range of DVDs encrypted with CSS, region code, RCE, Sony ArccOS, UOPs, Disney X-project DRM or other techs. With support for hardware acceleration and hyper-threading tech, WinX DVD Ripper can ripping DVDs at 5x faster speed than Handbrake does. It requires no libdvdcss or othe third-party help.

Part 1. Minimum Hardware Handbrake Supports

The following are the recommended hardware for running Handbrake smoothly. For processing large 4K 2160p videos, your computer should have minimum 6GB free memory. Even if your computer meets these hardware requirements, you may find 4K video transcoding stuttering due to 4K video processing needs immense power.

Processor:

• Intel Core (6th generation or later) i3, i5, i7, i9 or equivalent
• AMD Ryzen, Threadripper or Epyc

Free memory:

• 1 GB for transcoding 480p videos
• 2 GB for transcoding 720p videos
• 6 GB or more for transcoding 2160p 4K videos

System storage:

• 150 MB for installing HandBrake program
• 10 GB or more for processing and storing video files

Display resolution:

• 1024x768 minimum, proportionately higher with display scaling

Part 2. Handbrake Software Requirements

Windows

Handbrake is fully supported on Windows 10 or later, Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime 5.0.x. is required. Handbrake ends its support on Windows Vista and Windows XP. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 are only compatible with Handbrake 1.3.3. You still can use Handbrake on Windows 7/8.1, but you will receive a message that it's not supported and some functionality of Handbrake may be not available.

macOS

Handbrake is compatible with macOS 10.14 Mojave and later. It can work on macOS 10.12 Sierra and macOS 10.13 High Sierra with some limitations, without support being offered. macOS 10.11 El Capitan and below lack support for Handbrake.

Ubuntu

18.04 LTS Bionic and 16.04 LTS Xenial are supported.
14.04 LTS Trusty is compatible with Handbrake 1.1.2.

Handbrake is supported on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa and 18.04 LTS Bionic Beaver(HandBrake 1.3.0). Handbrake 1.1.2 is the last compatible version on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Xenial Xerus and 14.04 LTS Trusty Tahr.

Part 3. Handbrake System Requirements FAQs

1. Can Handbrake run on 32 bit?

No. The current version of Handbrake is 1.4.0. You can download Handbrake 1.4.0 for Windows and Linux (64 bit, 64 bit Portable Zip). There's now 32 bit version.

2. Does Handbrake benefit from more RAM?

It depends. Whether more RAM improves Handbrake performance or not depends on both the Handbrake app and the CPU used. RAM is important to Handbrake performance only when RAM runs out. To test if more RAM will help, check the memory utilization when using Handbrake. Processing 4K videos in Handbrake is CPU intensive, which requires more CPU power instead of extra RAM.

3. Is Handbrake available for PC?

Handbrake can run on Windows 10, Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime 5.0.x. is required. ou still can use Handbrake on Windows 7/8.1, but you will receive a message that it's not supported and some functionality of Handbrake may be not available.