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Will Apple (and FCP Studio) still have my back 2-3 years from now if I buy a PCIe G5?
Horrible title, I know. I’m not such a newbie that I don’t know that Apple will eventually design their software to take best advantage of their new hardware (i.e. Intel chips). This is more of a question of how much will Apple (and FCP Studio) stand by people who buy one of the PCIe G5s. I’m wondering 1- if things like FCP 7 (or whatever is out in the next 2-3 years) will even run on a PCIe G5 and 2- if these programs will be so geared or optimized towards the Intel chips that using the programs with G5 chips will be not worth the effort.
I know this is definitely calling for some speculation and the Intel move is unchartered territory. Basically I need to upgrade from my Mini and am on the fence whether to buy a dual core 2.3 or a Quad. Typically I upgrade every 3 years or so, so the fear is spending the extra for the Quad and then Apple leaving me high and dry well before then.
Thanks ahead of time for any thoughts of advice! -
12 Replies
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[mus man] “I know this is definitely calling for some speculation and the Intel move is unchartered territory. Basically I need to upgrade from my Mini and am on the fence whether to buy a dual core 2.3 or a Quad. Typically I upgrade every 3 years or so, so the fear is spending the extra for the Quad and then Apple leaving me high and dry well before then.
Thanks ahead of time for any thoughts of advice!”I upgrade my machines every 2 years at a maximum and probably will have to start considering upgrading every year as the new machines roll out.
My old G4 Dual 533 could still run FCP 5 and that’s four years old. FCP will most likely run on a 3 year old machine in 3 years, question is what hardware can you run with it. So will the software run, probably, will you be happy with the performance, probably not. Software keeps up with the newest hardware advancements and if you want to keep up the performance of your system, you need to upgrade.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comNow editing “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
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Buy the Quad, but only after you’ve heard how it’s working with FCP 5.x… I’d imagine that there are a few of the 2.3’s in use already, and if they are OK, I’d wager to guess that the quads will too.
It will work for years I’ll wager. Apple has no reason to make a version of FCP that will run on ONLY a pentium chipped computer. They wouldn’t be selling a lot of FCP upgrades if they did that. Rather, during this transition period I’d “GUESS” that they would come up with a version that runs on both, profiling the machine during install to install the proper code for it… Bet I’m right about this, but know this is pure speculation, but comes from the belief that Apple is in this for a buck or two right?
Jerry
Apple Certified Trainer
Author: “Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4” Click here
Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D
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Hi
When G4s came along and replaced G3 Macs, Altivec-aware software got a speed boost of (very roughly) at least double speed.So if you take away Altivec in the move to Intel CPUs you get 200% CPU boost with 50% application efficiency…
Result, not much 😉Now I’m not the sort of person to know whether SSE3 or whatever succeeds it can be made to replace Altivec. Nor whether its a trivial recode or a massive one.
But my guess is that Apple will get out an Intel-optimised version of iTunes that runs OK a LONG time before it gets FCP up to a speed-boost much beyond where the Quad-core G5 is already taking it.
Like June 2007… 🙁
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June 2007 is most likely when you’ll see the new machines. June 2006 is not slated for the towers, but most likely powerbooks. We can hope, but that might just be an announcement, with another announcement about towers in the fall or even Jan 2007, for shipment a couple months later at limited volume.
Here’s for being pessimistic and always pleasantly surprised.
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Hi,
[mus man] “Typically I upgrade every 3 years or so, so the fear is spending the extra for the Quad and then Apple leaving me high and dry well before then.”
Definitely get rid of the mini and get a Dual G5, a model with 8 RAM slots and PCI-X.
Another strategy for upgrades it to purchase a less expensive machine and upgrade more frequently. When I got my MDD DP867 it was the least expensive model. A couple of years later I sold it for $1,400 on Ebay and got a Dual G5 1.8 refurb (full waranty) for $1,800.
So I think you should consider a a refurb of a discontinued model now and upgrade sooner than three years. Here is a link to a possible choice:
https://www.expercom.com/product_detail.html?PRODUCT_ID=354618Something else to consider is do you have or are you going to purchase PCI cards? Existing cards will not work with the new Dual Core Machines and right not there are less cards available. On the other hand any PCIe cards you purchase for the dual core will probably work on Intel Powermacs.
Best Wishes,
Mitch
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Apple will abondon you once they get your cash. I want to get a new G5, but in order to do that I will need to upgrade to the latest version of FCP Studio=$699 more than the cost of a new G5! I have learned the hard way that Apple is just a marketing company(brilliant marketing) and little else. Most of their software is actually PC based and ported over to the Mac OS(Shake, FCP, Live Type, etc…). Most software starts on the PC and then gets hacked to work on OSX, look at Maya, Lightwave, After Effects, Illustrator, Etc…These programs are responsive and have the features to make them truley usable on the PC platform (in a fast production environment). If you have the time to wait around, use a mac. OSX is a beautifull interface, but it is crippled by patch, after patch, after patch. I seriously urge anyone to experience the snappiness of a proper PC with photoshop or any of the above programs. I switched and could not believe how foolish I “felt” with my $20,000 worth of crippled software and hardware. I was hoping that the new G5 would get Apple back in line with PC hardware. Now Steve Jobs wants another $699 and another OS upgrade. This post is open for flaming now. I am thouroghly disgusted by Apple now. No Apple does not have your back- sadley they have your mind as well as your wallet.
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Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who ventured to hazard a guess here. Guess I’m still on the fence, but then again none of us is Nostradamus so what can you expect?!
Thanks again! -
That’s actually a very good idea. I remember your posting about that a few months ago and appreciate your posting it here again. The only problem is I’m planning on having a Decklink (or Kona) card on the G5 along with a SATA II RAID and an extra firewire PCI card. I could be mistaken, but I believe I can’t do this with a PCIx G5, but I believe it wilol be possible on a PCIe G5.
Looks like I’m still on the dual core 2.3 vs. Quad fence. -
Wow, guess you are upset. There are a ton of things that I find inexcusable about Apple and FCP (like the OSX’s inability to preview still images as thumbnails and FCP glaring lack of track effects), but still I’m not that angry. I’ve heard that PS runs faster on the PC, but is it really that much of a difference? After all, we are talking about still images, not moving pictures. How could there be so much of a difference?
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Try to find a special effects or video reseller in your area, or a friend who owns a workstation or upper end P4 pc made within the last few years. The responsiveness of just moving the cursor will be like instsant gratification. Like I said I have been a Mac devote since the early days. I was raised on the Apple IIe and so on. Anyone remember the game Oregon Trail? I had the unfortunate task of using After Effects on a PC and I was blown away! Things have not evened out, no matter how much marketing you “feel” you need to believe. Why do you think Apple is going to “the Dark Side”? Apple has based most of their marketing towards the emotional side of things. Win XP Pro is super stable and super customizable(turn off drop shadows, change colors to the interface, whatever you want- it is OPEN). I really like how After Effects and Lightwave can run on the new G5 Dual Cores, but for some uncanny reason only FCP 5 will run on them. Why is it that the new FCP can work on old machines but old FCP cannot work on new machines but other old software that relies on the same graphics technology will work on both? = shell game for cash or = a code blockade.
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