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Checking Specs
Hello I am trying to revamp an old G4 to do some small FCP work – (G4 Power PC Dual 867). I just want to make sure that I am not missing anything.
This machine has (4) PCI slots and one AGP slot. The AGP needed to run FCP 6.
It also has 4 slots for RAM Expansion (DDR SDRAM).
This is a link to the G4 machine that I have. https://support.apple.com/kb/SP63
Currently FCP will not load due to the graphics card which I have installed- a PCI card in slot one.
So I am going to upgrade the video card to this AGP card (ATI Radeon X1300 Pro / 256MB GDDR2 / AGP 8x / DVI / VGA / TV Out – $39.95)
And fill the RAM slots full of DDR SDRAM, probably 4 gigs. $50
I know that this is not the fastest machine and it is certainly not what I am used to running, that is fine, I am just looking for something down and dirty and dont want to invest to much into this older system.
So with that is there anything that I am missing?
thanks for your consideration.
Happy Holidays.
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8 Replies
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FCP may not work at all on that Mac. Apple lists a 1.25GHz processor as minimum.
Arnie
Post production is not an afterthought!
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Yeah I know but I have not had any problems running FCP 6.0 on my G4 laptop and it is 867 but a dual 867 should be fine.
I mean it is slower for sure but it runs. FCP is particular about some things while other things are simply suggestions.
thanks
jack
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It has to do with your graphics card. You need an ATI Radeon 9600 Pro or better. I’d try to find a 9800 Pro if you can.
Warren
Warren Eig
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The primary problem that you are going to run into is that your computer only has an AGP 4X slot and not an 8X. This means that a Radeon 9600 or better will work but operate at a slower clock speed negating any benefits. You are talking about upgrading very old hardware that a current $600 Mac mini can run circles around.
Do you have FCP 5 or 4.5? If you do not feel like paying for a new computer you might consider using an older version. They would run better on your hardware than version 6 and you’ll have a less frustrating time editing with it. Let’s face it, the whole point of all this is to edit video and an older aluminum hammer will drive in a nail just like a newer carbon fiber one.
Do you have a requirement for version 6? Honestly, the primary upgrade to version 6 is color and motion which definitely won’t run in which case there is little reason to even use version 6.
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I hear you.
I am running FCP on a G4 laptop 867 but thought this dual 867 (with a new vid card) would run a bit faster.
I run fcp6 on all my other computers at the office – quad/eight core. I am just trying to retrofit an old comp sitting at home without dumping much money into it.
Are people running FCP on a mac Mini? What about G5 IMAC.
anymore info is appreciated. thanks
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I guess it comes down to how many hours a week you expect to use it. If it is a boot up once a month affair, then sure, any Radeon 9000 series cards will give it that extra push over the cliff to make it useable.
As far as Mac Minis or it’s same part cousin, the Macbook go, do people use FCP on them? Yes. Do Pros? No. Again, it comes down to how many hours you are going to use it.
If you are going to buy a used Mac Mini or iMac, get at least an Intel model as they would greatly benefit from the Snow Leopard update.
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Thanks,
No, no interest in Mac mini for this venture. As I mentioned before I am just trying to take old spare parts to piece something together and was wondering which piece was missing from the equation.
Thanks
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Piecing parts together will be much more expensive than buying a new used Mini. Check Ebay, you can pick up a Mini or an Imac for a few hundred, and it would cost you close to that to upgrade the old G4. A couple hundred into an old junker, of sorts, or for something just a tiny bit slower than the new top-of-the-line system? No contest, in my opinion. We’re a throwaway society, and it’s time to throw that away if you want something useable.
Best of luck to you either way, but if you try to use the old one, she’s gonna be slow.
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