Best Computer to buy for $1,300?

[Kevin Monahan]

I use an iMac in my own studio. I don’t do a lot of HD here and when I do, I work offline then go to a post house only when need be. I can run FCP just fine, but to run Motion be sure to max out the RAM and get one with a decent video card (the low end one has an integrated card–no bueno). I am able to drive a second monitor out of the mini DVI port.

I am looking forward to my new Mac Pro in the near future, but for now I am having a lot of fun with this little monster.

[Nate Stephens]

Your 1.8 G5 should be fast enough to run Leopard, If I remember correctly it is right over the threshold.. So keep things running and save your money for a MacPro that has an appreciable improvement over what you have.

Another 2 grand and you will have a very good machine..

[Milton Hockman]

i cant afford another 2 grand. Only what i have now 1300.

Motion Graphics Artist and Non-Linear Editor
Software expertise include: After Effects, Avid Xpress Pro, Final Cut Pro, Dvd Studio Pro, Photoshop, and more.

[Nate Stephens]

Yes I know you don’t have an extra 2k burning a hole in your pocket… But in my honest opinion, your G5 still works right, it edits right?????

for 1.3k you are not going to purchase that much of an improvement over what you have..

I am editing on a 4 year old dual gig G4, uncompressed 8 bit SD video and my clients still think it is a bargain even with all the render time… I am saving the gold for a MacPro this summer… just about 4 more jobs worth of savings before I jump…

Go do 4 or 5 wedding jobs and let them buy you the right machine…

This business is more than new toys,,, it is all about the right toys…

[Sean Oneil]

Don’t buy another PowerMac. Complete waste of money.

Sean

[Arnie Schlissel]

[MILTON HOCKMAN] “I have $1,300 to spend. “

That’s not enough to buy a new Mac Pro or Macbook Pro, so maybe you should save up until you can buy a new Mac.

Unless your current mac isn’t working or won’t do something specific that you need it to do, I can’t see spending any money now on another Mac that’s slightly less obsolete than the one you have.

Arnie
Now in post: Peristroika, a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com/blog

[Walter Biscardi]

[MILTON HOCKMAN] “I have a Dual 1.8 G5. I want to upgrade it. I have $1,300 to spend.”

Wait until you can afford a Mac Pro or go with the Dual 2.5.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Milton Hockman]

i want to replace my dual 1.8 because it is slow on renders from After Effects. I have 2GB ram and it takes forever when using after effects (updating screen, etc.)

I want something faster so I can work faster.

Motion Graphics Artist and Non-Linear Editor
Software expertise include: After Effects, Avid Xpress Pro, Final Cut Pro, Dvd Studio Pro, Photoshop, and more.

[Walter Biscardi]

[MILTON HOCKMAN] “i want to replace my dual 1.8 because it is slow on renders from After Effects. I have 2GB ram and it takes forever when using after effects (updating screen, etc.)

I want something faster so I can work faster.”

Then forget about an iMac. You want the latest Mac Pro or at least a G5 Quad 2.5 AND you want After Effects 8.0. That renders at least twice as fast in OS X than After Effects 7.0. I didn’t believe it until we purchased it. It screams on renders compared to AE 7.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!

[Milton Hockman]

my budget wont allow a quad. what do you recommend? a dual 2.3, 2.5 or 2.7? for about 1,300 to 1,400?

Motion Graphics Artist and Non-Linear Editor
Software expertise include: After Effects, Avid Xpress Pro, Final Cut Pro, Dvd Studio Pro, Photoshop, and more.