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Reccomendation for non-overkill MacPro for my FCP workflow
Hey-
Looking for a reccomendation on minimal Mac Pro specs I need to pull off my FCP workflow.
So I’m working on a big HDSLR-heavy documentary project, using FCP 7. Guessing 75-80 total hours by the end of it. At least ¾ of the media is Apple Pro Res 422 LT, transcoded from 5D/7D shot 1080 30p AVCHD footage. Remaining majority is also 422LT, transcoded from AF100-shot 1080 30p AVCHD; remaining minority is SD-original tape capture & SD res quicktimes.
So it’s a lot of relatively beefy, digital original files living on 4 FW800-connected Gtech 2TB drives. I’ll probably have all drives up at anyone point, but not necessarily all the var. individual projects open all the time (it’s a web-only series focusing on 10 artists, so at least 10 individual projects.)
Currently using a 2.93 “Nehalem” Dual Quad Core Mac Pro with 12GBs of RAM for the project – and though I’ll I’ve really done with it is transcode and media manage thus far, and very little actual editing or exporting – don’t have any complaints about the machine.
Thing is, I’m getting kicked off this particular machine and need to buy another. I originally bought the 2.93 Nehalem to meet Avid Media Composer 5 specs – I know FCP7 specs are a lot less exacting, or at least a lot vaguer.
So big question is – do I really need 8 cores? Can I go for something more modest (read cheaper) and still get the same performance? I bought that Nehalem thru Apple Store refurbished and would love to do the same thing.
Check out this link for the current offerings (they change daily):
https://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/mac_pro?mco=MjEwNzU3MzcLet me know if I’m leaving anything out that’ll help.
Sincerely,
Nick -
27 Replies
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Something “more modest” won’t ever give you “the same performance”, but where you’ve got limited funds, I’d say that you’re cash is probably better spent on maxing the RAM rather than getting the most cores.
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Thanks Andrew. So RAM is going to get me more bang for the buck than cores. Thinking maxing out the RAM on this computer – Refurbished Mac Pro 2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, https://store.apple.com/us/product/G0G80LL/A?mco=MTEyMDExNzg – will get the job done? Nick.
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Do you have a need for an external video monitor? With the web as your final destination, I would think not. So why don’t you look a re-furbished 27″ imac? The top end models have quads, and you could get up to 16 gigs of RAM in them…. Plus you would get a monitor. A lot of people here on the Cow use them as solid “editing” machines.
don walker
texarkana, texasJohn 3:16
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Hi Nick,
About processing power, iMac offers you enough for your purposes. The cons of iMac are right now on connectivity and expansion options.
I would wait a little and see what Apple does with the next iMac line.
IMacs are to short for the average FC editor needs while Mac Pros much more than many of us need in terms of expansion and connectivity.
the only balanced option are MBPs 17″ and this makes no sense.
IMO they have to wide the offer on the iMac family.
rafael -
Thanks for the advice.
Yeah, iMacs would be cheaper option – but don’t think they’re going to have enough FW ports. Would force me to daisy chain 4 drives.
And yes, though we’re not using a separate video monitor, and yes it is a web project, still prefer the visual real estate 2 sync.ed monitors are going to give us. So I think I’d like to stick with MacPros.
But overall, sounds like any kind of Quad Core Mac is going to give me what I need? I guess the big overall question with FCP7 – what really gives me my performance boost – is it RAM, # of cores, processing speed?
Nick. -
Ram has nothing to do with speed. That is bad advice. More and Faster cores always win over amount of ram.
Get yourself the fastest macPro you can afford. You will be able to use it the longest and you can connect things to it such as capture and storage cards.
while iMacs have some processing speed, they are not great in the connectivity department. The macPro is definitely the most flexible and will last you the longest.
Jeremy
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Well, wash my mouth out with soap and water then condemn me to the seven leagues of hell but – build a Hackintosh. Then you can have whatever you want at a reasonable price (ducks back into nuclear air-raid shelter).
B
bernie
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I also would steer clear of an iMac if you intend to use the machine for editing for several years. And if you can afford to wait and believe the rumors regarding the impending release of the next FCP, might as well see if the new version will take full advantage of the latest Mac Pros.
Cameron Clendaniel
film editor, NYC
http://www.camclendaniel.com -
[Bernard Newnham] “Then you can have whatever you want at a reasonable price”
Except service and support.
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Jeremy Garchow: Ram has nothing to do with speed. That is bad advice. More and Faster cores always win over amount of ram.
I disagree to this extent – (a) much of the editing job is not about processing, it’s about handling data, so lots of RAM does help, (b) FCP doesn’t currently use all the available cores anyway (which may of course change in future versions). The point I want to make is that the raw processing power of the computer doesn’t necessarily translate into speed for such a particular task as editing.
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