To Purchase Mac Pro Desktop for FCP/Final Cut Studio – How much RAM needed?

[Rcpics]

2 Gigs bare minimum…4 should be comfortable.

[Jeff Carpenter]

I also suggest 4 GB.

But don’t buy 4 GB from Apple and end up with just 4 GB. No, go someplace else (like http://www.crucial.com) and buy four 1-GB sticks. That way you’ll end up with 5 GB total which should be good for the future. (Be sure to read the computer’s manual to instal them…Apple machines usually care WHICH slots you use for RAM.)

Buying a total of 4 GB from Apple would cost $1,099. Doing my 5 GB plan would cost $748.

I don’t think any of the programs you listed can use that much RAM on their own, but if you run them all at once you’ll enjoy the fact that they can EACH have a large chunk of RAM to themselves without having to share it around.

[Walter Biscardi]

I recommend 4GB minimum for any FCP based system.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”
HD Editorial for “Assignment Earth”

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[David Roth weiss]

[Editrice] “Am to purchase the Mac Pro Desktop 2.66ghz intel Dual-core computer, and am wondering if I should get an extra gig of ram for my needs.”

Keep in mind that the new dual quad core machines are coming out very soon and its very likely that a new version of FCP will be shown at NAB next month. You just might want to wait just a while to see what these new developments might mean. Its certaily very likely that 2.66ghz machine you’re looking at now might have a substancial price drop.

[Mark Maness]

I agree fully with everyone who chimed in…

BUT, let me give you a word of warning! Mac Pro machines are a totally new type of platform. You can’t just use any memory. Some manufacturers will make memory that will work but likely your system will become unstable. Getting match pairs of RAM is absolutly crucial in a Mac Pro!

My suggestion, since I have a lot of experience with this, is to purchase 4 – 1 gig bars of Kensington memory and take out your Apple memory. And, oh yeah… Please read this tech doc about the proper placement of the memory for FCP. It will keep you from pulling out your hair!

https://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304492

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com

[Rachel Anne]

Wow, thank you all for your prompt and informative input! I’ve taken it all into consideration and come up with my next round of questions. Ready?

QUESTION 1. Being that Final cut Studio/Mac Pro combo likes ram pairs to be equal on risers, when I buy non-Apple ram to install, is one of these a better configuration?:

a. one new 1GB kit to balance the riser with Apple’s included ram (I’m guessing the 1 gig pair that comes with Mac Pro Desktop is on Riser A), plus 2 more 1GB kits for next two slots

or

b. two 2GB kits, for a total of 4GB of RAM, replacing Apple’s 1GBkit altogether

QUESTION 2. Crucial.com and Edge.com both seem like good places to buy the ram, though didn’t find any ram made by Kensington, as suggested. What I’m looking for it seems is DDR2 PC2-5300 –Is that all I need to know about this ram? Are there any sellers or manufacturers I should look for or avoid?

Thank you!!

Editrice