used g5 quad editing system worthwhile?

Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

used g5 quad editing system worthwhile?

Posted by Johny Debel on May 24, 2009 at 4:14 am

Hello all,

I have an “opportunity” to get a full used g5 quad editing system which includes:

Final cut studio 5.1
quad g5 2.5Ghz/2gb/250gb/6600gt/stock speakers
30” apple cinema display
blackmagic declink extreme PCI express
2 lacie firewire 500gb external hd
Yamaha 12 channel mixer
32” lcd tv (nothing fancy)

System is in mint working condition

price: 2800-3500$ (I have to make an offer)

(just so you undersatand the prices, I’m working in Israel and an iMac 24” top model (basic configuration) goes for 3500$ here)

I was wondering weather buying this makes any sense.

Let me describe what I think I can do with it, and bear in mind that I’m only starting out with pro video editing and basically am in the process of learning, not yet getting any real paid work for this. I do have some important personal projects I’m going to work on (documentaries and experimental video art using hdv/avchd).

So what I hope is that after upgrading the above to 8-16gb of ram and an x1900/256 card from ebay, plus upgrade to final cut studio 2, + getting 2 * 1tb hard drives, I would be able to:

Use the whole apple final cut studio 2 suite of programs mainly to:

Edit dv/hdv/avchd **using intermediate formats if needed
Use Apple Color for color grading on the above formats
Use Motion

I do not have any real deadlines, so I don’t need it to be blazing fast, just need to be able to work with these apps in a decent manner.

The other options I have are getting a brand new macbookpro 15” (or a 24” iMac) and getting a deal on final cut in ebay (which seems somewhat fishy, saw offers between 700-1000$)

I was thinking of using this used system for learning the ropes, use it for 1-3 years and then go for a new system.

Does that make any sense?

Johny Debel replied 16 years, 11 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
4 Replies

Walter Biscardi
May 24, 2009 at 10:50 am

[Johny Debel] “Final cut studio 5.1 “

No such thing.

We have a G5 Quad that has been cutting broadcast HD work going on two years now. It’s a solid machine and works fine right alongside the new Mac Pros. Especially if you’re starting out, it’s a good machine to learn on.

RAM is woefully low. You want at least 8GB.

For Color you want an ATI card, not nVidia.

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

Read my Blog!

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Johny Debel
May 25, 2009 at 3:26 am

Walter, Thanks for the prompt response!

I’m still running things through, I’m going to make an offer for the equipment, I’ll offer 2800$ and see how it goes.

A couple more questions:

A little bit of repetition first:
Would I be MUCH better off with the newest 17” MacBook pro OR the newewst iMac 24” (both handle 8gb), I will loose the 30” display and have to invest a bit more, but if performace wise I’ll gain a lot…

Couple more things (If I go the quad g5 way):

1. Will I see any performance increase going all the way up to 16gb?

2. I assume getting regular DDR2 800 (pc6400),like OCZ will work on the g5 quad, correct?

3. will installing 2 * ATI x1900/256 cards make anything better on the quad g5

4. Does having the 6600 and an ATI x1900/256 help me in any way?

***Is there really no such thing as final cut studio 5.1?:
https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Final-Cut-Studio-VERSION/dp/B000BWZZ66

***And a general note, I have found this Forum time and again to contain great valuable info, I express my thanks to anyone involved

Thanks,

Johny Debel
Walter Biscardi
May 25, 2009 at 11:45 am

[Johny Debel] “Would I be MUCH better off with the newest 17” MacBook pro OR the newewst iMac 24” (both handle 8gb), I will loose the 30” display and have to invest a bit more, but if performace wise I’ll gain a lot… “

Both will be slower than the desktop. The desktop has more processors.

[Johny Debel] “1. Will I see any performance increase going all the way up to 16gb? “

Marginal.

[Johny Debel] “2. I assume getting regular DDR2 800 (pc6400),like OCZ will work on the g5 quad, correct? “

Assume nothing. Go to https://www.crucial.com and look up the correct RAM for that machine.

[Johny Debel] “3. will installing 2 * ATI x1900/256 cards make anything better on the quad g5 “

FCP and Color will not operate with 2 graphics cards installed

[Johny Debel] “4. Does having the 6600 and an ATI x1900/256 help me in any way? “

Nope.

[Johny Debel] “***Is there really no such thing as final cut studio 5.1?: “

There is Final Cut Studio 1 and Final Cut Studio 2. Those are the two Studio packages that have been available.

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

Read my Blog!

STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Johny Debel
June 16, 2009 at 3:17 am

Hi All,

Well, you can congratulate me, I got the system and have set it up and have been using it for a week. Must say, although I didnt yet use it for serious editing, it is a joy to work on this machine, and that’s before having upgraded it (currently: 2gb RAM and 6600 card).

Now I’m planing the upgrade and would like once again to ask for your valuable input and guidance:

1. I have found a refurbished x1900gt for about 500$ (supposed to be the original ati for mac). On the other hand there are sellers on eBay who sell it for 200$ possibly less, BUT they sell a PC modded version, Anyone have any experience with modded versions, should I stay away from those?

2. Does anyone have experience with “we love macs”, they seem very organized and informative, but the prices in some cases are quite a shock. Any input on them? They seem to have all I need (GPU and RAM)

3. In case I find a 7800gt GPU or Quadro FX 4500 at a bargain, are these much worse than the x1900gt?

Thanks again for all the help

Johny

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