Editing FCP but have to buy a mac first

T

TheJackyl

Active member
Hey,

I am looking to begin editing on final cut pro but I have to purchase a mac computer first, I currently use a PC. I don't the budget to buy a 2500$ G5 mac nor do I think I need to, am I wrong? I intend to shoot and edit SD footage shot in 24pA, it'd be nice to have the ability to handle HD from an HVX but is not needed, I will dedicate this mac only for editing. I was thinking a system with an intel proc would run faster but the only intels out now are the imac and mac mini. For the imac, I already have computer monitors and don't see why I would pay for another. For the mac mini, is that enough power, as in can he mac mini handle FCP and editing, is it slow? The video card doesnt seem that nice, I have a nvidia 7900gt, would that fit into either of these systems, for a personal upgrade? Lastly, is it even possible to go with an intel mac atm or should i be looking at a different mac solution?

Thanks a lot for any help.
 
nope... you cant upgrade the video card... i would go with the iMac 20inch 2ghz intel duo... its got bigger hd capacity and better hardware than the mini. another AWESOME machine would be the macbook pro if you could afford it... if you cant afford a new mac try to find a imac G5 2.0ghz, i am running a imac g5 1.8 and it runs perfect for FCP and all the other pro apps. mac mini wont be enough power personally. i am sure someone out there will say OMG YES but i have tried using fcp 5, motion 2 and other apps on my cusins mini but its not the same as my mbp or g5
 
I would also stay away from the Mac Mini. I have a Powerbook which works great. If you can get a Macbook or Macbook Pro, go with that.
 
get a refurbished/used G5. unless you want portability, get something you can upgrade as needed..
 
sink said:
get a refurbished/used G5. unless you want portability, get something you can upgrade as needed..
Click to expand...

The Macbook Pro is just as fast if not faster than the Dual Core G5. It also can run windows, allowing even more editing options in the future. The Guad G5 though are still the fastest, but that will change soon when the new Intel Machines come out.
 
You can get directly from Apple a refurbished machine

MacBook Pro 15" 1.83 GHz for $1,599

MacBook Pro 15" 2.0 GHz for $1,999

MacBook Pro 15" 2.16 GHz for $2,199

iMac 17" 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo for $1,099

Mac Mini 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo for $699
 
how much do you guys think the new intel machines will run when they are released? I know they are not now, but theoretically if you spent areound $2200, they would run faster than a macbook pro 2.16ghz for $2200 right?
 
like i said before, unless you want portability, I'd take my 9 month old G5 over a MacbookPro anyday. for real hardcore editing a laptop will never compare.. at least until you can stick 16gigs of RAM, a terabyte of media storage, a massive video cad, and whatever PCI cards, into a laptop.... there are plenty of guys fighting windows/mac, but mac on mac? it's all in the family dont hate your brother cause hes bigger and smarter... :)

KingsReign said:
The Macbook Pro is just as fast if not faster than the Dual Core G5. It also can run windows, allowing even more editing options in the future. The Guad G5 though are still the fastest, but that will change soon when the new Intel Machines come out.
Click to expand...
 
I don't know saying that a laptop will never compare is exactly appropriate. I agree with the flexibility of expanding/upgading a desktop but look at these benchmarks. You will see that the MacBook Pro sometimes beats the Dual G5.

http://www.creativemac.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=43717

I just bought a MacBook Pro and am very pleased with it. Here is a link to the thread that had a lot to do with my decision.

http://www.creativemac.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=43717

To try to answer you question. The new iMac's are very nice (w/the dual Intel chip of course) The new FCP 5.1.1 update that apple just put out now supports the dual Intel chip. Definately check out that second thread though, people are saying that the little MacBook supports FCP but not so much Motion.

I'd say stay away from the G5, it seems to be being phased out by the new Intel chips. Which is an amazing technology.
 
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