Maximizing my Machine

Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

VHS Member Old Skool
I recently bought an 8 core MacPro and switched out the stock RAM for 8 gigs from OWC. I have an ATI Radeon Video Card.

I haven't really noticed much of a performance increase with the extra RAM. Are there some settings I should/could change to increase render times, etc?
 
RAM does not increase render times. It allows you to open multiple programs at once, and if the applications need RAM to work better, it will help them. FCP really only addresses about 2-4GB of RAM, max. SO extra RAM does nothing.

Only processor speed will affect render times.
 
I went from 2 to 6 and what an improvement. Can have so many programs open at once. I wouldn't regret it, even though FCP can only use 4. If you ever have Photoshop, FCP, Safari, Itunes, etc ... open all at once you will save yourself some headaches.
 
I rarely work in more than one app, unless I am exporting from FCP through compressor, or maybe going from RedCine to FCP. ANd I only use this machine to edit. No internet, no iTunes, nothing but work.

I don't mind the purchase, since I'm sure it will come in handy. But I would have put that money towards an intensity pro card if I had known what little difference it would make to add the RAM.
 
More RAM is typically a good thing though after about 4GB it's overkill with most apps.

Noah
 
IIRC, OS X manages your memory usage automatically, so you can't really do anything to maximize RAM performance. Sounds like your machine is running FCP about as well as any computer could (cue the hard-core computer wizards to correct me).
 
GPU will speed rendering of many filters and plug ins.

Do mentioned an ATI card, but which one is it?

The new 3870 is particularly good with FCS2.
 
I have an ati radeon 2600HD

I just wouldn't mind more render/output speeds. I can live with it the way it is, but I just want to make sure I am not overlooking any possibilities.

Thanks for your patience.
 
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