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Home: Video University Forums: Mac Video:
MAC Upgrade Suggestions

jfc0054
Novice

Feb 11, 2006, 6:01 PM

Post #1 of 4 (829 views)
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MAC Upgrade Suggestions	Can't Post

I purchased a G4 a couple of years ago that has been updated to the following configuration:
1.2 GHz processor, 1.5 GHz RAM, OS X 10.2.8, 30 GB and 60GB HD.
This G4 already had FCP 4 and DVD Studio 1.5 installed. (Compressor has stopped working).

Video is becoming more of a business instead of a hobby for me. Therefore, I'm looking to upgrade to Final Cut Studio 5. Should I be able to strip the current FCP programs from the HD, install bigger HD's, upgrade OS X and then install Final Cut Studio 5...or...am I going to be forced to buy a new MAC? Suggestions?

mcguyver
User

Feb 11, 2006, 6:38 PM

Post #2 of 4 (825 views)
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Re: [jfc0054] MAC Upgrade Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think your system still meets the requirements to run FCP. Bigger HDs would definitely be better.

If your system can do the work you need it to do with the bigger HDs, then I would hold off buying a new Mac for now.

Apple is still transitioning their line to Intel and a lot of apps need to come out in Universal Binary.

When I upgraded my G4 Tower last year, I found the easiest way was to replace the internal HDs and reinstall everything from scratch - OS X, Final Cut Studio, etc. It takes a while, but in the long run, starting from a clean system install seems to cause less headaches when running FCP.

I did the same thing when I bought & upgraded GmElliott's G5 a few months ago.

Todd

____________________________________________________
Trapped on an island in the middle of the Pacific without a Swiss Army Knife
Armed with a Sony HVR-Z1, Glen's Canon EOS 1DMkII and Glen's G5 (Dual 2Ghz/8GB RAM/Dual 250GB HD/External 250 GBSATA RAID/ATI Radeon X800 XT).

RatVega
Enthusiast

Feb 11, 2006, 10:20 PM

Post #3 of 4 (812 views)
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Re: [jfc0054] MAC Upgrade Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

Let me say this in as nice but as objective a way as possible...

Serious video editing is a horsepower game. Apple adopted a scaleable software architecture with FCP4 that allows for a lot of flexibility if you have the processing power.

I own several G4s, but the lowliest one cutting video is a dual 1GHz system and it's using FCP 4.5.

You can certainly upgrade your G4 with larger disks, but I fear that you'll be frustrated by performance issues if you go very far into FCP5.

A new Mac isn't the only option (though it's my favorite Smile

) FCP5 runs nicely on my dual 1.42GHz G4, and is sweet on any G5 dualie. Going to a quad might be excessive unless you're really getting real deep, real fast. I think if I was in (what I perceive to be) your shoes, I'm be looking for a used G5 to break in on and get some cash in the drawer, then step up for the big machine.

The tough part about the current state of FCP affairs is the mismatch between what you can do and what you shoud do (if it's serious.)

______________________________________________________________
Currently on a loaded 2.5GHz G5 dualie/5GB/1TB internal RAID/dual 19" monitors. Final Cut Studio, Adobe Suite, Boris RED. Shooting with Canon.

VU California Crew, Inland Empire Sub-Chapter (paragraph?)

Waldemar
Enthusiast

Feb 24, 2006, 8:19 PM

Post #4 of 4 (724 views)
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Re: [RatVega] MAC Upgrade Suggestions [In reply to]	Can't Post

I second RatVega's comments.
G5 1.8. Final Cut/QT Pro/iMovie/Still Life. GL1. XL1-s