23 replies to this topic

[Ace McKilty]

I'm in the market for a new computer.  I'm taking the step to move away from PC's (at home) by replacing my Windows computer (that crashes OFTEN and now won't even start) to a Mac.

 

I already have a MacBook Pro and I'd like something more robust for video editing.  I am just converting from Sony Vegas to Adobe premiere Pro-- which runs on my MacBook Pro, but it struggles a bit.

 

So, those in the know... what are your suggestions and why?

[JWonder]

If you have the means and want to load up on a shitload of processing power (like 16 cores and whatnot) and a truckload of RAM, the Mac Pro is your horse.

You can get some pretty damn beefy iMacs these days too tho. I do all my photo processing on an iMac. It has a quad core i7 proc running at 2.8ghz I believe and I have 16GB of ram in it. I think the new gen iMacs support up to 32GB of ram now. I'd check but I'm currently sitting in line at a car wash.

Point is, the iMac might be stout enough for your needs. I don't know how big your videos are. Mac pros are serious business tho (and have a price tag saying so).

[ImDyxlesic]

iMac is more than enough for most people...but they are nearly impossible to repair nowadays because of the redesign.

 

The Mac Pro offers a much more powerful build, but is using the older Xeon processors instead of the newer IvyBridge processors, not a huge deal, but I would rather have the newer, smaller platform.

 

That being said, if you are comfortable building a computer and like the idea of a Mac Pro, but don't like the idea of spending $2000 or more, then you should check out The always up to date guide to building a hackintosh over at lifehacker.

Edited by ImDyxlesic, 21 March 2013 - 10:35 AM.

[Shift Gorden]

I guess the real question is budget and if you want to be mobile.

 

I'm lucky enough to have a 15" Retina Display 8gb RAM, 2.6ghz i7 Mac Book Pro and it's a beast.  It doesn't struggle at all with video editing, but it's still on the slow side when rendering decent quality vid.  The real bonus is the solid state drive - no more long load times for apps and files!

 

That being said...at work we do have an iMac which is solely for video editing.  It's a little slower than the MBP...but it was $1300 less...

[Ace McKilty]

Hmmm... My MacBook Pro (late 2008):

 

15-inch (1440x900)

320 GB SATA Disk (only 28GB free)

2.53 GHz Intel Core Duo

4 GB memory

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256MB

 

...all of which means little to me.

 

I'm also only editing with it at work currently and all of the source files are on the network.  Still, I want a desktop computer.  I don't need portability.  I want performance and a big hard drive.

[ppuppet]

Kind of going with Shifty's line of thinking here I'd look at upgrading to a new model of MacBook Pro. 4GB of memory is nothing - and you should get onto an i7 processor and something with an upgraded video card

 

I have a 15" 2011 model with 

 

 2.2 GHz quad-core (2720QM) Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge with 6 MB on-chip L3 cache

16 GB Memory

750 GB Hard Drive

AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1 GB GDDR5 memory

 

I use this with external monitors and do heavy lifting with Aperture and Final Cut Pro X video editing, and it is wicked fast...and this machine is now 2 generations old. The newest models, especially Retina ones, are even faster, although they are very expensive.

 

If you want a desktop, I'd recommend an iMac over the MacPro. The latter is getting long in the tooth and is really more machine than you would need.

Edited by ppuppet, 21 March 2013 - 11:28 AM.

[SG Noodles]

I love my iMac...but I would kill a puppy for a MBP!!!

[TakenTripod]

I have an iMac on my desk at work that I upgraded to the i7 and maxed out RAM for video editing. It handles most everything just fine. For me at home it would be a perfect machine.

[Jaleeb Caru]

I bought a new iMac in January (under duress).  I got the new low end 27" and put 24 GB of RAM in it.  It's way more price effective, unquestionably and so far I've been pretty happy with it (and very happy with the sub-$2000 price, including AppleCare).  It is kind of stupid that it's a big skinny thing that could be fat and not have a tiny bit of effect on me and that kind of concerns me.  

 

It runs FCP 7 only slightly faster than a MP Quad with 12 GB (both have 512MB GeForce video cards, but the iMac has a Thunderbolt RAID as opposed to a FW800 one), but it runs FCPX WAY faster.  After Effects too, but not by much.  

 

Having to buy a Thunderbolt capture device as opposed to the card and making everything be external has been frustrating and expensive but if you don't already have the PCI cards, it's not as big of a deal (I guess).

 

Seeing as the MacPro's havent been updated yet, I think you really are better off getting the iMac, but I'd recommend STRONGLY to get a model with a more robust video card as most editing applications rely heavily on VRAM.  If you can stand to wait, I'd recommend seeing what they do with the next tower as it's expected to drop sometime in 2013.

[JWonder]

Jaleeb I can't believe you're no longer rocking a Power PC.

 

Ace - the processors now are going to make a huge difference vs. your Core Duo.  You're going to definitely want more than 4 GB of RAM, too.  Hell, you might even try loading up your current MBP with as much RAM as it can handle (I get mine from crucial.com) and see what it does for you if you're not hellbent on getting a new computer right now.  At the very least it would make your current machine a good deal zippier for other use.

[Taco Beau]

iMac is more than enough for most people...but they are nearly impossible to repair nowadays because of the redesign.

 

The Mac Pro offers a much more powerful build, but is using the older Xeon processors instead of the newer IvyBridge processors, not a huge deal, but I would rather have the newer, smaller platform.

 

That being said, if you are comfortable building a computer and like the idea of a Mac Pro, but don't like the idea of spending $2000 or more, then you should check out The always up to date guide to building a hackintosh over at lifehacker.

 

That is what I did last week and its not easy easy but not overly difficult. And its not near as problematic as it used to be. My benchmarks are way higher than most of their lineup and I only have maybe 1500$ invested. If you look over in the platforms/general forum you can see my build and kinda get an idea of where you could go with it.

[Ace McKilty]

Oy, I need to learn how to read.  Just updated my Mac's ram from 4GB to 4GB...  

[JWonder]

lolwut

[Ace McKilty]

I thought I bought 2x4GB, but bought 2x2GB...

[JWonder]

Oops.  Hopefully they'll allow you to return it.

[Ace McKilty]

Yeah, they'll do a cross exchange... which I think means they'll ship the 8GB as I send the 4GB back.

[SG Noodles]

ok... this makes my day a little brighter. Thanks for the laugh!

[Ace McKilty]

Thanks for the advice, I decided to get an iMac:

27-inch iMac

• 3.4GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
• 3TB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB GDDR5

The RAM I'll upgrade to 32GB outside of Apple for much less ($220 vs $600).  Should be here right when I get back from vacation.  Welcome home me.

[ppuppet]

You've chosen...wisely. That thing is going to scream.

[SG Noodles]

That is awesome!@!

[da Schnook]

Awesome. What's your address?

[Ace McKilty]

I'd give you my address, but it's being shipped to work...

[Jaleeb Caru]

NICE!  Word up!!!  That's the one I should've gotten.

[Shift Gorden]

Thanks for the advice, I decided to get an iMac:

27-inch iMac

• 3.4GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
• 3TB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB GDDR5

The RAM I'll upgrade to 32GB outside of Apple for much less ($220 vs $600).  Should be here right when I get back from vacation.  Welcome home me.

What a beast.  The computer ain't bad either.