View Full Version : Mac Mini + FCP 7.0 ... advice?


Christopher Smith
April 6th, 2010, 02:39 PM
I dont know really where to post this... and this is the only media related forum i belong to so hopefully someone can give me some feedback.

I bought a new macbook recently and didnt even think to check to see if it had a firewire port..... it doesnt. Soooo..... I was thinking about buying a newer mac mini and hook it to my 32" LCD. The new mac minis have almost the exact same specs as my new macbook... for only $500. The big difference is that the mac mini i THINK has a firewire port... i would hope. I had no issues at all running FCP 7 on my macbook. So will the mac mini be enough to do ONLY video editing in FCP... also run after effects, toast, FX Factory, etc....

i would plan on fully upgrading the memory and use an external 1T HD as well.

Like i said i just want to know if I will have any issues using a mac mini to ONLY run these programs.

Matt McMeans
April 7th, 2010, 12:08 AM
Yes it does have firewire 800 port and i would say it would be wonderful for editing ive used my MBP and has a smaller processor and it does a great job for editing.

Jim Andrada
April 8th, 2010, 12:24 PM
I looked at my wife's Mac Mini and yes it has firewire. One thing it doesn't have is support for Dual Link DVI which some high res monitors require. I use two Apple 30" monitors on my PC's and they need Dual Link, but the smaller lower res monitors I believe do not need it.

Shaun Roemich
April 8th, 2010, 01:00 PM
IOne thing it doesn't have is support for Dual Link DVI which some high res monitors require.

Current series Mac Minis do:

Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on a DVI or VGA display; up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on a dual-link DVI display using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)

From Apple's website - note requires an adaptor.

Jim Andrada
April 8th, 2010, 04:47 PM
Hey Shaun thanks for the update

Our mini is a couple of years old