G4 Laptop Drive Speed fast enough to edit? at DVinfo.net

John Paulsel · April 12th, 2004, 08:41 AM

I plan on buying a G4 1.25 ghz laptop as soon as my tax refund shows up and hoped to use it to edit video, among other things.

Currently editing using Premiere and After Effects on a G3 tower...slow but works O.K.

Of course the laptop processor speed is much faster, but I'm wondering about the drive speed. It looks like it comes with a 4200 drive but a 5400 one is optional for $125. Is the standard drive fast enough? Seems like the G3 is 7200...not sure.

Would I be better off editing with to an external firewire drive vs. the built-in drive?

Interested in anyone's experience editing on Mac laptops. Also, would like to know if it's possible to add an auxiliary monitor like I use with the G-3. Wasn't clear if a loptop would support dual monitors or not.

thanks!!!!

Josh Brusin · April 12th, 2004, 09:45 AM

used to use FCP with my 550mhz... ran fine. The limitation is SD editing. You really do need those PCI cards but a 550/firewire 7200/JVC GR-Camcorder was a very functional rig.

Josh Brusin · April 12th, 2004, 09:47 AM

you can hook via s-video a monitor and a dual display as well. You NEED external 7200 drives. Internals will NOT work at all... remember to move all files (audio files as well)...

Christopher Kraft · April 14th, 2004, 09:25 PM

Hi John,

I have the 17" Powerbook (1.33Ghz) with the 5400rpm drive. I use a LaCie d2 200gb, FW800 external drive for video. I daisy chain my Xl1s into my LaCie, then the LaCie into my FW800 port on the PB.

This setup works great, audio & video sync perfectly, with no dropped frames. Whenever editing video, I would always recommend using a dedicated video drive. FCP is on my internal drive, with all video/audio files going to the external.

I'm sure since only your program will be running on the internal drive, a 4200rpm drive would suffice. For me, $125 was not a major issue so I went with it. Both Apple personnel, and two dealers of digital video equipment, told me that a 4200 would do.

As for the external monitor, check out Apple's DVI to ADC adapter. This device will allow you to hook up one of their Cinema Displays. Here's a link -

http://www.apple.com/displays/adapter.html

As for hooking up to a CRT, you'll have to ask around.

Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

Rick Tugman · April 15th, 2004, 06:43 AM

I have a Aluminum PB model 5,2 with a MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-816 HD and have had no problems with RT - I have not used my external firewire harddrive and with the small playing around I have done with Final Cut 4 Pro since I got it, it has been easy to do effects in RT on the PB.

Anyone else want to chime in on Powerbook performance with Final Cut 4?

Brian Pink · April 15th, 2004, 07:44 AM

i too have the G4/1.25 15-inch and that's all i use for editing. i have used the internal drive in a pinch and it was fine, but my regular setup is LaCie 160 into the FW800 and DV deck into the FW400. haven't had an issue yet.

( knock knock )

Dave Perry · April 15th, 2004, 09:27 AM

The internal drive will work but as others have mentioned, having a good 7200 RPM firewire drive is much preferable.

I use an iBook 800 and it works fine with Final Cut Express 1.01.

Mike Butler · April 20th, 2004, 10:16 PM

The internal on my 667mhz PB works fine for FCP3, but it is only 30GB...really only good for short-form "happy face" or promo videos (which I do a lot of). For the bigger chores I plug in either a Samsung 160 or a Western Digital 120 (both pretty small and can be crammed into a briefcase.) Of course, to use these I need to be close enough to a 120v AC outlet (or a car inverter)...can't use'em on the plane.

Josh Brusin · April 20th, 2004, 10:25 PM

I cannot render from my internal powerbook drive without dropped frames... as far as I can tell it is a function of the speed of the hard drive. Only as of Monday did I notice a 5400 drive - others were 4200... neither fast enough for a compressed dv file>?

Josh Brusin · April 20th, 2004, 10:27 PM

you know what...
I will attempt another project on the HD... I am referring to running FCP in classic on my 550... and specifically a noticable audio chirp that went along with any print to video options...

Brian Pink · April 21st, 2004, 12:22 PM

at one point i attempting editing on my old iBook 600 ( with FCP 3 ) and i noticed that Print to Tape was horrible. Dropped frames, out of sync, really bad. I was pulling the clips off an external drive and hitting back out to the deck through the same port, so I assumed that was the problem. maybe it had something to do with the FW chipset? i think that iBook was circa Apr '02...

Josh Brusin · April 21st, 2004, 09:12 PM

I actually ran a playback mirrored to a monitor recording to tape to get around a "print to video" failure... worked but barely...

April 12th, 2004, 08:41 AM	#1
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	G4 Laptop Drive Speed fast enough to edit? I plan on buying a G4 1.25 ghz laptop as soon as my tax refund shows up and hoped to use it to edit video, among other things. Currently editing using Premiere and After Effects on a G3 tower...slow but works O.K. Of course the laptop processor speed is much faster, but I'm wondering about the drive speed. It looks like it comes with a 4200 drive but a 5400 one is optional for $125. Is the standard drive fast enough? Seems like the G3 is 7200...not sure. Would I be better off editing with to an external firewire drive vs. the built-in drive? Interested in anyone's experience editing on Mac laptops. Also, would like to know if it's possible to add an auxiliary monitor like I use with the G-3. Wasn't clear if a loptop would support dual monitors or not. thanks!!!! __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

April 15th, 2004, 06:43 AM	#5
Rick Tugman Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Parkland, Florida Posts: 105	G4 1.25 Ghz 15" PB I have a Aluminum PB model 5,2 with a MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-816 HD and have had no problems with RT - I have not used my external firewire harddrive and with the small playing around I have done with Final Cut 4 Pro since I got it, it has been easy to do effects in RT on the PB. Anyone else want to chime in on Powerbook performance with Final Cut 4? __________________ Camera: Panasonic DV953 PC: Apple Aluminum G4 Powerbook - 15 inch Final Cut Pro 4 and other assorted goodies!

April 15th, 2004, 07:44 AM	#6
Brian Pink Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	pb i too have the G4/1.25 15-inch and that's all i use for editing. i have used the internal drive in a pinch and it was fine, but my regular setup is LaCie 160 into the FW800 and DV deck into the FW400. haven't had an issue yet. ( knock knock ) __________________ This is the way the world ends.

April 15th, 2004, 09:27 AM	#7
Dave Perry Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 796	The internal drive will work but as others have mentioned, having a good 7200 RPM firewire drive is much preferable. I use an iBook 800 and it works fine with Final Cut Express 1.01. __________________ Dave Perry Cinematographer LLC Director of Photography • Editor • Digital Film Production • 540.915.2752 • daveperry.net

April 20th, 2004, 10:16 PM	#8
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	The internal on my 667mhz PB works fine for FCP3, but it is only 30GB...really only good for short-form "happy face" or promo videos (which I do a lot of). For the bigger chores I plug in either a Samsung 160 or a Western Digital 120 (both pretty small and can be crammed into a briefcase.) Of course, to use these I need to be close enough to a 120v AC outlet (or a car inverter)...can't use'em on the plane. __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

April 12th, 2004, 09:45 AM	#2
Josh Brusin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	used to use FCP with my 550mhz... ran fine. The limitation is SD editing. You really do need those PCI cards but a 550/firewire 7200/JVC GR-Camcorder was a very functional rig.

April 12th, 2004, 09:47 AM	#3
Josh Brusin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	you can hook via s-video a monitor and a dual display as well. You NEED external 7200 drives. Internals will NOT work at all... remember to move all files (audio files as well)...

April 14th, 2004, 09:25 PM	#4
Christopher Kraft Tourist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 1	Hi John, I have the 17" Powerbook (1.33Ghz) with the 5400rpm drive. I use a LaCie d2 200gb, FW800 external drive for video. I daisy chain my Xl1s into my LaCie, then the LaCie into my FW800 port on the PB. This setup works great, audio & video sync perfectly, with no dropped frames. Whenever editing video, I would always recommend using a dedicated video drive. FCP is on my internal drive, with all video/audio files going to the external. I'm sure since only your program will be running on the internal drive, a 4200rpm drive would suffice. For me, $125 was not a major issue so I went with it. Both Apple personnel, and two dealers of digital video equipment, told me that a 4200 would do. As for the external monitor, check out Apple's DVI to ADC adapter. This device will allow you to hook up one of their Cinema Displays. Here's a link - http://www.apple.com/displays/adapter.html As for hooking up to a CRT, you'll have to ask around. Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

April 20th, 2004, 10:25 PM	#9
Josh Brusin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	I cannot render from my internal powerbook drive without dropped frames... as far as I can tell it is a function of the speed of the hard drive. Only as of Monday did I notice a 5400 drive - others were 4200... neither fast enough for a compressed dv file>?

April 20th, 2004, 10:27 PM	#10
Josh Brusin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	you know what... I will attempt another project on the HD... I am referring to running FCP in classic on my 550... and specifically a noticable audio chirp that went along with any print to video options...

April 21st, 2004, 12:22 PM	#11
Brian Pink Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	at one point i attempting editing on my old iBook 600 ( with FCP 3 ) and i noticed that Print to Tape was horrible. Dropped frames, out of sync, really bad. I was pulling the clips off an external drive and hitting back out to the deck through the same port, so I assumed that was the problem. maybe it had something to do with the FW chipset? i think that iBook was circa Apr '02... __________________ This is the way the world ends.

April 21st, 2004, 09:12 PM	#12
Josh Brusin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	I actually ran a playback mirrored to a monitor recording to tape to get around a "print to video" failure... worked but barely...