4GB or 8GB in a MacBook Pro? at DVinfo.net

Paul Shapiro · October 19th, 2009, 12:36 PM

We need to buy a new 17-inch MacBook Pro to supplement our 8GB MacPro desktops. Obviously, we'll be lumbered with whatever problems Snow Leopard hands us. But our question is regarding the amount of RAM needed to play nicely with Final Cut Pro 2 (no plan to upgrade to FCP 3 at the moment). It will be hooked up via eSATA to a G-RAID 500 Mini 7200rpm, among other assorted drives.

I've read that FCP doesn't use more than 4GB, although we'll also have other programs running such as Motion, Soundtrack Pro etc. It's a good $1,000 more to load up to the max 8GB. So is the extra 4GB worth the cost?

I can't see any other threads that address this directly, so thanks for any help anyone can offer.

Nick Gordon · October 19th, 2009, 12:55 PM

If you're going to do stuff in Motion, I think you should get as much memory as you can.

You can get compatible memory of very good quality from Crucial or Kingston a lot cheaper than Apple's own. I always get my extra memory from one of those guys.

Paul Shapiro · October 19th, 2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the info, Nick. Reckon I'll goose it up to the max!

Ryan Mitchell · October 19th, 2009, 05:36 PM

Macsales.com had great memory as well and is affordable.

Paul Shapiro · October 19th, 2009, 07:38 PM

I'll definitely check that out, Ryan. Many thanks.

Peter Richardson · October 21st, 2009, 12:17 AM

Only $600 to get 8GB on apple.com now. They may have lowered the price along with other announcements today.

Peter

October 19th, 2009, 12:36 PM	#1
Paul Shapiro Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Paget, Bermuda Posts: 52	4GB or 8GB in a MacBook Pro? We need to buy a new 17-inch MacBook Pro to supplement our 8GB MacPro desktops. Obviously, we'll be lumbered with whatever problems Snow Leopard hands us. But our question is regarding the amount of RAM needed to play nicely with Final Cut Pro 2 (no plan to upgrade to FCP 3 at the moment). It will be hooked up via eSATA to a G-RAID 500 Mini 7200rpm, among other assorted drives. I've read that FCP doesn't use more than 4GB, although we'll also have other programs running such as Motion, Soundtrack Pro etc. It's a good $1,000 more to load up to the max 8GB. So is the extra 4GB worth the cost? I can't see any other threads that address this directly, so thanks for any help anyone can offer.

October 19th, 2009, 12:55 PM	#2
Nick Gordon Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Posts: 166	If you're going to do stuff in Motion, I think you should get as much memory as you can. You can get compatible memory of very good quality from Crucial or Kingston a lot cheaper than Apple's own. I always get my extra memory from one of those guys.

October 19th, 2009, 05:14 PM	#3
Paul Shapiro Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Paget, Bermuda Posts: 52	Thanks for the info, Nick. Reckon I'll goose it up to the max!

October 19th, 2009, 05:36 PM	#4
Ryan Mitchell Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 120	Macsales.com had great memory as well and is affordable.

October 19th, 2009, 07:38 PM	#5
Paul Shapiro Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Paget, Bermuda Posts: 52	I'll definitely check that out, Ryan. Many thanks.

October 21st, 2009, 12:17 AM	#6
Peter Richardson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 608	Only $600 to get 8GB on apple.com now. They may have lowered the price along with other announcements today. Peter