Best Mac for HDV Editing at DVinfo.net

Alfred Diaz · February 23rd, 2007, 02:13 PM

I am about to buy my first Mac in almost 15 years. I want to move to HDV editing and FCP 5.0. I plan to start doing freelance HDV work. Here is what I am considering.

Used G5 with dual 2.7 ghz processors
Video card with 256 MB
4 gigs of RAM
Hard Drive: I will add as needed. I plan to buy 500 gig drive and install it

That's about it. I have continually seen these used system for sale for $2k, with a year of applecare left.

Is this system going to cut it for raw HDV editing? My funds are limited (needless to say).
Or...
Do I need to go with a G5 Mac Quad?
I'm not even sure what the main difference is (I am new to Macs).
How much can I expect to pay for the quad system?
Is it worth it?
Finally, I understand that FCP wont run on some newer Mac Intel Processors? That I got from Apple, but didn't understand what they were saying at the time because I knew even less then than I do now.

I tried to find a thread that answered these questions, but couldn't (found one close to it on the MacPro processors and RAM choices).

Really need some guidance before I start spending thousands.

Thanks.

James R. Leong · February 23rd, 2007, 03:11 PM

HDV encoding times on a Mac

http://www.hdforindies.com/2005/02/h...different-macs

HDV Editing with FCP:

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...aid_soltz.html

February 23rd, 2007, 02:13 PM	#1
Alfred Diaz Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 88	Best Mac for HDV Editing I am about to buy my first Mac in almost 15 years. I want to move to HDV editing and FCP 5.0. I plan to start doing freelance HDV work. Here is what I am considering. Used G5 with dual 2.7 ghz processors Video card with 256 MB 4 gigs of RAM Hard Drive: I will add as needed. I plan to buy 500 gig drive and install it That's about it. I have continually seen these used system for sale for $2k, with a year of applecare left. Is this system going to cut it for raw HDV editing? My funds are limited (needless to say). Or... Do I need to go with a G5 Mac Quad? I'm not even sure what the main difference is (I am new to Macs). How much can I expect to pay for the quad system? Is it worth it? Finally, I understand that FCP wont run on some newer Mac Intel Processors? That I got from Apple, but didn't understand what they were saying at the time because I knew even less then than I do now. I tried to find a thread that answered these questions, but couldn't (found one close to it on the MacPro processors and RAM choices). Really need some guidance before I start spending thousands. Thanks.

February 23rd, 2007, 03:11 PM	#2
James R. Leong Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada Posts: 81	HDV encoding times on a Mac HDV encoding times on a Mac http://www.hdforindies.com/2005/02/h...different-macs HDV Editing with FCP: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...aid_soltz.html