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I have a 2017 iMac with a 3.5ghz 3TB Fusion Drive. It still works pretty good. But I want to optimize the speed and minimize any dropped frames, and slow render etc. I bought a fast external SSD formatted to APFS. For editing on FCPX should I keep my FCPX Library on my Internal fusion hard drive (where FCPX is stored) and my media on the SSD? Or, should I put my FCPX library on the same SSD as my media? Thanks!
iMac 27″ 5K, 13.7
I also have a 2017 iMac with a Fusion Drive.
Use your external SSDs for Libraries.
Actually, use external drives for *everything*. You can store your media on regular HDs if you need to (if you need to improve performance in FCP, Transcode the clips that are under-performing... it usually depends on the original codecs they're encoded with. You can always delete render files when you don't need them anymore.) I personally do not recommend storing original media in Libraries — you should opt to Keep in Place. [Set render file format to Pro Res 422LT when you create new Projects... I doubt you can tell the difference between this format and any of the higher, more *taxing* formats.]
The only things Final Cut that should be on your internal drive is the App itself and templates/plugins (if you don't store them IN the Library... which I never have.)
Fusion drives are a little weird. They have a segment that's SSD - used for recently and frequently used data in and out which is "paged" onto a standard hard drive when the OS has the time. It's better performance than standard HDs, but nowhere near the performance of SSDs.
I also have a 2017 iMac with a Fusion Drive.
Use your external SSDs for Libraries.
Actually, use external drives for *everything*. You can store your media on regular HDs if you need to (if you need to improve performance in FCP, Transcode the clips that are under-performing... it usually depends on the original codecs they're encoded with. You can always delete render files when you don't need them anymore.) I personally do not recommend storing original media in Libraries — you should opt to Keep in Place. [Set render file format to Pro Res 422LT when you create new Projects... I doubt you can tell the difference between this format and any of the higher, more *taxing* formats.]
The only things Final Cut that should be on your internal drive is the App itself and templates/plugins (if you don't store them IN the Library... which I never have.)
Fusion drives are a little weird. They have a segment that's SSD - used for recently and frequently used data in and out which is "paged" onto a standard hard drive when the OS has the time. It's better performance than standard HDs, but nowhere near the performance of SSDs.
I have an iMac as well!
Yes, put everything you can (except the app itself) on externals as fox_m suggests.
Some day it will be time to replace your iMac.
When that day comes, don't get a massive HDD/SDD like you have with the iMac as it costs the earth from Apple and it means you have a lot to lose if the computer packs in . . . that's the whole problem with "all-in-ones" . . . one thing goes and the whole machine is useless.
So get a standard sized internal SSD and make use of one or more external SSDs. Nor do they need to be expensive Thunderbolt drives as USB 3.0 is perfectly fast enough for most things.
If you have something like the M4 mini and its monitor breaks, you just plug it into another monitor or TV and carry on working. You can't do that with an iMac.
I know . . . nothing should go wrong but manure happens and if it does you'll be glad you had a backup plan.
The new basic M4 mini is awesome and performance wise will leave your iMac miles behind.
My basic M2 mini with only 8 GB RAM is twice as fast as my iMac and the M4 with 16 GB RAM will be 3 times faster.
All that for just £599/$599. You will need a keyboard and mouse but you already have those and a monitor.
You can use any cheap mouse, keyboard and monitor or just plug it via HDMI into a supersize TV!
Put Library and media on the external SSD, done. Apps must stay in the Applications folder.
Awesome. Thank you for the detailed response! That makes a lot of sense—especially about using external SSDs for Libraries and keeping the media separate. I hadn't thought about the impact of render file formats, so I’ll give Pro Res 422LT a try. I didn't know that about the Fusion Drive. SSDs have come down in price so I know what's on my list for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Appreciate the tip about keeping the App and plugins on the internal drive.
Thanks for the advice! Back in 2017 SSDs were so expensive I maxed the HD but I see the benefit of going with a smaller internal SSD and relying on external storage with my next Mac. Fingers crossed that this 2017 can get me through another year or so. I thought about the limitations of an all-in-one and was looking at the mini or studio for my next upgrade, especially about the flexibility of USB 3.0 drives for most workflows. And you're absolutely right—having a backup plan never hurts. Appreciate the insight!
I don't disagree with any of the responses except one thing. SSD drives are great and fast and don't last very long. Two years is average lifespan of a SSD drive. There is nothing that cools those drives down. So for day to day operation, I would go with SSD Drive, but I would also keep everything on another external HD. When you are constantly pulling information and putting information on the SSD drives, they heat up. When you are in a middle of a project, go and touch the drive. It is probably pretty hot. I always say triple back up your work. Backup backup backup.
Also, should I get a second SSD? Then I can keep the app on the internal HD, Save the Library to one external SSD and the Media to another external SSD? Or is that overkill? Thanks.
PS Just a long shot . . . You are not Barry Torkington from the C&G Film Makers are you?
There is nothing like the rush of new tech when its like a major 8-10 year upgrade. I think this will be my last iMac. Going either mini or studio for sure.
No, I am not, just doing small, local stuff now, did some short films in the past, but nothing that took off.
One SSD for the Library and the media should be enough.
No need to buy things unless you really need them.
Where should I store my FCPX Library?
