will a new mac mini run final cut pro x

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will a new mac mini run final cut pro x

I am interested in getting Final Cut Pro X but have a 2008 iMac with an incompatible video card.

I am thinking of getting a Mac mini and plan to bump up the RAM and use some external HDs.

I have been using an old PC program but it is no longer supported and my PC is about to die.

Most everything else I have is on the MAC so I am wanting to go MAC for all my software. Normally I have about 4 or less layers, overlays etc.

Do you have any idea if the entry level Mini with 4gbs will run FCP X reasonably well? Thanks.

Posted on Jan 16, 2012 5:02 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 16, 2012 5:05 PM in response to BillPTN

As long as it meets the system requirements - http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro/specs/

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Answer 2

Jan 16, 2012 5:32 PM in response to karenfromniagara falls

Actually, those requirements have been called into question by many users, including me - see this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3133722?tstart=60

Hope this helps.

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Answer 3

Jan 17, 2012 1:08 AM in response to BillPTN

BillPTN wrote:

...

Do you have any idea if the entry level Mini with 4gbs will run FCP X reasonably well?

In use here: a MacMini, 2.26GHz (=not the latest) , doing FCPX and Motion5 pretty well here (most complex project until now: a 30min documentary of my last vacation, source 5h video, >500 stills, 'some' effects from M5).

only thing which is NOT 'from the shelf': my mini is pimped to 8GBs Ram ... Ram/memory management seems to be an 'issue' with these new apps.

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Answer 4

BillPTN Author

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Jan 17, 2012 12:36 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter

Thanks for the info. I'm curious if you use external hard drives for rendering? Thanks again.

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Answer 5

Jan 17, 2012 10:39 PM in response to BillPTN

BillPTN wrote:

... I'm curious if you use external hard drives for rendering? ...

I'm using a firewire-connected drive for 'Events' and usb-connected drives for final play-out ... (plus half a dozen other usb-drives for back-up, mass storage, TimeMachine, back-ups of back-up ......)

best to my knowledge, there's no setting (anymore) in FinalCut to utilize an extHDD for renderfiles only.

my internal is half emty, due to all Libraries (iTunes, iPhoto, …) are external.

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Answer 6

DJLove

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Jun 20, 2012 12:25 PM in response to BillPTN

The big question is wether to get the dual core with better graphic card or the quad core with the crapppy HD3000 graphics card. I've got the dual core 2011 mini with the AMD card and when it comes to rendering I'm not sure if the other machine would be faster - sure the extra CPUs would help a lot but Open CL goodness with the AMD card migh make it faster.

You thoughts chaps?

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