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jonuk85 Author

Level 1

0 points

Final Cut Pro X freezing on top spec new 27" iMac, help!

I finally received my new 27" iMac today and installed all the latest updates and then the latest versions of FCPX and compressor.

Spec of new iMac:

27" Late 2012

3.4Ghz Intel i7

8GB RAM (I also added 16GB of third party RAM to the machine to take it up to 24GB RAM but remove this later)

GeForce GTX 680MX 2048MB Graphics card

1.12TB Fusion Drive (1.09TB free)

OS X 10.8.2 Mountain Lion

Immediately I noticed performance issues and then it kept freezing whilst running FCPX - the whole OS would freeze resulting in me having to actually turn off the machine and turn it on again. It happened repeatedly so have done all the obvious things but still have the issue.

So far I've tried (with no luck):

- removing the third party RAM

- restarting the computer, multiple times

- making sure everything is up to date

- removing the FCPX preferences

- doing a PRAM and SMC reset

- fully uninstalling and reinstalling FCPX

- running the short and long Apple Hardware Tests (no problems found)

I am working with a large quantity of video files off an 8TB Thunderbolt drive but I've been using FCPX on my old 27" iMac and had no problems with that at all, the spec of that being far less powerful:

27" mid 2011

3.4Ghz Intel i7

8GB Ram

Radeon HD 6970M 1024MB

1TB hard drive

I'm thinking it could possibly be the graphics card or a software issue?

Any help or advice would be great!!!

Thanks!

Jon

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jan 14, 2013 1:51 PM

489 replies

elohel

Level 1

0 points

Jan 16, 2013 5:46 AM in response to russ Andris1

I'm confused, my imac froze with final cut x twice and I haven't had it happen since....

I'm basically trying to test and make sure I don't have the same problem what's the best way to find out? I can always take it in later right?

Jan 16, 2013 9:15 AM in response to elohel

Try this, since you have a Fusion drive, find your Disk Utility, located in Applications Folder-Utilities Folder-Disk Utility. Open it, left side look for fusion dive, click on it then, look for Repair Disk permissions, run it, and do not do any thing. When it's done, close diak utility. Do a restart. Then run FCPX .

If it crashes, if you have not done a Hardware Test, run that. If after, all of this done, and it still crashes,

I'd be looking at the Fusion Drive, in relationship, to other, components, connections to the main board, etc.

I would still call Apple Care, so they have a record of your problem.

I had two that had to be replaced in 28 yrs of using Mac's. It is rair that it happens, but it does.

Jan 23, 2013 10:03 PM in response to russ Andris1

My brand new iMac is doing the exact same thing while using FCPX. There are several threads with people having the same issue. It usually freezes while changing the parameters of titles. Some have suggested that the new graphic cards are the issue.

I've tried everything suggested by Apple Support, and it still crashes. I'm taking it in to an Apple store on Monday, and will hopefully get some answers.

jonuk85 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 24, 2013 1:47 AM in response to Surf City 1

Hi Surf City 1,

Yes, just had a perouse of the forums and have seen many people with the same machine as us having the same crashing problems in FCPX. You are right, I mostly experienced the issue when editing titles, usually when there was also a background render happening.

I tried upgrading my RAM to 24GB, no use. Tried pretty much everything such as re-installing, removing FCPX preferences, hardware tests, removing peripherals. No use.

I've now returned my iMac and was waiting to buy another one but am hesitant in doing so if it's likely that this issue will continue to occur. I wonder if it is the graphics card?

I've submitted FCPX feedback forms to Apple in the hope that they will pick up this issue and resolve it soon!

Please let me know if you manage to get it sorted!

Jan 24, 2013 8:52 AM in response to jonuk85

It is not you iMac. I have a 5 year old Mac Pro with 8 cores and 16 gigs RAM and FCPX freezes frequently. It is a soft ware problem with FCPX. Returning your hardware was a waste of time.

jonuk85 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 24, 2013 8:58 AM in response to FrustratedFCPXguy

Unfortunately I think it is a hardware issue FrustratedFCPXguy. I am running FCPX on my 2011 13" Macbook Pro and 2011 27" iMac and haven't ever had it freeze on me. Works like a dream!

I think it may also be a hardware problem for you if you are running it on a 5 year old Mac Pro, time for an upgrade? Just don't get the latest iMac!

Returning it was the best thing I could have done in this situation. I've had a full refund and FCPX still works fine on my current machines.

Jan 24, 2013 9:04 AM in response to jonuk85

I am actually waiting for the next generation of Mac Pro's.

So you believe that a brand new iMac is the culprit. The video card in the iMac you believe has an issue with FCPX. Did you have the exact same setup (plugins etc) on the iMac that you have with the older machine?

Jan 24, 2013 9:22 AM in response to jonuk85

FCPX never froze my MacBookPro like it does my brand new iMac.I can actually replicate the crash pretty consistantly now. It's quite frustrating to spend upwords of $3000 on a new maching with the primary purpose of running a specific program only to hav it work worse than your old machine. I hope they fix it soon!

I still have an appointment at the Apple Store, but have little confidence that there will be a solution. Will report back.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,021 points

Jan 24, 2013 9:48 AM in response to Surf City 1

I can actually replicate the crash pretty consistantly now.

Can you give complete and exact steps to reproduce this?

Have you reported it in detail to feedback?

What OS are you using? Not 10.7.1.

Jan 24, 2013 10:22 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Everything is up to date. Computer is 2 weeks old. 27" iMac with all of the top level componients and 32MB Ram.

Changing parameters of any title makes the system unstable and usually crash. Any change to any title...transform especially. Font/ color change etc., not so much.

jonuk85 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 24, 2013 10:30 AM in response to Surf City 1

Exactly the same for me. Only difference is 24GB of RAM. Crashing happened in the same way with the titles, usually when background render had started running.