What Mac is the best for the money, Core i7 iMac or a base model Mac Pro?

I think it was in the last keynote where Apple said the current iMac with fusion drive is the fastest machine for FCPX.

The MacPro will be given up or we will get a huge performance update to surpass the new iMacs. Both is possible.

You never go wrong with an iMac. It's also a perfect time to buy an iMac since the new ones are just out.

I'm still working on a late 2009. I wouldn't need 4 hours to export 14 minutes of a 720p video (of course this depends of the effects and filters you use).

The cheapest Mac Pro would not be very fast. The i7 iMac would definitely be faster but I would really recommend ordering additional ram to the iMac when it's purchased because it is very difficult to add it afterward, and FCP X would run much smoother with more than 8 gb.

If you get it with a fusion drive, just run your operating system on the fusion and not your events and projects. If I had to choose between extra ram and a fusion drive for fcp x performance, I would get the ram.

Is it really difficult to ad ram? I don't know.

Why? Are they not available?

Normally I'd say go for the bigger Graphic Card and buy the ram somewhere else. But it is of course more convenient to open the box, plug and play.

Yes it is extremely difficult to add ram to the new 21 inch iMac. I believe the 27 inch is easier.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9234218/Upgrading_RAM_on_new_iMac_practic ally_impossible

I see.

Here's a good blog post from Larry Jordan about ordering an iMac for FCP X editing.

http://www.larryjordan.biz/app_bin/wordpress/archives/2033

He mentions the Fusion drive and how it works great for the operating system but not for always changing media (Events/Projects).

I love my 27" iMac. FCPX runs like a dream, even the most complex and effects-laden projects I think the days of "tower" computers are numbered. Plenty of speed and memory are being crammed into smaller, more efficient and elegant devices.

cnelson3225 wrote:

I think RAM is soldered on in the 21.5 inch...

It's socketed, not soldered, but the new iMac is not easily disassembled.

I was a tech manager for a large high school for several years and I believe if I were in your situation I would absolutely get an iMac because the value of the current iMac line as compared to the MacPro is so high. Unless you throw a lot of money at a MacPro, the iMac is going to be a much faster machine.12 cores and a top end vid card on a MacPro will, I think, get you better performance but at a huge cost. If you could wait till the next round of MacPro come out it may be a different thing but you still have a big investment in a box that will begin to decline quickly whereas with the imac you can wait a year or two and replace it with a new one. I would personally recommend a 2011, 27" refurb with SSD and i7 processor. Only pay for the 4GB ram and throw 16 more in and you're in great shape. Add some external storage and boom! For school use I'd stay away from Fusion or any internal HD in an iMac just for the sake of reliability and all the student work should be on external anyway. I have a MacPro 1.1 and an iMac and am so very sad the MacPro line required Video cards that had (for most consumers) to be Apple specific. End of rant. Grab an iMac and replace it in two years and don't look back.

If you can wait a little longer…http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/335/45931

Otherwise, the iMac – particularly the 27 – is great/

Russ