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Is my iMac capable of running FCPx?

Hello -


I am trying to use my imac to create video in FCPX, but find it is really slow and laggy - not just during rendering, but for import, editing, etc.


My workflow consists of primarily GoPro 3 clips.


My iMac specs are as follows:


24-inch, Early 2008

Processor 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Memory 4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Graphics ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB

Software OS X 10.8.2 (12C60)

1tb drive with 902 gb Free


Should this Mac be able to run error and lag free?


Do I need to upgrade?


Thanks for your advice.


Jeff

Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Feb 6, 2013 6:15 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Feb 6, 2013 6:24 AM

The computer is not supported. The graphics card is not OpenCL compatible. I'm surprised you were able to download the application from the App Store.

19 replies

Feb 6, 2013 12:29 PM in response to mountainbike2001

That's the exact same iMac I have.


I have no problems whatsoever editing AVCHD, HDV and DV but don't know how awkward the GoPro video format may be to capture and process.


Certainly for normal formats and not too many timelines or effects, there is plenty of power . . . . unless you have a badly fragmented or almost full hard drive.


A good "spring-cleaning" is probably all it needs.


Incidentally, when I last looked, the Apple spec sheet for FCP X said the ATI Radeon HD 2600 256 MB was unsuitable, but it made no mention of the


ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB which mine and presumably David's has, which performs well.


OOPS! Looks like everything has changed and the ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256 MB is not supported. Nevertheless it works perfectly well.


Message was edited by: Ian R. Brown

Feb 6, 2013 12:23 PM in response to Ian R. Brown

I can only go by Apple system requirements


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4664


The following graphics cards are not OpenCL compatible and do not meet the OpenCL compatible graphics card system requirement for Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, and Compressor 4.

Graphics Card Shipped In
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 MacBook Pro (Late 2006)
MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy)
MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro (17-inch)
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT iMac (Mid 2007)
iMac (Early 2008)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO iMac (Mid 2007)
iMac (Early 2008)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT Mac Pro (Early 2008)
ATI Radeon X1600 iMac (Early 2006)
ATI Radeon X1900 XT Mac Pro
Intel GMA 950

Mac mini (Mid 2007)
MacBook
Mac mini (Early 2006)
Mac mini (Late 2006)
MacBook (Mid 2007)
MacBook (Late 2006)
iMac (Late 2006)

Intel GMA X3100 MacBook (Early 2008 and Late 2008)
MacBook Air
MacBook (Late 2007)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT

Mac Pro
iMac (Late 2006) - 24-inch

NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT iMac (Late 2006) - 24-inch
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 Mac Pro (Build-to-Order Option)
ATI Radeon X1300

Xserve (Late 2006)
Xserve (Early 2008)

ATI Radeon HD 3870 (Only available from third-party resellers)

Feb 7, 2013 12:01 AM in response to David Fahnestock1

I didn't mean where did you buy it! 😉


It's just that all the bumf I got from Apple when I bought the iMac stated that 2 x 2GB sticks was all it could handle and a check using the Crucial system memory scanner a few minutes ago confirmed that 4GB was the maximum permissable.


I suppose I've pushed the boundaries about what is supported, so I shouldn't be too surprised to find that it's possible to use more than the recommended max.

Feb 7, 2013 10:52 AM in response to David Fahnestock1

I must admit, I don't tax my 2008 iMac too much with my videos.

This is basically what I do.


My intros consist of appropriate music and titles over a moving background with fade-in and fade-outs between text. I use cross dissolve between still and videos.

The outros consist appropriate music with credits, short nature videos (some stabilized) and stills.

The ending is a key-framed zoomed text over still or video.

The actual subject is either a seminar or sermon using Sony’s remote tripod so I can push in when the speaker is using the white board and pull back when he/she goes to the podium. This is all done with the panning handle.

I use a cheap “Radio Shack” $49.00 wireless microphone. Works Great!

Is my iMac capable of running FCPx?

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