FCP X & the new MBPs

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Level 1

18 points

FCP X & the new MBPs

My old 15-inch MacBook Pro (MBP) died on me a few months ago. Since that time, I had to stop doing any mobile editing or other computing. I currently use my desktop machine for everything, but I'm thinking about getting a new MBP down the road. I used to run Final Cut Studio 3 on my old MBP.

Can any of the new MBPs run the latest Final Cut Pro X? Are the built-in graphics circuits up to handling FCP, or are they limited to just certain models now?

Currently, I use a tape-based cam (HDV), but I would like to eventually move to the newer tapeless HD systems.

Posted on Dec 16, 2013 9:29 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 16, 2013 10:29 PM in response to Walt_Atwood

any actual Mac handles FCPX.

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Answer 2

Walt_Atwood Author

Level 1

18 points

Dec 17, 2013 8:10 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

REALLY?

I understood that FCP required a discreet graphics card-equipped Macintosh computer.

Is that information outdated, or otherwise inaccurate?

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,010 points

Dec 17, 2013 9:47 AM in response to Walt_Atwood

It prefers a separate graphics card, but recent versions have supported using integrated graphics.

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Answer 4

Dec 17, 2013 10:00 AM in response to Walt_Atwood

The current MBPs, with discrete graphics or not, can certainly handle FCP X - not all with the same level of performance, naturally. (FWIW, my old 2010 MBP can handle FCP X, although it is far slower than any current mac; I do have 8GB of RAM, though).

You need to have at least 8GB of RAM to get good performance or you'd be asking for trouble.. You should use a fast external drive, connected via Thunderbolt or USB3, for your media and projects.

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Answer 5

Walt_Atwood Author

Level 1

18 points

Dec 17, 2013 10:14 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

USB3 ?!?!

I heard a long time ago that using any flavor of USB, 3 or otherwise, for a Scratch Drive was a major no-no because of USB's packet-based handling of data.

Are you saying that Final Cut Pro X, running on the newest-generation Macintosh computers equipped with USB 3, can handle Scratch Disks over a USB 3 connection???

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,010 points

Dec 17, 2013 11:19 AM in response to Walt_Atwood

USB3, despite its processing behavior, is fast enough for the majority of users on a recent machine with enough power.

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