How do I build the absolute fastest Mac Pro possible for video editing?

[Linda longer]

I'd like to custom build a Mac Pro for video editing in Final Cut Pro. Super fast, super powerful is what I'm aiming for. I'm open to any ideas, cost is not a problem. Would it be advisable to start with a pre-built Mac Pro, or should I buy all of the parts separately and assemble the computer myself? Thanks in advance for any advice regarding best processors, cards, etc.

Thanks

 

[Dave Blackham]

Prebuit

8 or 12 core, depending on the application, twin D700 GPU 64Gb ram use as fast a raid as you can purchase theres many options.

We also used triple headed Eizo CX270 monitors so all are colour matched and offers rec709 or P3 color space. its 2 k not 4k monitoring but works very very well.

 

[Matt Hartle]

I have one of the new Mac Pro 8 cores with the twin d700 gpus and 64 gigs of ram and a tb2 promise raid. It is butter smooth with 4k red files in FCPX and in resolve. I then have that hooked through an ultra studio 4k to drive a 55" sony 4k display. It's an extraordinary setup that allows me to work in native 4k. The best part of the system is that it just works, there's no figgety setup or adjustments required.

-m

 

[Brian Merlen]

There are at least two ways to build this, and a hybrid approach as well.

#1 Have Apple build it all for you. Your going to pay extras in some places doing it this way. Third party sellers like OWC or Crucial can save you a little bit of money on ram but I will get into that in more details below. So if you have Apple do it get the GPUs as D700, max out the ram at 64 gb, buy the extended applecare warranty, consider if upgrading the SSD is needed, keep in mind this is for Apps/OS only and should not be used for ANY media at all. So right now I personally have Avid MC7, CS5, Resolve 10, and lots of other BS running just fine on a tiny little 256gb drive on my mac. So overbuying on storage is useless internally unless you need it or want to be safe just in case, but I can easily fit FCPX on here too and still have room left is the reality.

#2 Buy bare bones and upgrade the ram from OWC or Crucial, this is a no brainer cuz it saves you cash. The hard part is upgrading the processor yourself, if you want to be warrantied OWC will let you send in the Trash Can to them and they will install your processors, ram, (they don't do SSD drives though or GPUs, those still must be done at Apple upgrade wise) and then you have a beast of a machine. One particular advantage to this is OWC has processor options Apple does not have, such as a 10 Core. Also I notice they just got V2 of all the chip sets (I am not sure how much that helps, consult someone wiser than I such as Jeff K). But the 10 core seems to be popular with people cuz if its fast processing speed and extra 2 cores vs the 8 core option apple offers. With this generation of Xeons the more cores you get the slower the bus speeds, so unless the programs really scale well your actually hurting performance ironically so the entire basis/thesis of the nMP Trash Can, is you must really know how well the apps you use can multi thread. For guys trying to use it as a jack of all trades machine, something has to give is the answer, not all your apps will multithread as good as some of them, depending of course what you use. As for your particular needs, I hear they multithread well, but you should still look into this more with someone more knowledgable then I, call up Apple or Black Magic, look for online tests that feature your apps on the various nMP options and how they do speed test wise. If you want to get EVEN CRAZIER about it, look at your workflows and effects you use, not everything is multithreaded always anyway.... on even below the application level...

#3 A combination of the above two plans...Like you buy the GPU and SSD at apple (cuz you must) but opt for Applecare and the processor too. Then get the ram for a couple hundred less third party. You also have slower bus speed ram available in 96 and 128, but again you need to look into if the slower bus speed negates the outcome for your particular apps. But the third way isn't bad cuz you can save a bit, potentially.


If you let OWC do the upgrade and buy their extended warranty to cover your now gutted warranty, that coupled with shipping both ways the installation fees kind go makes the whole damn thing almost awash to be honest. It varies by such an insignificant amount unless you install the Ram and GPU yourself to void applecare that knowing that liability I don't know if its worth it to not have OWC or Apple do the installation...

I think the OWC install is a good fit for if you want custom options apple doesn't give you, I like the warranty despite having business insurance so I personally know that no matter what I do I will try and get a warranty with whatever route I go. I also am up for Rocket X now, so I think I personally have a tough choice, esp after extensive Trash Can studies may just grab the rocket x card a laptop and call it a day now But who knows until I charge it...I am on the fence more then ever now haha

 

[paul schefz]

i think the 10 core OWC upgrade might be the absolute best for fcpx....the D700s are a no brainer as is the 64 ram....
TB2 pegasus R8 or arcea box, although lacie has a rack mounted TB2 solution now that looks very nice as well....
i have the 8core with d700s, 64 ram and works really, really well....but there is still a lot of room for improvement on the software side....rcx only uses one gpu right now (so i am sure the red fcpx plug in does as well?) and some fcpx plug ins just slow everything to a crawl (because most 3rd party effects are not made for 4, 5, 6K....yet)

 

[Tony M]

FCP X Keyboard shortcuts might also save you some cash, and lots of speed,
Just kidding...

 

[Paul Provost]

You are talking about fcpx and not 7 right? No way to speed up 7 as it's 32bit. And is barely working anymore in latest OS/hardware/video cards etc.
And yeah just order a maxed out new Mac Pro and pegasus2 raid.

 

[Dave Blackham]

Remember also the 6 (3.5Ghz) core and 8 (3Ghz) core processors are faster than the 12 (2.7Ghz) core, just less of them. We opted for the 8 core. It depends on where you want to target your processing and the tasks and applications you want to run.

 

[Brian Merlen]

good point on 7 vs X, I think I assumed OP was talking about X. Yes the core count vs clock speed battle really depends on how good the application is at multithreading so it has everything to do with an app by app basis so the more details you can provide the easier it is to give a meaningful answer...FCP7 is not even worth a new machine at all these days if thats what you meant...it can only use 4gb or ram and 1.5 cores or something awful like that since its a 32 bit program...i keep trying to persuade people i work with to ditch it since it can't even support conforms for dragon/epic anyway

 

[Richard Rogers]

Linda are you only looking to build a 6,1 nMP? Have you thought about the 5,1, with options now such as :
Raid 0 PCIe flash storage for over 2000mb/s (up to 1TB, great for cache/scratch disk)
Dual R9 280x (basically the same spec as the D700 but without the D700 price)
12 Core 3.46Ghz (5% under the 12 Core 2.7Ghz in the nMP)
Internal Raid 5 up to 16TB with either SAS or SATA 3.0 (55mb/s + speeds)

Basically everything but Thunderbolt but more of everything else, also you are not forced to use 10.9 (of which most of our clients are still on 10.8.5)