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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

MAC users, help me here!

J

Juan M.P.

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Hello! this one is for MAC fans, users, and freaks. im really clueless when it comes to choosing a mac. here at our studio we want to get a computer to edit, so the first thought was FINAL CUT, which came to the second issue. it has to be a mac... the question is what mac? these are expensive so we searched and got with this two. which one is best for final cut and other post work??? (mostly HD and some RED)

Option #1:
iMac 24 inch screen
Price: U$S 2499.00
new, warrany untill march 2009 (i think)

tech specs:

Processor and memory
* 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 4MB shared L2 cache

Display
* 24-inch (viewable) glossy widescreen, 1920 x 1200 pixels

Memory (upgrading this part for sure)
* 1GB
* Option: Up to 4GB

Hard drive
* 320GB Serial ATA, 7200 rpm
* Option: Up to 1TB

Optical drive
* Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Graphics
* ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB of GDDR3 memory

Video
* Built-in iSight camera
* Mini-DVI video out with support for DVI, VGA, S-video, and composite video output (requires adapter, sold separately)
* Support for external display with digital resolution up to 1920 x 1200, analog resolution up to 2048 x 1536

Expansion
* Three USB 2.0 ports on iMac; two USB 2.0 ports on keyboard
* One FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800 port

Audio
* Built-in stereo speakers with internal 24-watt digital amplifier
* Built-in microphone
* Optical digital audio output/headphone out
* Optical digital audio input/audio line in

Ethernet
* Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)

Wireless
* Built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11n)4
* Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module

Included accessories
* Apple Remote, Apple Keyboard, and Mighty Mouse

Other
* Built-in IR Receiver, optional VESA mount adapter kit (sold separately)

Weight
* 25.4 pounds
11.5 kg


Option #2:
Price: 2000 U$
2 years of use, no warrany.


Power Mac G5

PROCESADOR 2X2 Ghz PowerPC G5

model: PowerMac 7.3

Hard drive: 320 gb

Video: ATI Radeon 9600 (?)

RAM: 4GB

Display(none)





what do you guys say? i really need some advice here!


thnx!!
 
The Power Mac will not handle RedCode - You need Intel machine. I use similar iMac, but with better graphics, especially on location. Not a Mac Pro, but gets the job done rather well.. :)

Edit: Get at least 2GB, but better yet 4GB SDRAM (can be from 3-rd party, if You want to save some $$$), and get the more powerful graphic card. If You can, get the 1TB HDD, but You will still need external solution. Your limitation is going to be the FW800 (with sustained speed of up to 95MB/s) - which is not enough to 2K uncompressed (nor HD). You will have to edit using proxies, or ProRes...
 
Working w/an iMac would resemble working on a MPB... You can certainly do it but if you are truly serious about editing RED, go with a 8 Core Mac Pro. As for the G5, it too can cut it, but you are limiting yourself to old technology. The RED workflow is very demanding and the more horsepower you got the better!
 
thanx guys, so far it seems that the best result its the i mac. considreing money... is this one worthy each penny?:
it cost 1.500 more that the iMAc

Price: u$ 4000, warrany till march 2009

Model: Mac Pro
P: 2x 2.8 ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8 cores)
RAM: 3gb
HD: 320 gb

and i still havent got the Graphics card data




here we are actually with a reduced budget for this...

how does this extra money sounds to you guys?
 
How about this one:

http://store.apple.com/us_kiosk_419317/product/G0359LL/A

Refurbished Mac Pro Quad 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
Two 2.0GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors
1GB (2 x 512MB) memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200 rpm hard drive
16x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256MB memory

$1,799 Direct From Apple

Link to All Apple Refurbished:

http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObj...ertifiedMac&wosid=2w2p74wX62gj2makcGh1EnkXnna
 
the only issue is that i live in Argentina :) shipping and taxes kills the pocket!
 
Juan_M_P said:
thanx guys, so far it seems that the best result its the i mac. considreing money... is this one worthy each penny?:
it cost 1.500 more that the iMAc

Price: u$ 4000, warrany till march 2009

Model: Mac Pro
P: 2x 2.8 ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (8 cores)
RAM: 3gb
HD: 320 gb

and i still havent got the Graphics card data
here we are actually with a reduced budget for this...
how does this extra money sounds to you guys?
Click to expand...

This looks like the best option so far... :)

But get more memory and internal HDD's. If the graphics has at least 512MB - You will be fine...
 
You'll be replacing that Imac with a Macbook Pro when you need to go on set.

I can't find practical Applications for an Imac in a Red workflow, there are no inputs, no storage available.... Nothing. Stay away!!!

Its better to have a Macbook Pro than Imac, At least teh Macbook has a Express card slot. Where you can put a Magna / Kona 3 , and E-sata Raids.

None are possible on an Imac, Best is to have Macbook 15" and a Quad MacPro. You'll be fine until the work picks up and your doing several commercials a week. Thats why its suggested to get the PowerHouse. You won't be limited a single bit.

Think of it this way, YOU WILL replace the Imac with something better because you can't use anything but FW800 Raids... that really sucks... FW800 is way too slow for a Red Workflow directly working with RAW Files.
 
When will Apple release new Mac Pros ?
anyone knows ?
 
so... considering the low budget here, that 4000 would be like a tremendous expense right now it would higly be the ONLY real option?
 
thnx peter. ill have it in consideration! :D



sooo any other thoughts?
 
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