hardware question: which system would you get?

I'm considering to systems for the same $$$. This machine is my primary desktop and I'm the do everything "tech guy" for our small business...I also edit some projects on FCPX from time to time. Nothing more then 10 minutes long from 1080p cameras.

I'm considering:

MBP15 Retina 2.6 8GB with 512SSD or...
MBP15 Retina 2.6 16GB with 256SSD

Which would you go with...is that extra RAM a requirement for quick FCPX rending/export?

I'm currently working on a 2011 MBP15 2.0 with 16RAM and 500SSD but am giving that up to our market manager who is switching from WIN7 to OSX...

I mean, I would go with more RAM because there is no way to add more after you get the computer. With a smaller SSD you can always use thumb drives, and you're going to want to edit video off of an external drive anyway.

I'd look into some cloud storage, thumb drives, and other ways to manage your media. If you have a large music collection you can subscribe to iTunes match which will allow you to stream all of your music to your computer instead of storing it locally.

+1 for the MORE RAM.

You can buy a larger drive later, but you can´t buy more RAM for a MBP Retina.

More ram for sure. You shouldn't consider the extra SSD capacity useful in terms of FCPX since you never want to use the system drive for Events or Projects. The 256 will handle your OSX, apps, just fine. even with many plug ins, and Compressor and Motion.

Thanks guys...now that I read this I guess the answer makes sense asking FCPX guys this...but it doesn't really answer me completely...yet. As stated I do a lot of "other" things with my laptop so I want to make sure I go ta machine that is a good compromise. When I had 256Gb SSD as the system it drove me nuts with not being able to host all my Virtual systems and I'm very happy with my current 512Gb SSD...so I want to make sure if I go back to 256GB that I'm really going to feel a big push between 16Gb vs 8GB.

Let me pose this question...what major improvements do you see between 8GB and 16Gb when talking FCPX. I currently run it on a i5 (16gb) and i7(16gb) and when I go to the Apple store and poke around with their default clips I really don't see any issues with the 8Gb system.

Thanks again.

anoynamouse wrote: Thanks guys...now that I read this I guess the answer makes sense asking FCPX guys this...but it doesn't really answer me completely...yet. As stated I do a lot of "other" things with my laptop so I want to make sure I go ta machine that is a good compromise. When I had 256Gb SSD as the system it drove me nuts with not being able to host all my Virtual systems and I'm very happy with my current 512Gb SSD...so I want to make sure if I go back to 256GB that I'm really going to feel a big push between 16Gb vs 8GB.

Let me pose this question...what major improvements do you see between 8GB and 16Gb when talking FCPX. I currently run it on a i5 (16gb) and i7(16gb) and when I go to the Apple store and poke around with their default clips I really don't see any issues with the 8Gb system.

Thanks again.

I've always had 16GB so I couldn't explain the differences. But, in activity monitor, FCPX typically uses about 6-8GB of RAM when I'm editing.

I had the exact same issue about 4 months ago and went with the bigger SSD. But in my case there was a huge price difference because I got the 8GB RAM as an open box item in Best Buy. The thing is I did some research on the web and found that there was this one guy that didn't notice any difference in FCPX when going from 8 GB to 16 GB RAM. It may have been on this very website. So far I'm very happy with my choice. I suspect if I were editing feature length videos or was very heavily into visual effects it would make a notable difference. But if you are a hobbyist wanting to make some awesome videos, you would probably benefit more from not having to lug a slow HDD around. By the way I edit from the same partition as my operating system, the SSD drive simply flies. IK say if you are a hobbyist go with the larger SSD, if you earn your living editing video consider the 16 GB RAM. But remember in all likelihood you may need to spend a fortune on an external thunderbolt hard drive if you want fast storage to edit from. And I've read somewhere that a connected thunderbolt drive is still not as fast as editing from the internal SSD.

My advice: At this moment you DO KNOW you will need the space. But you DON'T KNOW if you need the extra RAM. If you don't earn your living doing video or effects, go with the larger SSD. Keep in mind I don't have any Virtual systems taking up space; and I store all the old projects, family photos, and videos in a cheap backed-up external HDD. That leaves me with roughly 400 GB of furiously fast storage for my video editing. I only do short length videos and only one project at a time. (see hobbyist vs. video professional again)

Great reply, very much in line with my need and helping me with my process.

Hi. I want to buy an iMac and I am considering, which difference there will be between the GeForce GTX675MX and the GTX680MX.

Q1: What matters more, working with FCPX:
8 vs. 32 GB RAM (plus 160 Euros)
or
GTX675 vs. GTX680 (plus 140 Euros)?

Q2: Should I spend the money on a better graphiccard, because build in the RAM is easier (in a year or a couple of months)?

Or maybe, I am totally wrong, and the question is: Should I spend the money on a SSD (although I want to work with external drives), having a 675 or even worse: a GTX 660M?

--
If there might be a difference and if I had to decide: I prefer to have a well running system while cutting (no retarding mouseclicks, current playback …), but I wouldn't have such a big problem to wait for FCP importing media - as long as I can work in other programs meanwhile! (On my old macbook from 2009 it is nearly impossible to work in safari, while FCPX is importing media.)

At the moment I just edit Videoprojects once a month (for my small business as a freelancer; up to 5 minutes per video; using FCPX). I am planning to do it more professional, more often.

I vote for the additional ram. I use both a desktop and the rMBP 16GB ram/256 for all my work. What hasn't been mentioned here is that every program you open at the same time will use and hold onto ram. Some apps more than others. If you are using FCPX, have iTunes open, maybe PS or other photo program open, maybe some other apps as well, the extra ram will really make the difference in speed/usability. This also true even if you are not editing, but just using the computer day to day. I sometimes have a program going on an external monitor while using the laptop screen for something else.
Small portable 2.5" drives or better yet a ssd drive in an external USB3 case are very fast right now. I have a Seagate "Portable Plus" that I can just pack along for storage/backups and is fast on USB3. Fits in my pocket. The smaller ssd drive does take "house cleaning" to keep clutter down, but I can just transfer to additional drives. I seem able to fill drives no matter what the size.
Best of luck, think you'll love the rMBP
Greg

So it seems to me: It's always the RAM. I asked myself, why should I buy a 675MX, when I can upgrade the RAM? With a 675 and 32 GB I had a system, which I can't upgrade anymore.

I think, with some extramoney I will chose the 680MX and 16 GB as a good compromise. Then I will have a good system, which still is upgradeable.

Thank you!

Wortloop,

you should max out the RAM. There's never enough of it. Honestly. And it's rather cheap.

wortloop wrote: I think, with some extramoney I will chose the 680MX and 16 GB as a good compromise. Then I will have a good system, which still is upgradeable.

Sounds like you answered your own question.

Guys, thanks! Finally I've got it: It's always about the RAM.