New rMBP 2013 and FCPX

Apple has introduced new retina MBP's with numerous changes that will affect FCPX speeds.
IMHO I do not recommend the I5 dual core models so here I will only speak about the I7 quad core 15" models.
Everyone thinking about purchasing a new rMBP should consider that the new base model selling for $1,999.00 in the U.S., does not have a discrete GPU. While the integrated Iris Pro chip is an improvement over the older 4000 series, not having a discrete GPU will result in about a 40% net speed loss in FCPX especially in rendering and export from last years 2012 model rMBP that included the NVIDIA GT 650m in all models. This will be true in other programs that use the discrete GPU for computations.
The upgraded version selling for $2,599.00 has a new improved NVIDIA GT 750m. Also included in the $600.00 price is faster CPU, more ram; 16GB, larger PCIe flash drive; 512GB and the GT750m has 2GB of GDDR5 on board memory.
Hard to spend the extra $$ but if you plan on using a rMBP for serious editing, then the upgrade might be worth it.
The real point of this post is just to make everyone aware that not all rMBP offer the discrete GPUs and that there is a definite performance benefit to the upgraded model.
Hope this helps, Greg

I've actually had the fortune of being able to test both the 2012 15" rMBP maxed out and the new 2013 maxed out side by side for a few hours. Only very slight improvement in FCP X and Motion 5 performance. Not worth the price for an upgrade from one to the other. Then again if you plan to do 4K work off of a Thunderbolt 2 RAID (Promise releasing the first ones soon), perhaps.

It was well worth it for me: my previous 'fast' MacBook Pro was from mid-2009.

My new maxed out late 2013 MacBook Pro 15" Retina with discrete 750M GPU is about the same speed as my 2011 maxed out 27" iMac.

The internal 1TB of storage is amazingly fast as well.


@Alex4D

Greg, is this based on real world tests or is it assumption? The new integrated gpu from intel is very strong according to various tests in games compared to last generation integrated gpus. Of course its no match for nvidia dedicated, but games are not priority for many users of this forum

Sadly there are no test i could find for FCP-X.

What i did find is this OpenCL performance tests on windows though, which speak very much in favour on Iris Pro for computing.

www.anandtech.com/show/6993/intel-iris-p...e-i74950hq-tested/17


Alex4D, would you be so kind and do some basic fcpx test with integrated gpu and than nvidia?
I guess fcpx is not yet programmed to use dual gpus, as Mavericks allow system to use both. This test would be very helpful as i think many users give themselves this question of how powerful can iris pro be in fcpx

Looks like the "Far Far Away" test (done three times) isn't stressing one GPU more than the other.

MacBook Pro late-2013

Discrete 750M : 18.8 seconds

Intel Iris Pro only : 19.2 seconds


iMac mid-2011 27" 16GB RAM : 23 seconds

MacBook Pro 2009 17" 8GB RAM : 77 seconds




I'll come up with a tougher test.


@Alex4D

There's good news from Bare Feats on the Iris Pro integrated graphics in the Retina MacBook Pros

barefeats.com/rmbpc.html

Thanks guys for the practical use case data insight. The early test data is interesting. The Iris Pro is right on the heels of the discrete Nvidia GPU with 2GB ram. How could that be?

I'm shopping for a new MB Pro, couple questions and an observation about options.

Question 1; I already asked above
Question 2; Does 8 vs. 16 GB ram matter much given OpenGL, bus, SSD, chip, speeds, etc?
Question 3; Any notion of the value of upgrading the processor, that is, assuming starting point is i7 (NOT i5)?

I'm primarily interested in FCPX performance, but I'm also a heavy Aperture user for library management and image adjustments.

I do wish a 13" MB Pro offered an Iris Pro option. That said, I find the pricing interesting for the 15" line. If you spec the $1,999 US 15" then add the upgrades of 16GB/512GB, you get to the $2,599 US price. So for the same $2,599 US based on the Apple high-end MB Pro, it includes the Nvidea discrete.

I'm trying not to spend $2,599, although...it may happen :woohoo:

i just bought it , but how can i see 1080p video in FCPX , in full scale (1:1) in the ratina display ?
What is the best setting for this ?

If you have the 15" model, in Preferences:Displays set 'Scaled Display' to 'More Space'

That scales everything up to 3840x2400 and scales the result (which looks like 1920 by 1200) to the 2880 by 1880 pixel.

@Alex4D

is there any defect in this setting ? (cpu - gpu overload... etc) ?
I have the 15" model.

Do i need other program tha can handle more resolutions (quick res , switch resx etc) ?

There's no harm to the computer, it stresses the GPU a little more as it needs to scale from 2K down to native resolution. The improved GPU power in the new MacBooks should take care of that.



@Alex4D

So the macbook retina display 13" it doesn't worth it? because i was thinking in purchasing one of those...