Which Macbook Pro do I need to edit 4K?

Hello everyone!

I have a Macbook Pro 15" - Early 2011 with 16GB Ram and 250 GB SSD but it can't really handle 4K footage from a GoPro.

Since I'm thinking about buying the Panasonic GH4 I was wondering which Macbook Pro 15" model would be able to play and edit 4K on FCPX?

Thanks guys!

Well the very latest issue would be the obvious choice, max out the RAM and SSD, build to order, 4K is heavy work and with less than a house full of RAM and a powerful GPU, you are going to struggle...

4K on a laptop, you may have to work in proxy pro res.. It also depends if you are editing single clips into the time line or using multicam, if multi-cam work flow, then max RAM is the best option...

Thanks for the tips!

Two questions:

On the new macbook pros can you change the hard drive and the ram yourself?

Do you know which was the last model where you could still install 2 hard drives on the macbook?

The last version to allow for change of hard drive and RAM, was around 2006/2007, the silver keyboard version.

If you are on a budget, then get the 2013 or 2014 retina macbook pro, with the most RAM installed, if not, then take it to Apple, and they will for a fee install more... This monetizing of RAM and hard drive replacement sucks!!

My 2011 17" MBP edits 4K footage just fine, though if I need to do multicam I absolutely need proxy.

This 2011 model could take user ram and HDD upgrades, but was right around the time the new retina models came out (I got my 17" from the refurb store just after they stopped making them).

Anything remotely new you need to spec from the factory. Sad, but true.

Hi Dave,

Is your Macbook from Early 2011 or Late?

Mine doesn't play the 4K footage properly in Quicktime for example.

Only if I downgrade it to 1080p on FCPX, but it will only play it well if I render it first...

And I have a 250SDD + 16GB RAM

Late 2011, and yes, Quicktime can't play it, but FCPX does.