RAM Upgrade

Ryan Douthit · September 27th, 2011, 11:17 AM

I've been using FCP X on several machines since it launched and I thought it would be useful to share my experience with RAM.

One of my Mac Pros (late 2009 model) had a quad-core chip and 6gb of ram. This was really fine for the previous version of FCP. However, with FCP X it would often pause to catch up. Also, scrubbing was usually a bit delayed.

I upgraded the same system to 16GB of Ram (system max) and I can now say this Mac Pro is practically fluid working in FCP X.

So, if you're on the fence thinking of upgrading your ram. Do it.

Ben Fullerton · September 27th, 2011, 10:17 PM

I am in fact on the fence about upgrading RAM. Definitely want to do it at some point, but was trying to decide whether or not it's the best next thing to do with my money. After your post, I think it is. Working on a new 27" iMac with the upgraded 3.4Ghz quad-core chip, but only the standard 4gb of RAM. Going to upgrade to 16gb. As it is, FCPX is just a a bit laggy most of the time, and sometimes just gets really choked up on things and pinwheels for 5 minutes. Sure is a RAM hungry program. But I can't wait to see how it performs when it's appetite it satiated. Thanks!

Justin Molush · September 27th, 2011, 10:27 PM

As the old adage goes, "There is no such thing as too much ram".

Arnie Schlissel · September 28th, 2011, 01:40 PM

You can never be too rich, too thin, have too much RAM or too big a hard drive.

Ben Fullerton · September 29th, 2011, 02:05 PM

Just ordered 16gb for my iMac! :)

Ben Fullerton · September 30th, 2011, 11:22 PM

Best $130 ever! This thing rips now. FCPX is a whole different beast when it gets all the RAM it wants.

Ryan Douthit · October 1st, 2011, 01:41 PM

Thanks for posting your experience. Always good to get confirmation!

September 27th, 2011, 11:17 AM	#1
Ryan Douthit Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 474	RAM Upgrade - Do it. I've been using FCP X on several machines since it launched and I thought it would be useful to share my experience with RAM. One of my Mac Pros (late 2009 model) had a quad-core chip and 6gb of ram. This was really fine for the previous version of FCP. However, with FCP X it would often pause to catch up. Also, scrubbing was usually a bit delayed. I upgraded the same system to 16GB of Ram (system max) and I can now say this Mac Pro is practically fluid working in FCP X. So, if you're on the fence thinking of upgrading your ram. Do it.

September 27th, 2011, 10:17 PM	#2
Ben Fullerton Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 95	Re: RAM Upgrade - Do it. I am in fact on the fence about upgrading RAM. Definitely want to do it at some point, but was trying to decide whether or not it's the best next thing to do with my money. After your post, I think it is. Working on a new 27" iMac with the upgraded 3.4Ghz quad-core chip, but only the standard 4gb of RAM. Going to upgrade to 16gb. As it is, FCPX is just a a bit laggy most of the time, and sometimes just gets really choked up on things and pinwheels for 5 minutes. Sure is a RAM hungry program. But I can't wait to see how it performs when it's appetite it satiated. Thanks! __________________ Fullerton Images - Vimeo - FaceBook

September 27th, 2011, 10:27 PM	#3
Justin Molush Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 388	Re: RAM Upgrade - Do it. As the old adage goes, "There is no such thing as too much ram".

September 28th, 2011, 01:40 PM	#4
Arnie Schlissel Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York NY Posts: 322	Re: RAM Upgrade - Do it. You can never be too rich, too thin, have too much RAM or too big a hard drive. __________________ Post production is not an afterthought! www.arniepix.com

September 29th, 2011, 02:05 PM	#5
Ben Fullerton Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 95	Re: RAM Upgrade - Do it. Just ordered 16gb for my iMac! :) __________________ Fullerton Images - Vimeo - FaceBook

September 30th, 2011, 11:22 PM	#6
Ben Fullerton Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 95	Re: RAM Upgrade - Do it. Best $130 ever! This thing rips now. FCPX is a whole different beast when it gets all the RAM it wants. __________________ Fullerton Images - Vimeo - FaceBook

October 1st, 2011, 01:41 PM	#7
Ryan Douthit Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 474	Re: RAM Upgrade - Do it. Thanks for posting your experience. Always good to get confirmation!