RAM Upgrade for FCP at DVinfo.net

Brian Mercer · April 2nd, 2009, 07:00 PM

I just upgrade my Mac Pro (Quad-Core) RAM to 10 GB. I run FCP. Any thing special I need to do to optimize the machine to get the most out of it?

Mike Barber · April 3rd, 2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Mercer

I just upgrade my Mac Pro (Quad-Core) RAM to 10 GB. I run FCP. Any thing special I need to do to optimize the machine to get the most out of it?

FCP will not get the full benefit of that much RAM, however it will be advantageous in Motion and Compressor, especially when setting up Compressor clusters.

James Miller · April 3rd, 2009, 10:20 AM

If you upgrade your hard drive, graphics card you can bin the 'Final Cut Pro Obj Cache' & 'Final Cut Pro Prof Cache' found within the users:

'Library/Preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data'

directory.

When you next launch FCP it will preform the RT optimization profile. Worth a try when adding Ram, I guess.

Mike Barber · April 3rd, 2009, 10:30 AM

Final Cut Pro allows a maximum memory allocation of 2.5 GB.

Maximum memory usage in Final Cut Pro is 2.5 GB

Brian Mercer · April 3rd, 2009, 01:19 PM

James,

I have installed 3 1TB drives in the remaining bays. Can you give me more info the RT optimization?

Thanks.

James Miller · April 3rd, 2009, 02:27 PM

Hi Brian,

Here is the directory link, *change as necessary.

file:///Users/*James/Library/Preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data

Link within Safari.

But as Mike pointed out FCP won't see past 2.5GB ram.

I re-run the 'Profiling for RT extreme' after I change things around in my mac, be it memory, graphics cards, hard drives. Although fcp should pick up some of these changes and preform the RT test by it's self.

I always restart my mac and make sure no other apps or background processes are running to give it a fighting chance.

Heath McKnight · April 3rd, 2009, 02:34 PM

The Compressor Clusters take advantage of the processors. It's really made encoding in Compressor faster on our old Power Mac G5 Dual-2.5GHz system.

heath

April 2nd, 2009, 07:00 PM	#1
Brian Mercer Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 53	RAM Upgrade for FCP I just upgrade my Mac Pro (Quad-Core) RAM to 10 GB. I run FCP. Any thing special I need to do to optimize the machine to get the most out of it?

April 3rd, 2009, 10:30 AM	#4
Mike Barber Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto ON Canada Posts: 731	Final Cut Pro allows a maximum memory allocation of 2.5 GB. Maximum memory usage in Final Cut Pro is 2.5 GB __________________ Mike Barber "I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."

April 3rd, 2009, 02:34 PM	#7
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	The Compressor Clusters take advantage of the processors. It's really made encoding in Compressor faster on our old Power Mac G5 Dual-2.5GHz system. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

April 3rd, 2009, 10:20 AM	#3
James Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sussex, UK Posts: 317	If you upgrade your hard drive, graphics card you can bin the 'Final Cut Pro Obj Cache' & 'Final Cut Pro Prof Cache' found within the users: 'Library/Preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data' directory. When you next launch FCP it will preform the RT optimization profile. Worth a try when adding Ram, I guess.

April 3rd, 2009, 01:19 PM	#5
Brian Mercer Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 53	James, I have installed 3 1TB drives in the remaining bays. Can you give me more info the RT optimization? Thanks.

April 3rd, 2009, 02:27 PM	#6
James Miller Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sussex, UK Posts: 317	Hi Brian, Here is the directory link, change as necessary. file:///Users/James/Library/Preferences/Final Cut Pro User Data Link within Safari. But as Mike pointed out FCP won't see past 2.5GB ram. I re-run the 'Profiling for RT extreme' after I change things around in my mac, be it memory, graphics cards, hard drives. Although fcp should pick up some of these changes and preform the RT test by it's self. I always restart my mac and make sure no other apps or background processes are running to give it a fighting chance.