Is a Dual 2.5 G5 good enough for HDV & FCP? at DVinfo.net

Bob Stovall · July 7th, 2006, 05:45 PM

Hi!
I'm looking at buying a new system for HDV editing, and wanted to see if anyone was pleased with the G5 dual 2.5 tower and Final Cut Pro.
What I'm trying to find out is.. Will I be happy with this system, or should I wait for the Intel Desktops whenever they come out? I'm just wanting to be happy with whatever system I choose...

Thanks for any input guys!

Bob Stovall

Boyd Ostroff · July 7th, 2006, 06:07 PM

I've had a dual G5/2.5 for about a year and a half and am still very pleased. I don't work a lot with HDV, but whenever I have it seems to perform fine. However I don't know that I'd buy one today unless it was a bargain. Apple has promised that the Intel transition will be complete by the end of the year, but many people expect the G5 desktops to intro on August 7 at WWDC.

I haven't followed it all that carefully, but see this thread from a few months ago which references some German tests of FCP Universal on a dual G5/2.0 vs a MacBook Pro and Intel iMac. The Intel iMac rendered a clip in less than a minute where the dual G5 took over 3 minutes. That's something to think about for the next month while we wait for even faster Intel desktop machines :-)

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=64834

OTOH, if you really need a machine right now then go for the G5.

Jonas Nystrom · July 9th, 2006, 03:47 PM

I'm working on a G5 dual 2,7 - not so far from 2x2,5 - and i'm (as well) pleased. But it's not only the speed of the processors - get more RAM then you think you'll need - i have 8GB. Get fast HD:s - I use G-raid and a 10k RPM Raptor disc. Do some test which codec you edit in. And it's also depends what kind of work you are doing - if you are doing lot of grading and filtering in FCP, you will have to sit and wait.

Darren Rousar · July 9th, 2006, 08:52 PM

No problems here either.
Dual Core 2Ghz. The 4Gb RAM in it doesn't hurt however :)

Jason Matherne · July 10th, 2006, 01:30 AM

Yes! HDV is not a very demanding codec. You're talking about a very scaled down version of HD. I run a dual 2 G5 - just make sure your harddrive can access the data. The great thing about a PowerMac is the access to SATA drives. Instead of going through firewire, get a RAID via SATA! In my experience, your RAM is dependent on how easily the software can access your harddrive.

July 7th, 2006, 05:45 PM	#1
Bob Stovall Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: United States Posts: 35	Is a Dual 2.5 G5 good enough for HDV & FCP? Hi! I'm looking at buying a new system for HDV editing, and wanted to see if anyone was pleased with the G5 dual 2.5 tower and Final Cut Pro. What I'm trying to find out is.. Will I be happy with this system, or should I wait for the Intel Desktops whenever they come out? I'm just wanting to be happy with whatever system I choose... Thanks for any input guys! Bob Stovall

July 9th, 2006, 03:47 PM	#3
Jonas Nystrom Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 306	I'm working on a G5 dual 2,7 - not so far from 2x2,5 - and i'm (as well) pleased. But it's not only the speed of the processors - get more RAM then you think you'll need - i have 8GB. Get fast HD:s - I use G-raid and a 10k RPM Raptor disc. Do some test which codec you edit in. And it's also depends what kind of work you are doing - if you are doing lot of grading and filtering in FCP, you will have to sit and wait. __________________ Jonas Nyström, DoP :: HOT SHOT® SWEDEN :: www.hotshot.nu :: RED #1567, RED 18-50mm T3 :: XL A1, Letus Extreme :: XL H1, 20X & 6X lens (for sale) :: www.vimeo.com/nystrom

July 9th, 2006, 08:52 PM	#4
Darren Rousar Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Excelsior, Minnesota Posts: 59	No problems here either. Dual Core 2Ghz. The 4Gb RAM in it doesn't hurt however :) __________________ HVR-A1U \| 521Pro LANC \| Blue Snowball \| Dual 2Ghz G5 \| 20" & 23" ACD \| MXO \| FCP 5.1.4 \| Shake 4.1 \| AECS3

July 10th, 2006, 01:30 AM	#5
Jason Matherne New Boot Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: new orleans Posts: 8	to answer your question Yes! HDV is not a very demanding codec. You're talking about a very scaled down version of HD. I run a dual 2 G5 - just make sure your harddrive can access the data. The great thing about a PowerMac is the access to SATA drives. Instead of going through firewire, get a RAID via SATA! In my experience, your RAM is dependent on how easily the software can access your harddrive.

July 7th, 2006, 06:07 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	I've had a dual G5/2.5 for about a year and a half and am still very pleased. I don't work a lot with HDV, but whenever I have it seems to perform fine. However I don't know that I'd buy one today unless it was a bargain. Apple has promised that the Intel transition will be complete by the end of the year, but many people expect the G5 desktops to intro on August 7 at WWDC. I haven't followed it all that carefully, but see this thread from a few months ago which references some German tests of FCP Universal on a dual G5/2.0 vs a MacBook Pro and Intel iMac. The Intel iMac rendered a clip in less than a minute where the dual G5 took over 3 minutes. That's something to think about for the next month while we wait for even faster Intel desktop machines :-) http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=64834 OTOH, if you really need a machine right now then go for the G5.