XDCAM and Mac
 

We currently have 2GB of RAM in our dual-core Intel G5. Would we see substantially faster render/export times from our XDCAM timelines in FCP if we increased that amount? How much is recommended for optimum speed? Any info would be greatly appreciated as we are experiencing some pretty grueling render/export times.

RAM effects real-time previews, and how fast FCP loads long timelines and complex projects...and how well it behaves with those.

It doesn't effect exports or renders.

A faster processor and faster hard drives will speed up the render/export, albeit the processor's speed has a greater influence than the hard drive speed. You said you have an "Intel G5" which is an oxymoron (maybe?) because Motorola made the PowerPC (G3-5) chips, and Intel makes the new Core Duo chips. What is you processor and its speed? How long does it take to render your video?

On my quad Intel macpro I cannot max out the CPU's with FCP as the RAM always max's out first. FCP can only address 4Gb at the moment so not much point going over that.

3rd party boards
 

When using FCP with the XDCAM HD, do you need to have a 3rd party board like an Aja? If the workflow is primarily ingesting through firewire, and that's the only you really need to do it (closed loop system, not post house for external clients) I'm not sure how much value the cards add. Please enlighten me!

You will need some sort of card.....
 

...to provide you with a HD signal to send to your HD monitor. If you are shooting HD, then you really do need to monitor HD while you edit.

Here's the question I have: if you have the PDW-70 deck that allows an HD-SDI input, can't you simply play the edited program into the record deck without having to do one of those "grueling" render/export times?