Discussion Is Old Mac Pro Good For Video Editing?

[PaoloPaolo]

Hi all, looking for your feedback here. Wondering if you think an older Mac Pro (2010/11?) could be outfitted to do efficient HD video editing? Basic to moderate editing. Short clips at 2-3 minutes long, plus hour long events with basic editing. (Titles, bumpers, some video in video.)

Thanks for your feedback, it is appreciated.

Paolo

 

[Entomber]

It could do video editing at an acceptable rate, but it surely wouldn't be the best you could get. I'm not sure what you mean by "outfitted" in this case.

 

[PaoloPaolo]

It could do video editing at an acceptable rate, but it surely wouldn't be the best you could get. I'm not sure what you mean by "outfitted" in this case.

Hi, thanks for your response. I know that ideally we'd want something else, but we are considering using an older macpro. And by "outfitted" I meant upgraded to higher capacity for better use. (Upgrading the CPU, GFX card, etc...)

 

[C_A_S]

I don't know why anyone would say that an older Mac Pro would not be good at video editing. They are still the standard edit room platform, as the transition to the new mac pro has just started.

First, which editing software are you going to be based on? Its slightly relevant, though all will work great on an older mac pro given you have upgraded to enough ram. I would boot off of a SSD drive or a pair of SSD drives, they would be even faster off of pcie adaptors. I would upgrade to a higher end GPU from the nvidia family, unless you intend to run final cut x alone, in which case you can replicate the dual firepros of the new mac pro to stay on the same curve as that app gets written to take advantage of that gpu setup. The 2009-2012 mac pros can have the CPUS upgraded, you can get up to 3.47 ghz 12 cores. These machines have a lot of life left in them as editors.

The next issue is i/o speeds for your media, you can set up an internal raid and that would be fine for HD. If you start to work with 4k footage, you will hit bottlenecks there but frankly, everyone is without being connected to expensive fibrechannel type storage in facilities.

Look at barefeats.com. You will find a comparison of how you can set up a classic mac pro to benchmark as high as the most expensive new mac pro. I myself am upgrading my 2009 mac pro to this standard as we speak.

 

[bmacsys]

It could do video editing at an acceptable rate, but it surely wouldn't be the best you could get. I'm not sure what you mean by "outfitted" in this case.

Hi, thanks for your response. I know that ideally we'd want something else, but we are considering using an older macpro. And by "outfitted" I meant upgraded to higher capacity for better use. (Upgrading the CPU, GFX card, etc...)

I don't know if you could upgrade the cpu. I have hear of people doing it but its not for the faint of heart. It isn't just popping a couple cpu's in a zif socket. The y have lots of ram slots so you are good there. I bet you could upgrade the stock video card.

 

[bmacsys]

I don't know why anyone would say that an older Mac Pro would not be good at video editing. They are still the standard edit room platform, as the transition to the new mac pro has just started.

First, which editing software are you going to be based on? Its slightly relevant, though all will work great on an older mac pro given you have upgraded to enough ram. I would boot off of a SSD drive or a pair of SSD drives, they would be even faster off of pcie adaptors. I would upgrade to a higher end GPU from the nvidia family, unless you intend to run final cut x alone, in which case you can replicate the dual firepros of the new mac pro to stay on the same curve as that app gets written to take advantage of that gpu setup. The 2009-2012 mac pros can have the CPUS upgraded, you can get up to 3.47 ghz 12 cores. These machines have a lot of life left in them as editors.

The next issue is i/o speeds for your media, you can set up an internal raid and that would be fine for HD. If you start to work with 4k footage, you will hit bottlenecks there but frankly, everyone is without being connected to expensive fibrechannel type storage in facilities.

Look at barefeats.com. You will find a comparison of how you can set up a classic mac pro to benchmark as high as the most expensive new mac pro. I myself am upgrading my 2009 mac pro to this standard as we speak.

Mac Pro's and G5's had uber expansion options.

 

[C_A_S]

You can upgrade the CPUs. Its simple in single processor Mac Pros, and in dual processor Mac Pros from 2010-2012. The 2009 dual processor one is the tricky job, relating to lidless/lidded CPUs. You can find lots of information about this online.

You can flash the firmware of the 2009, mac pro 4,1 into a mac pro 5,1, which will allow it to use a wider range of xeon CPUs in an upgrade

RAM is easy, aftermarket GPUs are easy as long as you pick right, and for very powerful GPUs make sure that you are not overdrawing on the power supply and using supplimental power if needed.

It could do video editing at an acceptable rate, but it surely wouldn't be the best you could get. I'm not sure what you mean by "outfitted" in this case.

Hi, thanks for your response. I know that ideally we'd want something else, but we are considering using an older macpro. And by "outfitted" I meant upgraded to higher capacity for better use. (Upgrading the CPU, GFX card, etc...)

I don't know if you could upgrade the cpu. I have hear of people doing it but its not for the faint of heart. It isn't just popping a couple cpu's in a zif socket. The y have lots of ram slots so you are good there. I bet you could upgrade the stock video card.

 

[markowallace]

C_A_S - I have a 2009 MacBook Pro 17" w/ Cinema Screen, now running El Capitan. I bought it to complete a feature documentary that is quite amazing...then became unable to do it for various reasons, including ill health. I already digitized my 40 hrs. of Hi8 camera masters. Is there software available which would run on my machine now? I only need lap-dissolves, and voice-overs which I can process in Logic, on a friend's machine. The masters are from 1990 oral history interviews with women 101 to 114 years of age. ANY guidance you may provide me with would be extremely appreciated!