Filed under: Desktops, Software, PowerMac G5, Macbook Pro, MacBook
MacBook Final Cut Studio benchmarks
While some of us are content taking Apple's word that the MacBook isn't so good for Final Cut Pro, the people at Creative Mac decided to do some testing. They pitted a MacBook, a MacBook Pro, and a dual G5 PowerMac (2.0 Ghz), all with 2 gigs of RAM, in a Final Cut Studio showdown.
The results? Both MacBooks pretty much spank (yes, that's the technical term) the G5. It looks like the MacBook is a pretty good video editing machine (even though it isn't supported).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
matt said 9:08PM on 5-23-2006
hey i like that. i was almost not gonna get the MB cause apple said FCSP wasn't supported but now this firms it up for me!
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Mark said 9:23PM on 5-23-2006
I wouldn't have said the MacBooks "spank" the G5.. The times are so close.
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andy said 9:25PM on 5-23-2006
wow, surprising reults, im still loving my dual 2.7 until photoshop and maya (preys for press announcement)support. so i guess ill be one of those waiting for the next powermac, im betting on it being the 1st intel mac to get the redesign (due to the amount of cooling space that was required for the G5s).
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ZylogZ80 said 9:29PM on 5-23-2006
It's all so jarring... Less than a year ago a PowerMac G5 was the drool inducing, lust provoking, end-all-be-all of machines.
I remember when my friend got a dual 2.0 PM G5, I was in awe. I just wanted to try it, open it up, worship it.
Now it's a relic. An absurd, oversized, monoithic dinosaur. I know technology moves fast, but sometimes it's just plain disturbing.
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archie4oz said 10:02PM on 5-23-2006
I don't believe it was Apple's intention to claim that FCP was unsupported. They claimed Final Cut Studio was unsupported. I get the impression this was more for Motion than FCP, and just stated that Final Cut Studio was unsupported because you cannot buy the apps discreetly anymore.
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Matt Green said 10:21PM on 5-23-2006
The tests in the article using Motion and Compressor (which ran on all 3 systems) are a bit more convincing at displaying the MacBook and MacBook Pro's superiority over the G5.
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rob_nester said 11:21PM on 5-23-2006
Has anyone heard, or tested, if Aperture will work on a MacBook? I know it has a requirement for specific graphic chip sets, but I was just curious....
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Zombie Flanders said 11:30PM on 5-23-2006
Barring massive failure, I can only say one thing about the MacBook I purchased just last week:
Muahahahahahahaha!!
It's such a great little computer. I know that the 3D gaming isn't that great, but otherwise, this little machine can kick some serious butt! It's smooth like Jell-O Pudding.
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Pete said 12:25AM on 5-24-2006
I'm kinda miffed that my MBP isn't "spanking" the MB. I mean I payed $1100 more for the pro model and I don't get a speed increase over the consumer model?!?!?! That just doesn't make sense. Does 2.4in of screen cost a grand? MBP owners have a dedicated vid processor w/ 256mb RAM!!! Anyone else not happy with the benchmarks that are being released????????
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Thayne Miller said 12:59AM on 5-24-2006
in response to Pete, well, the only REAL difference between the macbook and macbook pro is a dedicated video card and a larger screen. Sure, there might be one or two other little things, but internally, that's just about it. So, the average price difference between the macbook and pro is the $600 price tag. The processors are the same. No doubt the pro models will drop in price over time. Also, one thing to note about the macbook is that its gaming isn't THAT "poor." I have been testing the gaming framerates on games such as wolfenstein:ET, warcraft 3, quake 3, and others (using bootcamp where the universal binaries aren't available) and I have found that even though the macbook lacks the dedicated video card, it is still comparable to the 17" powerbook G4 in terms of gaming. It certainly is better in all aspects than my old 1.5Ghz G4 with 1.25GB ram! No doubt that with more ram the macbook is indeed quite the power horse!!
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Matt said 2:17AM on 5-24-2006
I am having the same results. I have 1.2 gb of ram in my new Macbook that I received last week. Originally it only had 512. I almost too it back to Apple. But after I added 1gb into one of the slots, it felt like an entirely new computer. I have been so happy with this computer I cannot even contain the joy. THis is only my second mac, I purchased a powerbook about 2 months ago ( I know dumb, but I was really ready to make the switch to mac, so now the powerbook i on ebay) and it was one of the greatest geek experiences I have ever had. I said I would never go back to PC and now I have a MacBook, I will surely never go back now. This puppy goes everywhere with me.
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Daniel said 3:58AM on 5-24-2006
Matt,
Apple recommends that RAM be installed in pairs. It' very important that you do on a Macbook since the graphics share system RAM. To get the most performance out of it you should drop another gig in yours.
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kevin said 10:30AM on 5-24-2006
i almost jumped outta my seat when i read that the macbook results "spanked" the g5 but as mark pointed out, the results for all these are very close. no spanking going on here. please don't exaggerate for the sake of trying to be funny.
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Roberto Felgueiras said 11:22AM on 5-24-2006
The interesting thing about all of this is that even though there was no "spanking" in these results, the fact that the laptops were using a mobile version of a chip and it kept pace and on occasion surpassed the "Work station" speaks volumes. Kinda get you exited about the 64 bit desktop versions coming out in August/September.
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Brad said 1:16PM on 5-24-2006
I think that it's safe to say that it was a spanking considering the vast difference in price between a PowerMac and the Macbook. My question is that if the Macbook holds its own, even in Motion, then does the GPU do in FCS? With results like these, you'd be crazy to choose a MBP over the less expensive Macbook.
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WetcoastBob said 2:09PM on 5-26-2006
I bought my MBP about 2 months ago. I really wanted a smaller machine ( the 13" MacBook sounds perfect) but I am glad now that I got the MBP. It is small enough to slip into my backpack and still have a good deal of real estate on the screen. The glossy screen of the MacBooks does not appeal to me. Also I love the illuminated keyboard which I use a lot. Last night at the Local Pub the "wow" factor of the MBP was evident when as my buddy, who subscribes to the religion of Gates & Co., was showing his new Acer. I sat down next to him, pulled out the MBP, booted her up and 30 secs later every one was oohing and awwing over the sleekness and lit-up keyboard. My buddy responded with "Oh get that piece of crap out of here!" I am glad that there are lots of people out there to be the recipients for viruses, spyware, fatal exeption errors, etc. etc.
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