Maxed Out Mac Mini For HD Editing?

[blairh]

How would a maxed out Mac Mini (2.26 Ghz, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD) perform for HD video editing (potentially Canon HV 40) in Imovie and FCE?

[matteusclement]

just fine.
my imac has lower specs than that and it's great.
an external drive for your media would be a plan.

[TheStrudel]

It'll work; just don't expect it to be blazing fast. And Matt's suggestion for an external drive is one you should take.

[blairh]

Thanks everyone. Exactly what I'm going to do.

[matteusclement]

and as noted on another post, using AIC codec rather than the HDV codec will help take load off the CPU but it's 3 times the size on your HD. If you have a 1TB drive, you should go for the AIC... in theory it should render faster.

[robanga]

I have a Maxed out Mini that serves both as an HTPC and I've begun to do more editing on it as well. It does great with HD vid

[blairh]

robanga,

what are your specific specs on the mini?

[digitard]

I've always gone in figuring that as long as you have a decent base, even if its just the minimum, you'll get your project done (outside high end professional video production which due to the sheer size/complexity would push some systems to a crawl). You're just going to have to wait that extra time rendering.

That's why they invented sleep! You simply set your project to render when you crazy. You wake up and it's done! The CROWDS REJOICE!

[robanga]

robanga,

what are your specific specs on the mini?

2.26 Ghz, 4GB Ram, 120GB HD. I use an external FW HD

[blairh]

thanks robanga. i think i'll eventually get the exact same version mini you have.