Mac mini for video editing.

[iTookTheByte]

Hey all! With the recent refresh of the Mac minis, they seem to be the perfect machines for me. But, I do quite a lot of video editing ( iMovie, hopefully upgrading to FCPX), and I am not sure which model to get. I have shown interest in the model with discrete graphics, and the server model. I plan to upgrade to 8 gb of RAM on whatever model I get, and eventually an SSD to boot off of. So, which model would be better for me? Thanks.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

As the GPU is not as important as the CPU during editing, though FCP X is different a bit in that regard, as it also uses the GPU, I would go with the i7 quad core model.
Btw, don't get RAM from Apple, but from Newegg or Amazon or OWC, as 8GB of 204-pin DDR SO-DIMM 1333MHz RAM is cheaper than 100€.

 

[iTookTheByte]

As the GPU is not as important as the CPU during editing, though FCP X is different a bit in that regard, as it also uses the GPU, I would go with the i7 quad core model.
Btw, don't get RAM from Apple, but from Newegg or Amazon or OWC, as 8GB of 204-pin DDR SO-DIMM 1333MHz RAM is cheaper than 100€.

Thanks! I actually was not planning on getting RAM form Apple, I want some from OWC.

 

[indg]

i have the i7 mini server with 8gb ram, raid-0 hdd, and fcpx runs fine for me. i'd go with a quad core over the dual for strictly video editing, especially for hd resolutions. a quad-core i7 + fast storage (raid-0 or ssd) will be better than dual-core + discrete gpu + slow hdd. the gpu won't come into play much unless you plan to do a lot of motion graphics with after effects or apple motion.

 

[Ice Dragon]

What about dual core and SSD?

 

[iTookTheByte]

i have the i7 mini server with 8gb ram, raid-0 hdd, and fcpx runs fine for me. i'd go with a quad core over the dual for strictly video editing, especially for hd resolutions. a quad-core i7 + fast storage (raid-0 or ssd) will be better than dual-core + discrete gpu + slow hdd. the gpu won't come into play much unless you plan to do a lot of motion graphics with after effects or apple motion.

Thanks for the input! I figured that the Quad would be the best for video editing. And regarding the GPU, I really do hope a manufacturer will develop an external GPU for thunderbolt, that would be great!

 

[iTookTheByte]

What about dual core and SSD?

I actually am considering this option, but I plan to upgrade to an SSD eventually an any model I get.

 

[bigcreek]

Thanks for the input! I figured that the Quad would be the best for video editing. And regarding the GPU, I really do hope a manufacturer will develop an external GPU for thunderbolt, that would be great!

I asked the same question in another thread regarding 4 core vs. GPU. I think the jury is out until someone does real testing with video editing software