RAM and video card question for Mac Pro

[DetroitRockCity]

I am in the final steps of getting my research done for a Mac Pro purchase.
I plan on doing AVCHD and HDV editing in Final Cut Studio 3. This will also be my main machine.

First question:
Would 6GB of RAM do the trick?
I am going to purchase the base model Mac Pro 2.66 Quad. I will be using the student discout.

My second question:
If I buy a third party video card like a GTX 285 or HD 4890, am I able to use both the DVI ports? I plan on having two monitors (1900x1080).

 

[Cindori]

if you plan on buying a PC 285 or 4890, afaik only one port will work.

 

[DetroitRockCity]

yeah, I was planning on that.
How does one get a second dvi monitor to work then?

 

[TheStrudel]

I thought Snow Leopard fixed some of the dual port functionality? Or was that only 4870s? At any rate, I suggest more than 6 GB of RAM. FCP can only use 3 GB for now, but if you're using multiple apps at once or, say, Motion, more would be useful. Always good to have breathing room on an editing machine.

 

[VirtualRain]

I am in the final steps of getting my research done for a Mac Pro purchase.
I plan on doing AVCHD and HDV editing in Final Cut Studio 3. This will also be my main machine.

First question:
Would 6GB of RAM do the trick?
I am going to purchase the base model Mac Pro 2.66 Quad. I will be using the student discout.

My second question:
If I buy a third party video card like a GTX 285 or HD 4890, am I able to use both the DVI ports? I plan on having two monitors (1900x1080).

I have 6GB of RAM and have no problem editing smaller 5-10 minute HD videos in FCS3. Perhaps if you are dealing with longer projects, it might help, but certainly not for short stuff.

 

[DoFoT9]

I have 6GB of RAM and have no problem editing smaller 5-10 minute HD videos in FCS3. Perhaps if you are dealing with longer projects, it might help, but certainly not for short stuff.

and if more RAM is not an option financially, then perhaps a nice fast ~50GB scratch partition?