Choosing a Mac.

Been researching this for the past two weeks and can't find any solid answers...

I'm stuck between the MBPr (fully loaded 15") and an iMac (fully loaded 27").

I'm looking to do RAW video. 2.5k is the minimum... 4k down the line would be GREAT.

Can the MBPr handle this or do I need to get the iMac? Would I be able to do raw playback?

Thanks!

The config guide will tell you all you need to know, it's on the Blackmagic site under Support.

A pc would be cheaper and easier.

I can't seem to find the config you're talking about.

My main concern is things like real-time raw playback. If I COULD have that on the MBP it would be great. Otherwise, I'm going to get the iMac which I believe can do real time raw playback.

Or am I mistaken?

Try hackintosh!
The best of the 2 worlds.

I'd rather pay a tad more and just get it "done" and over with from the get go. Plus, a big reason I'm looking at mac is because the iMac (if I need to get it) is an all in one that has a lot of power. I haven't been able to find another AIO with similar specs.

[Peter Chamberlain]

At the top of the post production section is a thread with links to the config guides. It sounds like you need the top model 27 " iMac with the 4GB GPU ram option and 16GB system ram.
Peter

Peter,

Thanks for the help!

A bit of confusion: it seems like the specs of the mbpr and iMac are not "up to date" in the PDF?

The mbpr has 2gb of memory for the graphics card versus 1gb. The iMac has 4gb vs 2.

Does this mean that the mbpr can actually "do it all" now? Does it mean the iMac can do 4k now?

Thoughts?

Any thoughts?

[Peter Chamberlain]

My advise based on your question about which to buy is the top of the range iMac. Neither will be fast for real time 4k. For that you need the new MacPro.
Peter

=bm fail, the computer should not cost more than the camera

With all due respect, I don't think it's BM's fault that they aren't gouging customers with their cameras. It seems you're angry that they aren't charging more?

Peter-- thanks!

I guess my question is that if the PDF says 2gb of gpu + 16gb of memory is the requirement for video editing, wouldn't a macpro fit the bill?

Are you saying that the imac would be "so much better" that you suggest it, or are you saying that the mbp is just a bad choice as a whole?

Thanks!

[Peter Chamberlain]

Hi, the GPU memory at 2GB is limiting.. at 1GB which is what I have on my rMBP struggles for HD.

If you want to do any 4K work, you need more GPU memory thus the recommendation for 4GB. I will update the config guide as soon as I can.

Peter

What about if I do prores and, hmm, 2.5k?

Thoughts then?

Thank you again!

=bm fail, the computer should not cost more than the camera

Because Blackmagic controls the prices of computers? Or because Blackmagic should charge more?

Is it Blackmagics fault that their videos have so much data that current computers can't play them back in the RAW 2.5k format? You've really lost me here. I recently built a windows machine for doing my work because I'm on a budget and it cost a heck of a lot less than buying a mac, even though I love them. And even it can't handle 2.5k raw very well. 32 gig ram, 2 gig video ram I believe, on a near current gen nvidia card. 750gx if I recall. When a company is pushing the limits of what people can do at a budget price, I doubt it is their fault computers can't handle it and will cost more. You can get by with a slower pc, you'll just have to accept the dropped frames when trying to view it.

Oh and back to the topic at hand, I forgot my reply there because of that confusing ???? moment.

So for a couple hundred less you can dial out an iMac to do a TON more than the best mbp can do.

for 2349 you can get a
Core i7 3.5ghz quad core cpu
780m geforce gpu with 4gb ram

or for 2599 you get
core i7 2.3 ghz (with boost up to 3.5 I guess)
750m with 2gb ram

Honestly so far a lot of basic editing/rendering that isn't complex effects seems to render more in CPU to me than GPU, but maybe resolve is different, I've not played with it as much. But for RAW editing you'll do better with more CPU in my experience. If you really need the mobility then I'd recommend upgrading the mbp to the top cpu which will make it cost more (2799)

This of course is in US dollars, you may not be in the US.

[Peter Chamberlain]

In Resolve, debayer and all image processing is in GPU. That's why we recommend more GPU ram and cores... The new MacPro is extremely fast. Top model iMac with bigger GPU memory suitable for most HD/2.5k users.
Peter

Hi Peter,

I just recently purchased a Late 2013 i5 21" iMac with 8gigs of RAM in the hopes of finishing an important project, as my primary machine fried itself. I was able to grade my RAW files within Resolve 10 Lite, but noticed the files rendered without the grade applied.

Would this issue be software based, or do I need to return this iMac for something more powerful?

Thanks for all of your help.

Budump!

blump