2011 Macbook Pro for video editing?

[Semion]

Hello!
Please, need an advice. I have an ability to buy a used MacBook Pro for video editing.
Configuration:
MacBook Pro (early 2011)
2.2 GHz Untel Core i7
8 Gb DDR3
AMD Radeon HD 6750 1024 Mb

Now I'm editing on windows notebook:
2.4 GHz Intel Core i5
8 Gb RAM
AMD Radeon HD 7470M
...and it's going quite slowly with fullHD footage.

Is there a sense to change my Win-book to this Macbook? Will it be distinctly faster?
Thanks in advance!

 

[kohlson]

This model may be affected by GPU failure. While there is a warranty, you may want to investigate. Regarding using for video editing, performance differences may vary by which app you use. FCP, for example (which you're not using now) takes advantage of GPU capabilities to increase performance. Other video editors rely on CPU capabilities. I've edited HD video on this model, but small and relatively light projects.

 

[ColdCase]

Fairly simple editing is doable on just about any machine. When rendering or transcoding HD video, perhaps adding an effect or two, I found my 2011 MacBook Pro slow and hot. My early 2014 rMBP with PCI SSD and a 2.6 i7 is much much better, but effects like stabilize is still tough on it.

But to answer the Q, basically an i7core is going to work much better than an i5. Whether its a distinct difference depends more on what app you are using and whether you are doing CPU intensive tasks.

 

[Buehrens]

Agree with all said. Would also invest in a solid state drive - at least 500GB. That model is quite straightforward to replace hard drive as well as upgrade memory while you have it open. Also, it has USB 2, so not as fast if you are thinking of using external drives for accessing large files. I think the 2012 models have USB 3.
If most of your videos are small - less than 50GB, you can work with them right on the SSD.

 

[Semion]

This model may be affected by GPU failure

Yes, there has been already changed video card by warranty.

Thanks to all! Helped me a lot.

 

[schataut]

Yes, there has been already changed video card by warranty.

Thanks to all! Helped me a lot.

Any update on your experience editing video on 2011 MBP? I have the same 15'' MBP with a SSD and 16GB ram upgrade. I HATE iMovies because I can't just load videos to timeline, the whole thing about first importing the videos before starting is very frustrating (unless I don't know what I am doing). I wanted to go FCP route. Any other suggestion? I am not looking for any advanced feature, just want to make simple movies (home videos).

Also what OS X are you using? I am still on ML (10.8).

Thanks.