8GB RAM vs 16GB for Final Cut X

[ClassicZach]

I am looking to buy a MacBook Pro 13inch touchbar 2019. I will be editing a medium amount of 4K video. 5-10 minute projects. I do not operate more than one monitor at the moment, but will prob upgrade to 2 monitors next year. I also, do some minor programming and photoshop.

Would anyone recommend me upgrading to 16GBs RAM? I want to make sure that i will get smooth performance without lag and crashing.

 

[Nbd1790]

I would highly recommend 16gb of RAM. Even users who are just doing some light multitasking would benefit from the 16gb as opposed to the 8gb, even if it's just to future proof your investment even further (as you know, these are not cheap machines)

Although if lag and crashing are a concern for you, having a dedicated graphics card would be the most beneficial and sure way to avoid that (meaning that you would have to consider one of the 15 inch models). A 13 inch model can surely power dual displays, but it might start freaking a tad if you're cutting up a bunch of 4k content, especially if your projects ever come to the point of being a bit larger than what you intend.

Bottom line - having a dedicated graphics card when cutting up video is the best upgrade / investment someone in your line of work can make.

 

[ClassicZach]

I would highly recommend 16gb of RAM. Even users who are just doing some light multitasking would benefit from the 16gb as opposed to the 8gb, even if it's just to future proof your investment even further (as you know, these are not cheap machines)

Although if lag and crashing are a concern for you, having a dedicated graphics card would be the most beneficial and sure way to avoid that (meaning that you would have to consider one of the 15 inch models). A 13 inch model can surely power dual displays, but it might start freaking a tad if you're cutting up a bunch of 4k content, especially if your projects ever come to the point of being a bit larger than what you intend.

Bottom line - having a dedicated graphics card when cutting up video is the best upgrade / investment someone in your line of work can make.

Thanks for the advice! Getting dedicated graphics would prob be the best option then. I may end up getting the 15 inch or possibly buying an eGPU.

 

[mathemabeat]

I've edited on both 8gb and 16GB+ Mac setups and I echo 16GB (or more) is the way to go. Especially with 4k footage. Once you start stacking footage on the timeline, adding titles or any kind of effects (even simple color grades), ram usage will shoot through the roof.


I was working on a project recently that was a 1080p sequence and it had multiple layers of footage, keyframed effects, titles, several audio tracks (voice over, background music, and effects) and it had 2 adjustment layers with different effects applied to them.

FCPX was taking up about 14GBs of ram for this less than 2 minute promo/trailer.

 

[lJoSquaredl]

16gb for sure, I'm actually considering 32gb right now. May do that or Vega 16 instead, if 32gb of RAM was cheaper I'd probably do both but damn is that last RAM upgrade a hefty upgrade.

 

[Hakiroto]

Another +1 for definitely having 16 GB.