Will Final Cut Pro 4 install with 256MB RAM?

[nina]

Hello, all!

My first Mac - a new 12" Powerbook came in!! I'm picking it up tomorrow (sooo excited)

Anyways, I was wondering if I could install Final Cut Pro 4 on it. I've ordered it stock, so it's only got 256 MB RAM right now. I noticed that the system requirements for FCP call for 384MB RAM. I'm planning on upgrading my RAM in the near future, but I'd love to fool around in FCP right away, if possible. Can anyone help?

 

[N10248]

Yes 256 is fine as long as you don't upgrade to the 4.5 HD version, else the app wont even start and exits with the warning that 384mb ram is required.

bye

 

[nina]

Whoa. FCP 4 HD won't even start without 384MB of RAM, eh? Wow - thanks for telling me! I guess I'll just install FCP 4 and leave it at that until I upgrade.

 

[DavidCL23]

Whoa. FCP 4 HD won't even start without 384MB of RAM, eh? Wow - thanks for telling me! I guess I'll just install FCP 4 and leave it at that until I upgrade.

I'll sell you a 256mb chip outta my powerbook 1.25ghz for $25 + $5 for 2 day mail shipping 512mb should be enough for final cut pro

 

[cb911]

Whoa. FCP 4 HD won't even start without 384MB of RAM, eh? Wow - thanks for telling me! I guess I'll just install FCP 4 and leave it at that until I upgrade.

"won't even start..."? you'll be lucky to even get much work done with that much RAM... just max out your RAM, it's the only way.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

"won't even start..."? you'll be lucky to even get much work done with that much RAM... just max out your RAM, it's the only way.

Actually, the original Final Cut Express (based on FCP 3) worked well on my PowerBook 12" 1GHz with 256 MB RAM. FCE 2 won't install either though without at least 384 of RAM.

I didn't notice a major gain in FCE with maxing the RAM out at 768MB (1GB chips are too expensive and not worth it IMHO) but I guess FCP4/FCE2 make better use of realtime stuff, so this would be what eats up the RAM.

It was funny how I found out that it wouldn't install. On my recent US trip, I walked into an Apple Store and played about on a PowerBook in the movies section. Unfortunately it only had 256MB of RAM in it and, although Final Cut was installed on it, it wouldn't launch without the message "Please upgrade to 384MB RAM" and then quit.

 

[~Shard~]

Regardless of the amount of RAM that FCP can or cannot work with, I think in general you're better off just maxing out your RAM if at all possible - it will imrpove everything in general on your system, and although FCP may be able to run with only 256 MB RAM (or FCP HD with 384 MB), it would definitely run a lot better with more.

My recommendation is to max it out! That's what I did to my system...