1st Post: Which gfx card to upgrade to on my Macbook pro - help appreciated

[AusTx]

Hi all,
20 year PC user, getting 1st MAC, this is my 1st post as a mac user.... so appreciate the patience as it's a new world to me.
Bought Mid-2012 Macbook pro, i7, 16GB, 500GB no graphics card to get me started and will maybe upgrade after I get used to this.

According to Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201805
I can upgrade to:
ATI Radeon HD 5770
ATI Radeon HD 5870 <-- this one is better, so it's what I thought I would go with

I go out to Amazon, and find it http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Z6QH6W/?tag=macforums0e4-20
and it's "Apple" but the notes say "Compatibility:-Requires Mac Pro (Mid 2010) or Mac Pro (Early 2009) with PCI Express 2.0 slot"

So I'm now confused. I'm upgrading because I'd love to try Final Cut Pro...that's my goal in getting a Macbook Pro, so any advice that is relevant to that direction would be thoroughly appreciated!:Blushing::Blushing:

Thank you!

 

[pigoo3]

Just wanted to interject that "MacBook Pro" was mentioned 3 times (2x in the post & 1x in the thread title). A "MacBook Pro" is a laptop computer…a "Mac Pro" is a desktop computer. A strongly believe you have a Mac Pro (not a MacBook Pro).

- Nick

p.s. Welcome to Mac-Forums.

p.p.s. Since the main question in this thread is about a video card in a Mac Pro. Thread moved to better area.

 

[pigoo3]

By the way. If I'm mistaken and this computer actually is a MacBook Pro (laptop computer). Then the video card is not upgradeable.

- Nick

 

[AusTx]

How do older MacBook Pros perform with Final Cut Pro X - what are your experiences?

Hello
Yesterday, the moderator Nick, correctly pointed out that the Macbook Pro 2012 I was looking to buy did not allow you to upgrade the video card. As you can see, this is my 2nd post, I'm brand new to macs, having used PCs for 20 years. So I was speaking about laptops, but I had somehow gathered the perspective that a 2012 was upgradeable and incorrectly assumed it also meant video card.

My goals:

• Find out which older Macbooks will run FCP X and more or less how well?
• Determine if older models, like the 2012, with i7, 16GB and onboard video will suffice
• If there IS poor performance, is it when you are working on the editing, or is it once you are done and want to compile it for uploading?

I can easily start the rendering/compiling and go to bed, so I'm not AS worry about how long that will take, unless we are talking days... but probably like most of you, I think I would go mad if the computer was slow AS I was working in Final Cut Pro X..

I'm a hobbyist, so please keep that in mind.

Thank you for your input- appreciated. :Blushing:

 

[pigoo3]

Thanks for confirming that we are discussing a MacBook Pro (notebook/laptop) computer…and not a desktop computer (Mac Pro).

Threads merged…same topic.

- Nick

 

[AusTx]

Thanks Nick - Yes, mybad- sound stupid now that I know the difference. I get that.

 

[pigoo3]

So I was speaking about laptops, but I had somehow gathered the perspective that a 2012 was upgradeable and incorrectly assumed it also meant video card.

Thanks for confirming that we are talking about a MacBook Pro laptop computer.

Yes as you mentioned & understand…a mid-2012 MacBook Pro is upgradeable…but this only means the ram and internal storage. This (for the most part) is the way it has always been with Apple laptop computers.

And I should mention that with newer MacBook Pro's (retina MacBook Pro's)…the ram is NO longer upgradeable…but it is still possible (although expensive) to upgrade the storage.

My goals:

• Find out which older Macbooks will run FCP X and more or less how well?
• Determine if older models, like the 2012, with i7, 16GB and onboard video will suffice
• If there IS poor performance, is it when you are working on the editing, or is it once you are done and want to compile it for uploading?

I'm going to assume that you were interested in a mid-2012 MacBook Pro…because you thought that it was upgradeable (including the video). Since this is not the case (no upgradeable video)…and since video performance seems important to you…maybe considering a newer MacBook Pro (newer than a mid-2012 model) is this path to follow. A 2015 MacBook Pro is going to have better video performance than a mid-2012 MacBook Pro.

Don't know your budget…but yes…a 2015 MacBook Pro is going to cost more than a mid-2012 MacBook Pro.

HTH,

- Nick

p.s. FYI. The last time I remember an Apple laptop computer having any sort of upgradeable video features was a Powerbook 1400 from about 1996 (20 years ago)!

 

[AusTx]

ok thanks Nick. Yeah, the MBP 2012 are around 749 but in stores, I'm probably looking at 1k+, but it may be worth it due to the newer technology. Appreciate it!

 

[pigoo3]

If you get a newer MacBook Pro…and purchase the best model that fits your budget…then you will have the best MacBook Pro (with the best video performance)…that fits your budget.

Some things to keep this in mind in case you didn't know:

- All 2015 13" MacBook Pro's and the lower tier 2015 15" MacBook Pro's have integrated graphics. Only the upper tier 2015 15" MacBook Pro's have dedicated video hardware (faster/fastest performance).
- All 2015 15" MacBook Pro's have quad-core CPU's. 2015 13" MacBook Pro's have dual-core CPU's.
- The ram on ALL 2015 MacBook Pro's (13" or 15") is NOT upgradeable. Thus they should be configured with as much ram as you think it will need while you own it.
- The storage on 2015 MacBook Pro's technically is not supposed to be upgradeable…so it's best to also get them configured with as much storage space you think you will need. In reality (recently) storage upgrades have become available. But (at the current time)…these are more expensive than what it costs to get the same amount of storage (preconfigured) from Apple.

* Nick

p.s. Of course the top tier 2015 MacBook Pro's are pretty pricey. With a starting price of $2499.
p.p.s. Don't forget to check the Apple refurbished area. Sometimes you can find something that fits your needs…and save some $$$ at the same time.

 

[AusTx]

Thanks Nick.