Configurations For Final Cut Studio

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 Different versions of Final Cut Pro (and other Final Cut Studio applications) require certain minimum requirements in both hardware and software. Next you'll find the basic tech specs for the different versions and some additional recommendations by Apple.

If you want more detailed information on other Studio applications and additional recommendations, click on the links below for specific Apple articles on these topics. In addition, below there is a link to find the basic tech specs for earlier versions of Final Cut Pro (Final Cut Pro 1 to 4.5).

Final Cut Studio 3 (Including Final Cut Pro 7)

• Mac computer with an Intel processor

• 1GB of RAM

• ATI or NVIDIA graphics processor (integrated Intel graphics processors not supported)

• 128MB of VRAM

• Display with 1280-by-800 resolution or higher

• Mac OS X v10.5.6 or later

• QuickTime 7.6 or later

Additional Recommendations

• 2GB of RAM when working with compressed HD and uncompressed SD sources

• 4GB of RAM when working with uncompressed HD sources

Additional Requirements for Color

• Display with 1680-by-1050 resolution or higher; dual displays are highly recommended

• For rendering of 4K files and DPX: a graphics card with at least 512MB of VRAM

• For 32-bit rendering: a graphics card with at least 256MB of VRAM

• Three-button mouse for full functionality

Apple article on Final Cut Studio 3: http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/specs.html

Final Cut Studio 2 (Including Final Cut Pro 6)

• A Macintosh computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, or Intel Xeon processor

• 1GB of RAM

• An AGP or PCI Express Quartz Extreme graphics card (Final Cut Studio is not compatible with integrated Intel graphics processors)

• A display with 1024-by-768 resolution or higher

• Mac OS X v10.4.9 or Mac OS X v10.5.5 or later

• QuickTime 7.1.6 or later

Additional Recommendations

• 2GB of RAM when working with compressed HD and uncompressed SD sources

• 4GB of RAM when working with uncompressed HD sources

• A display with 1280 x 1024 resolution or higher

Additional Requirements for Motion

• A standard or built-to-order system configuration with a NVIDIA GeForce 5200, FX Go5200, FX 5200 Ultra, 6600, 6600 LE, 6800, 7300, 7300 GT, 7800, 7600 GT, 8600, 8800 or Quadro class graphics card.
• A standard or built-to-order system configuration with a ATI Radeon 9800, 9700, 9600Pro, 9600XT, 9700Pro, X800, X1600, X1900, or X2600 class graphics card; or a ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 or 9600 graphics card.
• For 16- and 32-bit rendering: a graphics card with at least 128MB of VRAM.

Additional Requirements for Color

• The standard graphics card in any Mac Pro, 17-inch MacBook Pro, 24-inch iMac, or 2.5GHZ or faster Power Mac G5 Quad:

• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600

• ATI Radeon X1600

• NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT, 7600 GT, 7300 GT, 6800 Ultra DDL, 6800 GT DDL, 660, or Quadro FX 4500.

• For 32-bit rendering: a graphics card with at least 256MB of VRAM.

• A display with 1680-by-1050 resolution or higher (excluding 20" iMac); dual displays are highly recommended.

• A three-button mouse for full functionality

Apple article on Final Cut Studio 2: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP535

Final Cut Pro 5

• A Macintosh computer with a 500 megahertz (MHz) or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 processor (550 MHz for PowerBook G4) or any dual PowerPC G4 or G5 processors

• AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) Quartz Extreme graphics card

• 512 megabytes (MB) of random-access memory (RAM); 1 gigabyte (GB) recommended

• For HD: A Macintosh computer with a 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 processor and 1 GB of RAM; 2 GB recommended

• Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later

• QuickTime 7.0 or later

Apple article on Final Cut Pro 5: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301576

For older versions of Final Cut Pro (from versions 1 to 4.5), check out this article to find out details on compatible computers and software: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=24991