New Macbook Pro's & Final Cut

[zactommo]

I'm interested to know if any of you out there are using the new Macbook/ Macbook Pro's that contain the 9400m, but not the 9600gt

My 2.0ghz macbook pro is looking a bit worse for wear these days (the latch broke this morning) and i'm thinking about upgrading. Found a retailer that is selling a 2.53ghz 15inch model ex-demo model at a pretty good price. The only concern I have is that its the model that has the single graphics card, the Nvidia 9400m. I am worried that the 256mb intergated graphics won't cut the mustard too well in FCP and AE. Is anyone else using a mac laptop with this graphics card? How have you found it. My current machine has the 128mb X1600 graphics card.

[cmchamp]

I'm checking the technical requirements of FCP, however, in the past, non "professional" graphics chipsets - such as shared memory - were not fully supported. I know of a couple of colleague's students who went the MacBook route for video/audio production and though the audio capabilities are fine, Motion and Color don't work at all.

From the Tech Specs page

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

So, a dedicated graphics chipset with minimum 128MB VRAM is required.
C.

[zactommo]

Does it say dedicated ATI or NVIDIA only? The 9400m is an Nvidia, not an intel, but it intergrated, not dedicated.

[cmchamp]

It's integrated. I'll check my list serves, but I know you'll be much happier with the 9600.

[zactommo]

Yes, I have no doubt that i'll be happier with the 9600, but i'll also be $1300 extra out of pocket for that luxury.

[cmchamp]

It's a luxury if you don't need the video processing horsepower for more real time rendering, Color and Motion.

[zactommo]

I use AE for the functions of color and motion. So how AE handles the 9400m maybe be an issue

I suppose if I wait a while, I could possibly get a deal on one with the 9600 gt.

I was interested if someone else out there was using this model, but I guess no one is.