Best MacBook Pro specs for using Final Cut 7

Hello Forum:
I have a MacBook Pro from 2008 that I'm currently using to do video editing in FCP7 for my film projects.
I want to upgrade to a new MacBook as Final Cut tells me quite frequently that I don't have enough graphic capabilities to render certain files, etc. etc.
Does anyone have experience using FCP7 on a MacBook Pro that can advise what the best specs are for upgrading to a new MacBook Pro?
The refurbished unit I'm looking at has the specs below. If anyone has any suggestions I would be extremely grateful.
Many thanks and Happy New Year to all!
Processor
2.9 GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz)
Cache
4MB shared L3 cache
Memory
8GB (2x4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Storage1
750GB Serial ATA, 5400 rpm
Optical drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Wireless
Wi-Fi (based on IEEE 802.11n specification)2 Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Expansion
One Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps), one FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps), Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps), one SDXC card slot
Video and Audio
FaceTime HD camera; Thunderbolt port with support for DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI (requires adapters, sold separately)
Stereo speakers with subwoofer, omnidirectional microphone, headphone port (Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone).
Size and weight
Height: .95 inches (2.41 cm)
Width: 12.78 inches (32.5 cm)
Depth: 8.94 inches (22.7 cm)
Weight (standard configuration): 4.5 pounds (2.06 kg)3
Originally released June 2012
13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1280-by-800 resolution
8GB (2 x 4GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM
750GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel HD Graphics 4000

It might help us to advise you if we knew what your budget is.
In the meantime, I can suggest a couple or three items that aren't too expensive.
1) Your computer has four drive bays. Fill them up with the largest hard drives you can afford. I prefer the Seagate 7200.11 SATA drives. The 1TB version is about $120 each right now. With four drives living in your MP, you can have one boot (system) drive and three media drives. I would NOT RAID them. The 7200.11 drives in a MP will benchmark at around 100 MB/sec, which is plenty fast for your needs.
2) You have an 8 processor computer and Apple recommends 1GB of RAM per processor for running Compressor batches. So, you should buy 6 X 1GB RAM modules to fill your MP RAM slots. Make sure you buy RAM with Apple approved heat sinks. Crucial.com is a good source.
3) For back-up and archiving of media files, I recommend firewire drives with removable trays, like the Burly enclosures from MacGurus. You buy the enclosures and the extra trays from MacGurus, then buy the raw drives (Seagate 7200.11) separately from a reliable online vendor, like newegg.com, for the trays. The Burly case is built like a tank, with two fans, so it isn't as likely to burn up drives like some other firewire enclosures.

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Message was edited by: JesseMcC

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I have it running on the latest NON-Retina MBP. And a good friend of mine has it running on his Retina model. Works fine.
Henry English wrote:
What if I have to revisit any one of them? What if I try FCP X and find I prefer FCS 3?
If you need to revisit them...that's why you install FCS3. That's really the only reason I have that on my system, to revisit old projects, and to deal with clients who still use FCP 7.
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Live capturing from Panasonic AG-HVX200 using Final Cut and MacBook Pro

Does anyone know if the MacBoko Pro using Final Cut can capture live 1080i video from a Panasonic AG-HVX200 to an external firewire hard drive?

Great info. I'll get on those other forums.
Not that it is an 'issue,' but to answer the question I was INITIALLY thinking of getting a laptop just to capture video, and edit on my desktop. But I see that the advice of getting the biggest baddest laptop would be a better idea and I've read others say that being able to edit 'on the road,' is a great potential.
I checked out the only tested and approved by Panasonic Firestore and it's the FOCUS FS-100 that comes standard with a 100GB hard drive that provides 1.5 hours of DVCPRO HD recording time with a list price of $2,195.00.
(If using PAL, you need the PAL version)
Other than the valuable other forums mentioned here, I found a good site for FAQ's for the Mac/AG-HVX-200/FCP, at: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/cs/csregistp2m/ep2main/faq/p2faq .htm
These FAQ's, above, say that "going directly into a PC is possible, but it may fail to record some frames per second. This depends on the performance of PC. So we do not recommend this method."
There is a rebate if buying the USA warrentied camera before the end of the year: a free 8GB P2 card (advertised as a $1,200 value)
I think this answers all my questions about this topic. Thanks everyone for the info and the patience.
P.S. - There is a free contest, BTW, to win the biggest badest laptop, the 17"-MacBook Pro, at http://www.pcmag.com (of all places!)

Best MacBook Pro specs for using Final Cut 7

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