FCP on iMac 20"

One of the main reasons I purchased the iMac was to transition from my PC video editor to FCP. Now three issues have come up suggesting I have made a bad purchase.
1. The iMac is set up to run on a FAT32 hard drive, yet I have just read that the FAT32 system still has a 4GB file size limit. Many of my movies will need more than 4GBs - is this limitation still the case?
2. I was told by the Apple Store to run FCP on the iMac 20" as is would be no problem, unaware of the ATI card memory upgrade that was available. I now read that upgrading the card's memory after the fact is next to impossible. Is this true?
And 3, to run FCP in a professional setting, not only do I need a second display to extend my desktop to, I also need the ability to have a large screen (LCD or plasma) for the preview output to be shown on. I have now learned I can only have one or the other, but not both. Even though this card has the ability to run two displays and a monitor. Is this true?
Thanks for your help!
iMac (early 2006) Mac OS X (10.4.6) Also Running Windows XP Pro SP2

Hi Andy,
I was unaware that the Intel Mac were shipping with FAT32 formatted drives instead of HFS+. If that is true, then you will likely have trouble with files larger than 4GB as that is a huge limitation of that file system.
FCP will run very nicely with the standard 128MB VRAM on that X1600 vid card. It may run a little better with the 256MB version, but that card really shines when it comes to gaming. If you are not gaming, then I wouldn't worry.
You are correct that you cannot upgrade the video card or the VRAM at all. It is integrated onto the midplane and cannot be changed.
The card is capable of using an extended desktop, but Apple disables that feature. There are hacks out there that will re-enable it, but I would hesitate to run anything that might possibly void my warrantee.
Honestly, it sounds to me like you bought the wrong computer. If you want more VRAM or at least the option to upgrade it, and if you want the extended desktop - those just aren't what the iMac was designed for.
Did you buy this at a local retailer like the CompUSA on East State or did you drive into the Apple Store in Schaumburg? Or was a BTO from the Apple Online Store? You might want to see if it could be exchanged for a PowerMac if you cannot live with the limitations of the machine.

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http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/topquestions.html
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I'll be attending the MFA program in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in LA. <</div>
Way to go... good luck
Ive heard that if I buy the monitors seperately that I should find two with 1920x1200 resolution, contrast ratio of at least 1000/1, and responce time of under 5 ms. <</div>
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