Is more RAM worth the money?

I'm running FCP 5.1.4 on a G5 Dual Core 2.0, in OS 10.5.8. This Mac has 8 GB of RAM. On the EveryMac website it says that these Dual Core G5s with the identifier 11,2 can take up to 16 GB of RAM, so I can double the RAM if I want to, for around $200.
I often encounter some long render times in the projects that I create in FCP, and I've been wondering if maxing out the RAM to 16 GB would make a noticeable speed-up in the renders and other operations. I'd hate to waste the money if the performance gain would hardly be noticeable. Can anyone please advise me on this?

Thanks David! Well, when I'm working on an FCP project, I always have Photoshop open, because I pull a lot of still pictures into my projects, and while FCP is busy rendering or something I often jump over to Photoshop to create or prepare a still image for FCP. I also often have Sound Studio open, because I use it to edit my FCP voiceovers. At times LiveType is also running, and, less often, SoundTrack. And Safari is open all the time, because while FCP does a long render I can surf the web and read the news or something. Or I'll check Mail.
So Photoshop, Sound Studio, Safari, LiveType, and Mail are usually all running while I work on an FCP project. But can those programs, just by being open, draw a significant amount of memory away from FCP, enough to slow it down? Enough to be worth adding another 8 GB of Ram for $200?
Another possibility for speeding FCP up: I have an idle G5 sitting here that is just slightly faster than the dual 2.0 GHz that I'm working on. It's a dual 2.3 GHz. If a computer's processor is what makes most of the difference in speed, I wonder whether it would be worth the trouble to switch over to the slightly faster box? Or would a .3 increase in the GHz hardly be worth the effort?
I could always get one of the faster G5s off Ebay, up to 2.7 GHz, but I understand that anything faster than the 2.3 GHz would have that liquid cooling that causes problems for a lot of people. I'd just as soon stay with G5s that have fans.
Any further thoughts you might have on any of this would be much appreciated.
Tom

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Is upgrading the RAM worth the money?

We have a dual G5 (2.0) Cluster Node that I want to turn into a full-time Compressor render machine. The primary task this Xserve will do is transcode DV material from Final Cut Pro workstation into MPEG-2 and h.264 programs. I will be connecting an XRAID to it for storage and it sits on a 1000baseT network as well. We currently have just 2 Gb of RAM in it. I am wondering if I will see a significant decrease in rendering time if I max out the RAM. Or, is render speed only a factor of processor power? Thanks!

I have not loaded Compressor yet. I am waiting for my new FCP Studio 2 to arrive. I need to transcode a lot (4000 hours worth) of MPEG-2 program streams. Compressor 2 could not even open these files. I have tested them on a MacPro running Comp 3 at the Apple Store and everything worked fine. I only have the dual G5 cluster to dedicate to this task and just want to help it out the best I can. Upgrading the RAM seems like a cheap and quick thing to do. I know the OS in general runs better with more RAM. I was just wondering how RAM is utilized in the rendering process. I suppose more RAM means less reads from the drives and thus may increase speed but by how much? Would I even notice?

Postgraduate education--- is this course worth the money??

Hi all,
I would like to further my education and found this ERP Systems course being given at the University of Victoria in Melbourne. I would like some opinions on the curriculum. It seems like a great course, but it it enough to get me a job when i graduate?
Thanks to all who reply
Marc
Canada
Any input on other course being offered in N. America or elsewhere is also appreciated
www.BusinessAndLaw.vu.edu.au
COURSE STRUCTURE
Masters: The Masters course may be offered on a full-time basis over three semesters or part-time equivalent. All subjects carry a value of 15 credit points. The thesis component (if undertaken) equals 45 credit points. Students must complete 180 credit points through academic study in order to graduate. The course comprises:
Six core subjects:
·     Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
·     Business Process Engineering
·     Supply Chain and Logistics Management
·     Organisation Change Management
·     Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Implementation
·     Strategic Use of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
Two (2) specialisation subjects from:
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·     Management of Information Technology
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·     Transaction Programming Techniques (Advanced ABAP programming)
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·     Information Systems Applications Development (Work Experience placement into an SAP project)
·     Or alternative approved by the course co-ordinator.
SUBJECTS
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: This unit allows students to develop an appreciation of the impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on businesses and to understand the issues involved in the design, implementation and maintenance of these systems. Students also develop practical skills in the use of SAP R/3 as an example of an Enterprise Resource Planning System.
Business Process Engineering: the strategic and organisational issues of process and workflow management and the use of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPs) to realise efficient processes. The subject describes the major strategic approaches, process modelling techniques, procedure models and the current possibilities offered by SAP R/3 as an example of ERPs software that students are likely to encounter in identifying, reorganising and implementing processes in a typical business organisation.
Management Information Technology: a framework for the management of information technology. Management issues may include: the strategic use of information technology; information technology architectures; information systems planning; information technology investments; and security and privacy and outsourcing.
Supply Chain and Logistics Management: the concept of supply chain management in the context of movement and storage of components and goods in the spheres of material management, physical distribution and transport and its practical business application.
Organisation Change Management: organisational design; organisational changes processes and organisational development and change; and skills and competencies in the diagnostic processes for assessing the need for change and the development, implementation and evaluation of change strategies at all organisational levels.
Enterprise E-Commerce: the integration of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems with E-Commerce and the issues involved. Many large organisations have implemented Enterprise Resource Planning Systems to integrate their business processes. These same organisations are now attempting to extend their supply chain via E-Commerce business solutions.
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Implementation: the basic methodologies, techniques and tools that are used in the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems using SAP R/3 as an example. Many large organisations are making decisions to implemented Enterprise Resource Planning Systems but the implementation is complex and requires specific project management skills and knowledge.
Strategic Use of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: the strategic features of ERP systems and how these features can be utilised within an implementation. Many large organisations have implemented Enterprise Resource Planning Systems to integrate their business processes and are now attempting to gain further benefits by utilising the strategic features of these systems such as supply chain optimisation, customer relationship management, and data warehousing.

I did my masters in just computer sciences, but if I had something like this available I would have gone for it. But there are a couple of factors to consider. One is will there be good campus recruitments and what is the rate absorption of candidates for this course. Second question, do I really want to persue this field as my career. ERP is the concept that revolves around the business. So you should have an aptitude for learning how a business operates and functions.
The course curriculum looks good particularly because it includes topics on Supply Chain Management and Business Process Engineering which are relatively new.
Another good aspect of it is that it is giving this course with SAP as an example tool. SAP is the leading ERP software company(and many more products are added to its portifolio now).
Is it worth the money? That you have to decide. You can do a regular masters in computer science, but get a job in a company that trains you in SAP, and learn everything on the job or take some traning from SAP training academies and then start on job. That is one option. But if you want to persue a career in building products in the ERP/SCM areas, then a formal education in that area will be useful. But if you are just interested in implementing existing products then it is not a must.
Hope I gave you some information that is useful. Please don't forget to reward appropriately for helpful answers and close when completely answered.
Srinivas

IPad or Mac? which is better worth the money?

iPad or Mac? which one is better worth the money, if mac, which is the cheapest but still gives you all the good apps and qualities? I would use it alot, and i already have an iouch so would the ipad be worth it? im a teenager so i would use these things alot,and i need some features to help with school and just having fun!!

iPad is not a substitute for a Mac. It's more like a companion to a Mac.
In desktops, Mac mini should be sufficient and is the only comparable Mac in terms of price, but you need to add a monitor, keyboard.
In laptops, consider the MacBook Air for its portability, and the MacBook Pro for more options in terms of processing and screen size.
Visit an Apple Store (the physical kind). The staff is very helpful and will assist ou in making a decision.
Message was edited by: Rysz

I've tried the new iWork and feel cheated. I'm gonna stick with my old '09 version. It appears to have lost utility, and is now easily surpassed by Word 07. Is a new version that's worth the money and hype coming?

I've tried the new iWork (on a friend's new MacBook Pro) and feel very disappointed. I'm gonna stick with my old '09 version. It appears to have lost utility, and is now easily surpassed by Word 07. Dear Apple, from a veteran user: In your rush to market, you have dropped the basket on this one! Is a new version that's worth the money and hype coming?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
A lot of users have complained about the lack of features of the new iWork version. However, I'm sure Apple will add features with more updates in the future, like with Final Cut Pro X. See > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6049?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
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Im looking for a MacBook that is worth the money and decent for gaming and editing, any suggestions?

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Is it worth the money upgrading from Wireless-G to Wireless-N?

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Message Edited by JOHNDOE_06 on 10-12-2008 11:57 AM

Is the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS worth the money for Final Cut Express?

Hi,
I'm considering a new iMac 24, but not sure if the speedier on is worth the money.
Currently I use a MacBook Pro 2.2 for Final Cut Express with a 23" cinema (mostly DV, some HD) and that works okay, but won't play back in real time when I composit video.
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MOVED: HDTV Tuner Cards? Is there one that it is worth the money?

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Is more RAM worth the money?

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