New Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra

Post by srmatto » Tue, Aug 25, 2026, 6:59 PM UTC

doctoboggan wrote: post #202

> Apple’s most powerful Mac raises the bar for local AI Wow, "Local AI" mentioned in the subheading above the fold - it's really awesome to see Apple leaning into this use case and I think it will definitely pay off for them going forward. Fingers crossed Apple is able to put some engineering effort towards shipping with one of the frontier open weight models included and optimized exactly for the machine.

Post by tarruda » Tue, Aug 25, 2026, 7:02 PM UTC

suriyaG wrote: post #352

tarruda wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> not that Apple prices weren’t insane before the ram/ssd shortages Funny that after the price started to increase last year (I think October/November), there was a window of a few months where Apple prices stayed the same as they were before, thus making apple prices actually good when compared to the rest of the market. It was a unique opportunity to have acquired a 512G M3 ultra for $10k.

not as crazy a config, but I got a 128GB M5max the day before the price increase for $2K less. still proud of the call to buy it.

Post by lostlogin » Tue, Aug 25, 2026, 7:05 PM UTC

harikb wrote: post #362

PaulRobinson wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been thinking about this a fair bit recently. We make a lot of price/performance compromises for having an attached screen and keyboard on our computer. That was what got me started. Then I remembered the days of having to go to a special corner of the house to use a computer, vs now when I have a computer with me all the time. In my bag, on the sofa, on the train. Hell, I'm writing this on the work MBP while wa…

Is there an option to "use the remote computer just as it was local" even between two Macs? Sure, terminal/ssh is enough for most use-cases, but this is something I expected from Apple as builtin. I can tailscale into my home network, but what next? VNC/TeamViewer/Remote Desktop setups are all mediocre imho.

Post by lostlogin » Tue, Aug 25, 2026, 7:08 PM UTC

msdz wrote: post #200

matt-p wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another option is a 'maxed out' mini e.g M5 Pro/64GB. Mini is super easy to travel with if you know there'll be a 'dock' at the far end e.g office home or whatever.

So I can somewhat speak to this, as I actually did this for a while c. 2021 and 2022. The issue (apart from my Mac mini still having the old, bigger form factor back then) is that this requires a full shutdown (obviously), and that is more friction than opening a closed laptop lid. It just takes a moment for every app and background service etc. to settle back in after, and depending on how your brain works, you migh…

Post by mrkstu » Tue, Aug 25, 2026, 7:11 PM UTC

srmatto wrote: post #360

SwellJoe wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's in the same ballpark as two 128GB AI machines like the Asus GX10 or DGX Spark or Strix Halo. And, it seems very likely to perform better than either of those for inference. And, 256GB brings some pretty good models into play. But, that doesn't make it a good deal. It just means the Apple tax doesn't apply when stacked up against AI machines and with memory prices being so out of whack. I'm still planning to wa…

Is there anything in the works or planned that suggests the RAMpocalypse will end anytime soon? e.g. new fabs being built, permitted, planned, etc...