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Mac Studio M5 Ultra

Apple · Enthusiast

Apple's top desktop chip in the Mac Studio, announced August 2026, with up to 512GB of unified memory at a claimed 1.2TB/s. That memory ceiling lets a single desktop hold very large open-weight models that would otherwise need a multi-GPU server, at a fraction of the power.

Specifications

Unified memory 96GB
Memory bandwidth 1200 GB/s
Type complete machine

Announced from $5,499 (US) at launch, with UK pricing to confirm; the 512GB configuration costs considerably more. Pre-orders opened 25 August 2026, with availability from 22 September. A complete machine, so compare it against a multi-GPU build rather than a single card.

Mac Studio M5 Ultra: common questions

What models can the Mac Studio M5 Ultra run?
With 96GB of unified memory it can run models up to roughly 157B parameters at a 4-bit quantisation, or smaller models with more context. Use the hardware matrix for specifics; these figures are approximate.

Strengths

  • Up to 512GB unified memory holds very large models on one desktop
  • The highest memory bandwidth of any Apple Silicon at a claimed 1.2TB/s
  • Very low power and near-silent for the capability; units can be clustered over Thunderbolt 5

Weaknesses

  • Bandwidth still trails high-end discrete GPUs, so slower than they are on models that fit a card
  • Memory is fixed at purchase and cannot be upgraded, and the 512GB option is expensive
  • AI-performance and clustering claims are Apple's, not yet independently measured
See what models fit in 96GB →

Featured in builds

Entry last verified 25 August 2026. Specifications and especially prices change; verify before buying.