# Mac Studio (M5 Max) for local AI

URL: https://insidethemachine.ai/machines/mac-studio-m5-max
Type: Mac desktop. Chip: M5 Max (32- or 40-core GPU). Memory: unified, options 36, 48, 64, 128 GB. Bandwidth: 614 GB/s (460 GB/s on 32-core GPU (36GB only); 614 GB/s on 40-core GPU (48/64/128GB).). Spec source: https://www.apple.com/mac-studio/specs/ (2026-10-15).
Price: from about $2,499 (2026-10-15, approximate). Status: current.

## Which models fit

| memory GB | usable GB | models that fit | best 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 27 | 67 | Qwen3.8 27B (22.7 GB), Qwen3.5 27B (21.5 GB), Qwen3.6 27B (21.5 GB) |
| 48 | 36 | 76 | Qwen3.8 27B (22.7 GB), K2 Horizon MoVA 36B-A4B (28.1 GB), Qwen3.5 27B (21.5 GB) |
| 64 | 48 | 77 | Qwen3.8 27B (22.7 GB), K2 Horizon MoVA 36B-A4B (28.1 GB), Qwen3.5 27B (21.5 GB) |
| 128 | 96 | 90 | Qwen3.8 27B (22.7 GB), K2 Horizon MoVA 36B-A4B (28.1 GB), Qwen3.5 27B (21.5 GB) |

## Published speeds (not our tests)

- gpt-oss-120b: 78.2 tok/s decode, 727.4 tok/s prompt (oMLX v0.3.9, MXFP4-Q8 (MLX), M5 Max 40c, 128GB, community-measured) https://omlx.ai/benchmarks/dgadv0k9 (2026-10-15)
- gpt-oss-120b: 70.5 tok/s decode, 1576 tok/s prompt (oMLX v0.3.9, MXFP4-Q8 (MLX), M5 Max 40c, 128GB, community-measured) https://omlx.ai/benchmarks/dgadv0k9 (2026-10-15)

Notes: Ryan's planned machine: 128GB config. 128GB requires the 40-core GPU chip.

## Questions

**What is the best local LLM for the Mac Studio (M5 Max)?**
With 128 GB, Qwen3.8 27B (needs 22.7 GB, AA 33.7). 90 of 124 models fit. With 36 GB: Qwen3.8 27B.

**How fast is the Mac Studio (M5 Max) for local AI?**
Published: gpt-oss-120b at 78.2 tokens/sec (oMLX v0.3.9, M5 Max 40c, 128GB); gpt-oss-120b at 70.5 tokens/sec (oMLX v0.3.9, M5 Max 40c, 128GB). These are other people's measurements, not ours.

**How much does the Mac Studio (M5 Max) cost?**
From about $2,499 (as of 2026-10-15). 2026 prices are inflated by the memory-chip shortage; check before buying.