expiredphoinix | Staff posted Aug 21, 2025 12:52 AM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
expiredphoinix | Staff posted Aug 21, 2025 12:52 AM
Refurb: Apple Mac Studio (2023): M2 Max 12-Core / 30-Core, 32GB Memory, 512GB SSD
+ Free Shipping$899
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Switch apps, browser tabs are fast and almost instant when rendering a regular website, loading dynamic contents(timeline, selectors) are visibly more faster than my M1 Max. Even code compiling are faster, guess the core performance boost from M1 to M4 does contribute to overall experience.
However, all the good experience ends when your workload exceed the basic work flow.
You'd pay way more to match capacity in mini if include SSD and ram upgrade compare to this M2 Max Studio. Studio still good at heavy workload and exceeds. But M series improvement isn't a trivial thing, I won't say it's night and day difference, but definitely noticeable. I didn't eager to upgrade my M1 Max before I tried M4 mini, now I might upgrade when M5 Max released or even bought M4 Max when there is a similar deal around.
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Linux and its not even close. But the 4080 and 5090 are so entirely different in terms of speed, price, and memory. This mac would run larger models than a 4080, but a 4080 would run smaller models much, much faster. The 5090 would smoke them both.
For video AI and fastest small llm, 3090x2, 4090 48gb is best with big power bill.
Large LLM, is cloud
But if you had such a machine, and your LLM is smaller than 16GB, the 4080 build will beat this Mac Studio. If it is larger than 16GB this Mac Studio will most likely beat it. Having said that there aren't very many LLMs that sit between 16GB-32GB. You are likely going to need 64GB+ to run better LLMs.
5090 build will smoke this Mac, but you are again looking at a minimum $2000+ build.
Is this better for LLM or a Linux machine running RTX 4080, or 5090
You are not going to find a Linux machine with 4080 or 5090 at this price. You are looking at $1500+ for sure.
But if you had such a machine, and your LLM is smaller than 16GB, the 4080 build will beat this Mac Studio. If it is larger than 16GB this Mac Studio will most likely beat it. Having said that there aren't very many LLMs that sit between 16GB-32GB. You are likely going to need 64GB+ to run better LLMs.
5090 build will smoke this Mac, but you are again looking at a minimum $2000+ build.
I have a 3090ti for this purpose and 24gb is just right to run up to 32b parameter models at q4. The 5090 is in a weird spot because there isn't much in between the 24gb and 32gb range for models. 32b q8 is generally over the 32gb.
This is really good particularly for a dev machine with local llm for code assistant/completion or experimenting with LLM.
Cheapest option specifically for LLM experimentation would probably be to part out a linux machine with a 3060 12gb or 4060 ti 16gb, but you'd be pushing close to what this mac is offering and this is an extremely capable machine, much better than you'll put together for the price.
The downside to this for LLM is of course the storage space especially if you're using this as an all around machine, as those 20+ gb models and even lower sized models can add up quickly along with everything else.
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We are still in a back-to-school tax holiday here in FL (includes computers, components, and software $1500 and under) so I got it for $899 even and Prime Visa will get me another $44.95 cash back so net $854.05. Amazing deal.
Interestiingly when I bought applecare it asked me for the purchase date which I entered and updated to what I added.
Seems like were still getting sealed M2 Maxs
how long after order did you receive your mac? just ordered one yesterday afternoon.
I ordered mine last Saturday and it was delivered Monday, with a sealed Mac Mini Studio.
Interestiingly when I bought applecare it asked me for the purchase date which I entered and updated to what I added.
Seems like were still getting sealed M2 Maxs
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