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1gokart 8.4K Views
Yesterday 8:00 AM

Apple Mac Studio Desktop (2026): M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 512GB SSD

$2,000

$2,500

20% off
+ Free Pickupat Micro Center
Get Deal at Micro Center

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Deal Details
Micro Center has Apple Mac Studio M5 Max Desktop Computer (2026, MHL64LL/A) for $1999.99. Free store pickup is available where stock permits.

Thanks to Community Member 1gokart for finding this deal.

Note: Availability may vary by location.

Specs:
  • Apple M5 Max 18-Core CPU
  • 36GB Unified RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Apple M5 Max Chip 32-Core GPU
  • WiFi 7 (802.11be) + Bluetooth 6.0
  • 480 Watt Power Supply
  • SDXC Card Reader
  • macOS
  • Ports:
    • Front/Top Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 2 Type-C)
    • Back Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 1 Type-A)
      • 4x Thunderbolt 5
      • 1x HDMI 2.1
      • 1x LAN RJ45 (10 GbE)
      • 1x 3.5mm Headphone

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • Our research indicates this offer is $299.01 lower (13% savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant at the time of this post.
  • This price matches +304 Frontpage Deal from last month.

Original Post

Written by 1gokart
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Micro Center has Apple Mac Studio M5 Max Desktop Computer (2026, MHL64LL/A) for $1999.99. Free store pickup is available where stock permits.

Thanks to Community Member 1gokart for finding this deal.

Note: Availability may vary by location.

Specs:
  • Apple M5 Max 18-Core CPU
  • 36GB Unified RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Apple M5 Max Chip 32-Core GPU
  • WiFi 7 (802.11be) + Bluetooth 6.0
  • 480 Watt Power Supply
  • SDXC Card Reader
  • macOS
  • Ports:
    • Front/Top Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 2 Type-C)
    • Back Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 1 Type-A)
      • 4x Thunderbolt 5
      • 1x HDMI 2.1
      • 1x LAN RJ45 (10 GbE)
      • 1x 3.5mm Headphone

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • Our research indicates this offer is $299.01 lower (13% savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant at the time of this post.
  • This price matches +304 Frontpage Deal from last month.

Original Post

Written by 1gokart

Community Voting

Deal Score
+29
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Why are you downvoting this deal?

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Community Reviews

The Mac Studio M5 Max stands out as a strong local AI and heavy workload machine, with the 48GB and 1TB version seen as the better value at this price and the higher memory and storage option still attractive if you need more headroom. The M5 Max is described as having far more AI processing cores than the M4 Pro, and the Studio is reported to be much faster for prompt speed and token generation. The main caveat is memory and storage planning, since 48GB can still feel tight for larger local models and the base storage is considered too small for a Max chip. The Studio also has replaceable SSDs, which adds some future flexibility.

  • The Mac Studio can support local AI workflows with more usable memory than a 48GB Mac mini setup.

    SmartMeal986

  • The Studio's replaceable SSD design can make storage expansion easier than soldered storage on newer Mac mini models.

    whodiini

  • The M5 Max configuration can deliver faster prompt speed and token generation for local LLM use cases.

    SmartMeal986

  • The deal can be a strong option when higher RAM and storage are needed for local AI development.

    milkmandan

  • The base configuration's storage can be too low for a Max chip, which may limit practical AI workloads.

    M5Rahul

  • macOS can reserve a large portion of system RAM, leaving limited usable memory on 48GB models.

    SmartMeal986

  • Running larger-context LLM tasks may require 20GB+ context, and 32GB can force swapping during workloads.

    SmartMeal986

  • Significant AI work may require far more storage than smaller configurations provide, with 256GB described as tight.

    fintlewoodlewix

Common Questions (3)

AI-generated summary based on comments from the community. Updated ago

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27 Comments

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Yesterday 6:22 PM
1.4K Comments
Joined Nov 2007
brestbryYesterday 6:22 PM
1.4K Comments
Wow, actually in stock at all MC's nationwide?! May have to upgrade me M1m Studio...Will the Apple Store price match since it's in stock? I have some Apple GCs...
Yesterday 6:27 PM
23 Comments
Joined Mar 2023
ThrifleYesterday 6:27 PM
23 Comments
SSD prices are coming down 8% from Sept to Oct in my research. Memory is still high
Yesterday 7:21 PM
4.3K Comments
Joined Jun 2007
dvdrdiscsYesterday 7:21 PM
4.3K Comments
Anyone successfully PM at BB? Tried once and online agent said they can't override the PM. Said I should go to the store. I'm not sure what they mean but I'm guessing $500 difference is too much?
Yesterday 8:32 PM
6 Comments
Joined Sep 2022
2332755Yesterday 8:32 PM
6 Comments
Quote from dvdrdiscs View quoted comment :
Anyone successfully PM at BB? Tried once and online agent said they can't override the PM. Said I should go to the store. I'm not sure what they mean but I'm guessing $500 difference is too much?
Just successfully did online.

Tried last time in store and manager lady refused to do anything over 5% lol... though by the time I got there in the evening MicroCenter website was showing OOS
Yesterday 9:17 PM
1 Comments
Joined Oct 2026
SmartMeal986Yesterday 9:17 PM
1 Comments
Quote from Pythonz View quoted comment :
Good deal! Would you go with this Mac Studio or the M4 Pro Mac mini with 48gb of RAM for primarily local AI (Hermes or Openclaw) development?
I have the M4 Pro 48gb, running oMLX, Hermes, and my main model is Qwen 3.8 27B 4 bit. MacOS only gives you about 36gb usable, 12 is reserved for the OS. One instance will run you 20gb+ context. If you get 32gb you'll barely have enough and some tasks may end up using swap. If you wanna try generating images with comfyui 48gb model is the bare minimum.

The studio is much faster 2x on the prompt speed and ~1.4x on the token gen. But what good is that if you can't run a half decent model with a large context? The 48gb can run every model a 5090 can just slower.

When I make my next jump in performance I'll be getting an M5 Ultra 128GB. Those model sizes you can run multiple local agents and you'll need the extra bump in speed from Max to Ultra
Yesterday 9:33 PM
475 Comments
Joined Apr 2021
t99Yesterday 9:33 PM
475 Comments
Quote from SmartMeal986 View quoted comment :
I have the M4 Pro 48gb, running oMLX, Hermes, and my main model is Qwen 3.8 27B 4 bit. MacOS only gives you about 36gb usable, 12 is reserved for the OS. One instance will run you 20gb+ context. If you get 32gb you'll barely have enough and some tasks may end up using swap. If you wanna try generating images with comfyui 48gb model is the bare minimum. The studio is much faster 2x on the prompt speed and ~1.4x on the token gen. But what good is that if you can't run a half decent model with a large context? The 48gb can run every model a 5090 can just slower. When I make my next jump in performance I'll be getting an M5 Ultra 128GB. Those model sizes you can run multiple local agents and you'll need the extra bump in speed from Max to Ultra
M5 ultra 128gb does not exist, classic Apple force you to pay for 256gb
Yesterday 11:59 PM
174 Comments
Joined Feb 2017
Delgada89Yesterday 11:59 PM
174 Comments
Quote from SmartMeal986 View quoted comment :
I have the M4 Pro 48gb, running oMLX, Hermes, and my main model is Qwen 3.8 27B 4 bit. MacOS only gives you about 36gb usable, 12 is reserved for the OS. One instance will run you 20gb+ context. If you get 32gb you'll barely have enough and some tasks may end up using swap. If you wanna try generating images with comfyui 48gb model is the bare minimum.

The studio is much faster 2x on the prompt speed and ~1.4x on the token gen. But what good is that if you can't run a half decent model with a large context? The 48gb can run every model a 5090 can just slower.

When I make my next jump in performance I'll be getting an M5 Ultra 128GB. Those model sizes you can run multiple local agents and you'll need the extra bump in speed from Max to Ultra
What's your prefill & decode speeds looking like?

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Today 2:49 AM
66 Comments
Joined Nov 2015
cliqaToday 2:49 AM
66 Comments
Apple M3 Ultra or Apple M5 Max?
Today 3:02 AM
1.9K Comments
Joined Jan 2006
whodiiniToday 3:02 AM
1.9K Comments
so what do people who spend $3k+ actually do with these computers? And I dont mean running LLM, I mean what do you actually accomplish - play?
Today 3:26 AM
4.3K Comments
Joined Jun 2007
dvdrdiscsToday 3:26 AM
4.3K Comments
Quote from 2332755 View quoted comment :
Just successfully did online.

Tried last time in store and manager lady refused to do anything over 5% lol... though by the time I got there in the evening MicroCenter website was showing OOS
Did you successfully do it and checked out with a secure link or did they put in a price match request? The former is a slam dunk but the latter seems to result in a denial email later.
Today 7:18 AM
3.5K Comments
Joined Jul 2017
fintlewoodlewixToday 7:18 AM
3.5K Comments
If you want a desktop computer, sure. If you want to do anything significant with AI, you need 256gb right now, and even that's tight. The pace of mac AI development is GLACIAL.
Today 7:45 AM
5 Comments
Joined Sep 2022
FairMusic192Today 7:45 AM
5 Comments
i'm missing on so many good deals from Micro Center all because i don't live near one and they won't ship stuff... sad

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