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Dr.W 21.2K Views
Nov 5, 2026 4:57 PM

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

$2,000

$2,500

20% off
& More + 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, 512GB SSD) for $1999.99. Free store pickup is available where stock permits.

Micro Center also has Apple Mac Studio M5 Max Desktop Computer (2026, Z1U4000E5, 1TB SSD) for $2199.99. Free store pickup is available where stock permits.

Thanks to Community Member Dr.W for finding this deal.

Note: Availability may vary by location.

Specs:
  • Apple M5 Max 18-Core CPU
  • 36GB Unified RAM
  • 512GB / 1TB 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 for the 512GB is $299.01 lower (13% savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant at the time of this post.
  • This price for the 512GB matches previous popular Frontpage Deals.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by Dr.W
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, 512GB SSD) for $1999.99. Free store pickup is available where stock permits.

Micro Center also has Apple Mac Studio M5 Max Desktop Computer (2026, Z1U4000E5, 1TB SSD) for $2199.99. Free store pickup is available where stock permits.

Thanks to Community Member Dr.W for finding this deal.

Note: Availability may vary by location.

Specs:
  • Apple M5 Max 18-Core CPU
  • 36GB Unified RAM
  • 512GB / 1TB 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 for the 512GB is $299.01 lower (13% savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant at the time of this post.
  • This price for the 512GB matches previous popular Frontpage Deals.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by Dr.W

Community Voting

Deal Score
+77
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Why are you downvoting this deal?

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Top Comments

moondigger
9Comments
18Reputation
This is what I think might be a new SKU at Micro Center -- Other than the SSD, this is identical to the popular $1999.99 deal for the base model. The significant difference is that it comes with a 1TB internal SSD, which literally doubles both the capacity and the performance of the storage. It's a savings of $600 off the retail price. I wish this had been available a few weeks ago when I bought the base model -- I'd gladly have paid an extra $200 for the upgraded SSD.

https://www.microcenter.com/produ...p-computer

ETA: I apologize if this post lacks some of the features of other deals posts, like the photo/thumbnail of the Mac, or other bits. I think this is the first deal I've posted here.
ETA2: I got a thumbnail in there.
Go to Comment
moondigger
9Comments
18Reputation
I have one of these, and I almost never hear the fan. Basically, it's only audible when I'm running Handbrake x265 software queues, which work the CPU exceptionally hard.

(Checking now... ) I am very sensitive to noises, including fans. I can only hear the fan on the Studio if I turn off the external Thunderbolt enclosure (which I have a hard drive and SSD in) AND put my head very close to the Studio. It's nearly silent. If yours isn't, maybe there's something wrong with it.
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37 Comments

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Nov 5, 2026 8:35 PM
9 Comments
Joined Apr 2014
moondiggerNov 5, 2026 8:35 PM
9 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

This is what I think might be a new SKU at Micro Center -- Other than the SSD, this is identical to the popular $1999.99 deal for the base model. The significant difference is that it comes with a 1TB internal SSD, which literally doubles both the capacity and the performance of the storage. It's a savings of $600 off the retail price. I wish this had been available a few weeks ago when I bought the base model -- I'd gladly have paid an extra $200 for the upgraded SSD.

https://www.microcenter.com/produ...p-computer

ETA: I apologize if this post lacks some of the features of other deals posts, like the photo/thumbnail of the Mac, or other bits. I think this is the first deal I've posted here.
ETA2: I got a thumbnail in there.
Last edited by moondigger November 5, 2026 at 02:19 PM.
3
1
Nov 5, 2026 11:48 PM
478 Comments
Joined Apr 2021
t99Nov 5, 2026 11:48 PM
478 Comments
I bought one but unlike my MacBook Pro the fan is always on, around 1000 rpm at idle, and can definitely hear it. Can't keep on my desk, too distracting. Will probably return it

Update: took to Apple store, they said it needs to be replaced.
Last edited by t99 November 11, 2026 at 04:43 PM.
4
4
Nov 6, 2026 12:04 AM
9 Comments
Joined Apr 2014
moondiggerNov 6, 2026 12:04 AM
9 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from t99 View quoted comment :
I bought one but unlike my MacBook Pro the fan is always on, around 1000 rpm at idle, and can definitely hear it. Can't keep on my desk, too distracting. Will probably return it
I have one of these, and I almost never hear the fan. Basically, it's only audible when I'm running Handbrake x265 software queues, which work the CPU exceptionally hard.

(Checking now... ) I am very sensitive to noises, including fans. I can only hear the fan on the Studio if I turn off the external Thunderbolt enclosure (which I have a hard drive and SSD in) AND put my head very close to the Studio. It's nearly silent. If yours isn't, maybe there's something wrong with it.
1
Nov 6, 2026 12:07 AM
478 Comments
Joined Apr 2021
t99Nov 6, 2026 12:07 AM
478 Comments
Quote from moondigger View quoted comment :
I have one of these, and I almost never hear the fan. Basically, it's only audible when I'm running Handbrake x265 software queues, which work the CPU exceptionally hard. (Checking now... ) I am very sensitive to noises, including fans. I can only hear the fan on the Studio if I turn off the external Thunderbolt enclosure (which I have a hard drive and SSD in) AND put my head very close to the Studio. It's nearly silent. If yours isn't, maybe there's something wrong with it.
Thanks yeah maybe I should try a replacement.
Nov 6, 2026 3:34 AM
45 Comments
Joined Nov 2023
satanshandNov 6, 2026 3:34 AM
45 Comments
Quote from t99 View quoted comment :
Thanks yeah maybe I should try a replacement.
These are popular with audio engineers since they're basically impossible to hear so I'd guess something wrong with
1
Nov 6, 2026 6:37 PM
45 Comments
Joined Nov 2022
TenseFeather3818Nov 6, 2026 6:37 PM
45 Comments
Quote from t99 View quoted comment :
I bought one but unlike my MacBook Pro the fan is always on, around 1000 rpm at idle, and can definitely hear it. Can't keep on my desk, too distracting. Will probably return it
There's a project on GitHub called silentstudio. Use your favorite agent to adapt that for m5 (had to do it for m4 at least) and you can disable the fans completely. I did that for a while because the whirring bothered me and it sucked up dust for no reason (barely used the CPU anyways)
1
Nov 6, 2026 6:50 PM
45 Comments
Joined Nov 2022
TenseFeather3818Nov 6, 2026 6:50 PM
45 Comments
Quote from satanshand View quoted comment :
These are popular with audio engineers since they're basically impossible to hear so I'd guess something wrong with
Most people just can't hear those frequencies very well, some do myself included. When the room is completely quiet it's distracting. Third generation Mac Studio for me and it's always been like this. Tbh most people don't even know the Mac Studio has an always-on fan and think it's like the MacBook Pro but it's not. It's scary how much dust that thing collects even when idle most of the time. Audio engineers have great hearing but it's unavoidable to have a little fan somewhere so you keep the mics and compute in separate rooms.See last response for silentstudio on GitHub. I've successfully used it on m2 and m4 studios (after updating sensor ids) and assume m5 will work the same

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Nov 6, 2026 8:02 PM
52 Comments
Joined Jan 2025
hunter3941Nov 6, 2026 8:02 PM
52 Comments
Only on Slickdeals does a 2000 dollar computer thread turn into a debate over whether you can hear the fan.
3
Nov 6, 2026 9:57 PM
1.4K Comments
Joined Dec 2007
PonderNov 6, 2026 9:57 PM
1.4K Comments
Quote from hunter3941 View quoted comment :
Only on Slickdeals does a 2000 dollar computer thread turn into a debate over whether you can hear the fan.
If you need the a computer now, it is just information for those sensitive to fan noise or coil whine. Would it be ok to discuss the fan if the computer was going for 1500? Honestly this price is not too out of line for historical pricing of Mac Studios.
Nov 7, 2026 7:20 AM
1.6K Comments
Joined Jun 2008
DavNeilNov 7, 2026 7:20 AM
1.6K Comments
Quote from moondigger View quoted comment :
This is what I think might be a new SKU at Micro Center -- Other than the SSD, this is identical to the popular $1999.99 deal for the base model. The significant difference is that it comes with a 1TB internal SSD, which literally doubles both the capacity and the performance of the storage. It's a savings of $600 off the retail price. I wish this had been available a few weeks ago when I bought the base model -- I'd gladly have paid an extra $200 for the upgraded SSD.

https://www.microcenter.com/produ...p-computer

ETA: I apologize if this post lacks some of the features of other deals posts, like the photo/thumbnail of the Mac, or other bits. I think this is the first deal I've posted here.
ETA2: I got a thumbnail in there.
Can some one confirm that 1TB Version has performance improvement as mentioned above. Read is same in both as per my research and write is better but not double?
Nov 7, 2026 7:21 AM
1.6K Comments
Joined Jun 2008
DavNeilNov 7, 2026 7:21 AM
1.6K Comments
Any thing which competes with this in M6 line up because there should be some reason for discount? I am thinking of reserving one and getting one today?
Nov 7, 2026 12:24 PM
26 Comments
Joined Sep 2022
SharpSnail2475Nov 7, 2026 12:24 PM
26 Comments
Quote from DavNeil View quoted comment :
Any thing which competes with this in M6 line up because there should be some reason for discount? I am thinking of reserving one and getting one today?
The M6 lineup is only ever going to have a base M6 chip... no Pro or Max versions, so no perfect comparison.Geekbench scores say the M6 is about 8% faster in single-core use, but the M5 Max is 45% faster in multi-core use. And the Max smokes the M6 in graphics performance at 140% faster.If you're using this to browse the internet or light photo editing, the M6 is slightly faster. If you're doing heavy photo and video editing or local AI work or 3d rendering or gaming, the M5 will be much faster.
Nov 7, 2026 12:38 PM
33 Comments
Joined Mar 2018
jtibNov 7, 2026 12:38 PM
33 Comments
Quote from TenseFeather3818 View quoted comment :
Most people just can't hear those frequencies very well, some do myself included. When the room is completely quiet it's distracting. Third generation Mac Studio for me and it's always been like this. Tbh most people don't even know the Mac Studio has an always-on fan and think it's like the MacBook Pro but it's not. It's scary how much dust that thing collects even when idle most of the time. Audio engineers have great hearing but it's unavoidable to have a little fan somewhere so you keep the mics and compute in separate rooms.See last response for silentstudio on GitHub. I've successfully used it on m2 and m4 studios (after updating sensor ids) and assume m5 will work the same
Use the app spectrumview on your iPhone to show the sound frequency to others when they can't hear it. I once had a terrible frequency coming from my neighbors house that they could not hear, but bothered me terribly. I was able to show them with that app.
Nov 7, 2026 3:22 PM
1.6K Comments
Joined Jun 2008
DavNeilNov 7, 2026 3:22 PM
1.6K Comments
Quote from SharpSnail2475 View quoted comment :
The M6 lineup is only ever going to have a base M6 chip... no Pro or Max versions, so no perfect comparison.Geekbench scores say the M6 is about 8% faster in single-core use, but the M5 Max is 45% faster in multi-core use. And the Max smokes the M6 in graphics performance at 140% faster.If you're using this to browse the internet or light photo editing, the M6 is slightly faster. If you're doing heavy photo and video editing or local AI work or 3d rendering or gaming, the M5 will be much faster.
Thanks, So far I compared my current setup RTX 5080 , AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX 12-Cores 130924 MiB, RTX A5000, AMD R9700 Pro and Apple M5 Max 18-Core CPU; 36GB Unified Memory; 1TB Solid State Drive; 32-Core GPU/16-Core Neural Engine.

As per ChatGPT Sol Medium says don't buy and hold for AI work, but I am going to buy because I want to write some iPhone Apps and someone mentioned above Comyfi like work as well as you spiced up by some stats. Once again, Thanks a bunch, repped you on your other post about spectrometer, that goes to higher level of creativity.
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Nov 7, 2026 6:42 PM
30 Comments
Joined Oct 2025
bqw371Nov 7, 2026 6:42 PM
30 Comments
https://www.bestbuy.com/product/a...ku/6566932

Bestbuy price matched MicroCenter for me.

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