Apple has debuted its M5 Ultra Mac Studio, featuring a 36-core CPU, an 80-core GPU, and support for up to 512GB of unified memory. According to the source, the new workstation delivers four times faster large language model prompt performance than the previous M3 Ultra model, alongside upgraded connectivity options including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and up to six Thunderbolt 5 ports.
How much does the M5 Ultra Mac Studio cost and when will it ship?
The Mac Studio equipped with the M5 Ultra and 96GB of unified memory starts at $5,499. Preorders opened on August 25, with shipping scheduled to begin on September 22. However, builds featuring the maximum 512GB of unified memory will not become available until late October. Alongside the desktop announcement, Apple also introduced the new Mac mini featuring the M6 chip at a starting price of $899.
Why did Apple release the new Mac Studio outside its usual schedule?
According to the source, enterprise customers demanding more capable machines to run local AI models forced Apple’s hand, prompting an unusual August release window instead of the company’s traditional spring or fall announcement cycle. This fourth-generation Mac Studio shares the same M5 generation of silicon across both Max and Ultra variants for the first time since 2023. The M5 Max carries an 18-core CPU and a 32- or 40-core GPU featuring a Neural Accelerator in every core.
How do the M5 Ultra specifications compare to older models?
The M5 Ultra scales up to 36 CPU cores and an 80-core GPU while maintaining the same 7.7-inch square aluminum chassis design that Apple has used since the computer’s 2022 inception. When measured against the M3 Ultra, Apple pitches the new processor as delivering up to 4.3 times the AI performance, 1.8 times the graphics capability, and 1.3 times the CPU performance. Furthermore, memory bandwidth reaches 1.2TB/s, marking a nearly 50 percent increase over the M3 Ultra.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum unified memory available on the M5 Ultra Mac Studio?
The M5 Ultra configuration supports up to 512GB of unified memory.
What networking upgrades are included in the fourth-generation Mac Studio?
The new systems feature Wi-Fi 7 powered by Apple’s N1 networking chip, alongside Bluetooth 6 and Thunderbolt 5 ports capable of 120Gb/s speeds.
What are the baseline specifications for the M5 Max model?
The M5 Max starts at $2,499 and includes an 18-core CPU, a choice of a 32- or 40-core GPU with dedicated Neural Accelerators, and up to 128GB of memory.
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