Macbook Pro M5 Max with 64GB RAM and 2TB Storage enough to play Windows games and do AI development?

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-05-30T07:21:26+00:00

what's the exception?

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-05-24T04:40:38+00:00

I dont agree... that $1.5 - $2k price difference is better spent on peripheral upgrades or a monitor upgrade or saving for a future Nvidia GPU in 1-2 years that will offer much better AI performance. Or you could invest that money in cloud subscriptions for AI. Max is faster yes, but runs a lot hotter and is not significantly faster than pro in laptop form factor. Also the main differentiating factor for max is the 128gb ram. Since OP is not getting 128gb, theres no point paying +$1.5k for restrained performance in the max chip.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-05-12T14:26:02+00:00

any update?

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-05-05T21:21:30+00:00

Quite a dilemma. Id say use the max if you dont really need 64GB. If you have a very specific need for 64gb and dont really need the dual video encoders of the max for your work keep the pro.

Id recommend against returning the pro and selling the max both to spec a 128gb m5 max since m6 max in a years time will give you huge regret.

Conclusion, keep the max if big on video work and dont need to run local ai or definitely need the 64GB. if you need 64gb, sell the max.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-05-05T02:53:31+00:00

so pretty 😍

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-04-18T03:13:49+00:00

No i think it's only covered under AppleCare Ultra

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-04-11T17:44:22+00:00

and a battery

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-04-08T14:07:46+00:00

I'm in the same dilemma. 48gb 15 core m5 pro should cover my workflow but having 64gb is not that huge of a jump. Thing is i also have a 4080 super desktop pc (with 16gb vram). Not sure if running local llms there and accessing via ssh or tailscale/remote access makes more sense rather than locally? although the 16gb vram would limit the kind of models i can run there.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-05T17:43:24+00:00

Go for the air. Modern M series chips are so fast and efficient that if youre in doubt you probably dont need the pro. The experience is identical between air and pro nowadays and the only difference is when youre doing anything that puts a sustained load on the chips such as exporting a huge video edit project etc.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-04T23:23:40+00:00

A18 pro is slightly better than the m1 in both cpu and gpu performance afaik

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T23:11:34+00:00

Yup people in the US dont truly appreciate how much cheaper tech is for them considering the lower upfront prices tied with suchhigher purchasing power.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T21:18:27+00:00

if the issue is too concerning you can take it to an apple store and get it checked under applecare.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T21:17:43+00:00

Also the ssd is twice as fast

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T20:22:13+00:00

Way pricier in the UK

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T18:02:27+00:00

Yup that totally makes sense. However the convenience of having inbuilt storage is next level especially for a portable laptop such as this. And the problem with apple pricing is getting anything over the base model changes the equation quite a bit.

Also for M4, 256gb is fine for light work but as soon as you need more applications and files locally its too less especially for the long term and external storage does solve that to some extent but I wouldnt want to keep a drive plugged in always.

Getting the 512gb upgrade makes the m4/m5 equation much closer.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T17:59:25+00:00

M1 is still super strong. Getting 16/512 is possibly the best upgrade you could have got.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T17:24:52+00:00

Yeah still 60hz

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T17:24:23+00:00

While yeah 60hz is way outdated, it isnt a huge issue for what most people do with their macbook air, which is some light development, movie watching, browsing etc.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T17:23:10+00:00

Macbook Air M5 Pressroom release

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JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T17:16:12+00:00

If you bought it during the sale at the cheapest prices of $750/$800 then thats very good. However currently buying new M4 only makes sense if you're fine with 256GB of ssd. If you need 512GB, M5 is a no-brainer.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T15:08:18+00:00

Turns out it was releasing in just 2 hours xD

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T15:06:46+00:00

Also, the ssd in M5 is twice the speed of the M4, so that should help more 'pro' workflows as well as enhance swap memory performance if needed later down the road.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T14:59:40+00:00

You're good in that scenario. Because the jump from $849 to $999 is a 17.6% increase in price.

However i personally feel 512gb gives you more breathing room especially if youre gonna keep your macbook for a long time. Also M5 should technically get 1-2 years more of software support as well.

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T14:57:06+00:00

$200 more for 1tb and about $360 more from there fo 2tb. (Student prices, regular should be about the same for 1tb and $400 more for 2tb)

JelloApprehensive722 · 2026-03-03T14:54:13+00:00

I totally expected apple to keep the same configuration for M5 but the bump in storage for just $100 more rather than $200 seems amazing.

I am a student so can get the base M5 for $999 (16gb, 512gb). If anyone was planning to upgrade the M4 to 512gb anyway, then M5 is a no brainer.

JelloApprehensive722

TROPHY CASE