AppleMac / unified memoryCurrent

Apple M5 Max for local LLMs

Name: LLM Configurator — GPU VRAM Checker
Author: LLM Configurator

Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 29, 2026

With 128 GB at 614 GB/s, the M5 Max runs 140 catalogued models at Q4_K_M with 8K context. The largest that fits is Mistral Medium 3.5 128B (~80.9 GB), and the top pick is Qwen 3.5 122B-A10B at 22–46 tok/s.

Up to 128 GB unified memory at 614 GB/s — 12% more bandwidth than M4 Max at the same memory ceiling. Released March 2026 in the MacBook Pro 14"/16". Fits 70B-class models at Q4_K_M.

Check my hardware →Full benchmark table

Models that run on the M5 Max

Q4_K_M, 8K context, 96 GB usable. Ranked by quality and speed.

Model	VRAM	Speed	Fit
Qwen 3.5 122B-A10B Qwen 3.5	74.5 GB	22–46 tok/s	Fits
Nemotron 3 Super 120B-A12B Nemotron 3 Super	73.3 GB	20–41 tok/s	Fits
Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B Nemotron 3.5	73.3 GB	20–41 tok/s	Fits
Mistral Small 4 119B-A6.5B Mistral Small 4	72.6 GB	13–26 tok/s	Fits
GPT-OSS 120B GPT-OSS	71.6 GB	50–103 tok/s	Fits
Llama 4.5 Scout Llama 4.5	66.6 GB	16–32 tok/s	Fits
Llama 4 Scout 17B Llama 4	68.2 GB	17–35 tok/s	Fits
Qwen3-Coder-Next (80B-A3B MoE) Qwen3-Coder	49.4 GB	71–146 tok/s	Fits
Kolibri 1 Kolibri	48.5 GB	65–135 tok/s	Fits
Nemotron 3.5 Bolt 74B Nemotron 3.5	45.6 GB	34–70 tok/s	Fits
K2 Horizon MoVA 36B-A4B K2 Horizon	25 GB	43–90 tok/s	Fits
Qwen 3.6 35B-A3B Qwen 3.6	22.2 GB	72–149 tok/s	Fits

Showing 12 of 140

Buy it or rent the same memory

Buy the card, or rent a GPU with the same memory by the hour to try models first.

Buy this hardware Apple MacBook Pro M5 Max — 128 GB unified memory · 614 GB/s Deploy in the cloud now RunPod

or compare on Vast.ai

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Cloud GPU links are referral links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them, LLM Configurator may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, LLM Configurator earns from qualifying purchases.

Apple MacBook Pro M5 Max

128 GB unified memory · 614 GB/s

2026 prices are volatile — check the current listing.

Check price on Amazon

Speed vs other GPUs

Llama 3.1 8B, Q4_K_M. Estimated ranges. How this is calculated

M5 Ultra59–123 tok/s M3 Ultra43–90 tok/s M1 Ultra43–89 tok/s M2 Ultra43–89 tok/s M5 Max34–71 tok/s M4 Max31–64 tok/s M5 Max (32-core GPU)27–56 tok/s GB10 Grace Blackwell26–53 tok/s

Specifications

Specs last updated 2026-09-29.

Memory: 128 GB
Memory bandwidth: 614 GB/s
Architecture: ARM, 3nm TSMC
Series: Apple Silicon
Board power: 35 W
Release year: 2026
Usable for models: 96 GB (~75% of unified)

Best for70B modelslarge MoE modelsMac StudioMacBook Pro

Recommended first model (Ollama)

Frequently asked questions

Can the Apple M5 Max run local LLMs?

Yes. With 128 GB (96 GB usable by a model) it runs 140 of the catalogued models at Q4_K_M with 8K context; the largest is Mistral Medium 3.5 128B, needing about 80.9 GB.

How fast is the Apple M5 Max for AI inference?

It is estimated to run Llama 3.1 8B at 34–71 tok/s at Q4_K_M. Llama 3.3 70B is estimated at 4.9–10 tok/s. These are modelled estimates from memory bandwidth, not measurements; the methodology page shows the formula.

What LLMs can I run on 128 GB?

Among the best that fit: Qwen 3.5 122B-A10B, Nemotron 3 Super 120B-A12B, Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B, Mistral Small 4 119B-A6.5B, GPT-OSS 120B. The quickest start is Ollama: ollama run llama4:scout.