Mac Studio 512GB RAM Option Disappears Amid Global DRAM Shortage (macrumors.com)
- Reference: 0180914266
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/03/05/216223/mac-studio-512gb-ram-option-disappears-amid-global-dram-shortage
- Source link: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/05/mac-studio-no-512gb-ram-upgrade/
> The Mac Studio starts with 36GB RAM, but there were upgrades ranging from 48GB to 512GB, with the higher tier upgrades limited to the M3 Ultra chip. Now there are options ranging from 48GB to 256GB, with wait times into May for the 256GB upgrade. Apple has also raised the price for the 256GB RAM upgrade option. It used to cost $1,600 to go from 96GB to 256GB on the high-end M3 Ultra machine, but now it costs $2,000. 512GB was $4,000 when it was available.
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/05/mac-studio-no-512gb-ram-upgrade/
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/28/0510226/clawdbot-has-ai-techies-buying-mac-minis
this bubble sucks on both ends (Score:4, Informative)
This is the worst tech bubble I've experienced. Not only is it driving up prices for consumer goods now, but data centers these days have such integrated and specialized stuff that hobbyists won't be able to make much use of it when it goes to auction. The chances of picking up some 4U servers at a decent price when the bubble pops are not good due to the data centers the hyperscalers are building not using much of them. Plus, the limited number of jobs and extensive working from home culture now means that aeron chairs won't be dumped onto your local buy/sell/swap place either. I just want cheap tulips but they shan't be had. Worst bubble ever.
Re: (Score:2)
When the bubble bursts, China can buy up the servers and use them to do nuclear simulations. It's an ill wind etc
M5 Ultra with 1TB of RAM Incoming (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't think this necessarily has to do with the RAM shortage as much as making way for the M5 Ultra with 1TB of RAM. The persistent rumor is that Apple is doubling the top RAM option with the M5 Ultra. Personally if they do and the price is in line with the RAM on the M3 Ultra I'll probably upgrade from my current machine. The RAM combined with faster prompt processing and overall faster inference will make a monster machine.
Re: (Score:2)
Sounds like similar segmenting to what nVidia does with their graphics cards now. In the RTX 50 series they have cards in the $100-1000 range, and then the flagship 5090 which jumps up to $3-5k. Notice the gap. For memory allotment , they have a bunch of cards with 8, 12, and 16 GB, then nothing until you go full 5090 and get 32 GB.
Apple could be getting rid of their 512 GB model just to push those who would have bought it upmarket to the 1 TB model, which will cost similar to a Gulfstream jet. (But image A
Nobody needs ... (Score:4, Funny)
... more than 640k.
We hate selling computers (Score:4, Insightful)
Nobody wants to sell to consumers anymore. Memory manufactures want orders that go out beyond 5 quarters and pay near retail price for wholesale memory.
Re: (Score:1)
Do you consider a $10k computer a consumer device?
Re: (Score:3)
No, but these devices do get used a LOT commercially.. A 512gb mac is a fantastic device for certain tasks, including as mentioned local AI.
Friend of mine uses a 256gig mac as an AI agent for processing forms in his law practice. No, its not doing lawyers stuff,, rather he's using an AI model and a python script (that I wrote for him), to sort documents and characterize the contents then store indexes to them in a vector database so he can come in later and find them. Since his job regularly involves discov
Re: (Score:2)
These kinds of things are why all these internet “a.i. is useless and no one asked for this.” comments are so ignorant. You often see how actual professionals whose time is worth a considerable sum get the investment of power and hardware out of it with things like this.
What is the motivation? (Score:2)
Those against AI must be Russian or Chinese trolls trying to slow down western progress is the only thing that makes sense.
Re: (Score:2)
is same generation silicon built at the same foundries? yes.
Re: We hate selling computers (Score:2)
At the end of this manufactured so-called crisis, Apple may very well be the last personal computer manufacturer as we know them today.
Eventually the AI companies will run out of funding and the memory and storage demand will plummet. But as for when that will happen, who knows?
Re: eh (Score:2)
Noctua makes fans for lots of companies, they will probably be fine. Asus can't die soon enough though
Re: (Score:2)
> Nobody wants to sell to consumers anymore. Memory manufactures want orders that go out beyond 5 quarters and pay near retail price for wholesale memory.
Memory manufacturers have that, that is the problem. The entire DRAM supply globally is currently spoken for.
Re: (Score:3)
The issue is that the companies that make RAM also need to report to their investors. So they have 2 options:
- Sell to the public and state "We made X profit this quarter"
Or
- Sell to the server market that will pay more to secure the RAM and state "We made X++ profit this quarter"
And when it's your job to make as much for their investors, which will you choose: to keep your job or be let go for someone else?