Apple's 512GB Mac Studio vanishes, a quiet acknowledgment of the RAM shortage

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Mac Studio 512GB Removal & Apple’s Strategy

  • 512GB RAM Mac Studio was niche and very expensive (~$10K), but some report strong demand in certain channels, especially for AI workloads.
  • Main theories for its removal:
    • DRAM price spike makes the config unprofitable or hard to price without PR fallout.
    • Apple sold through its planned production run and doesn’t want to reorder before next-gen chips.
    • Apple may make more money selling multiple 256GB machines instead of one 512GB.
  • Some think it’s tied to an impending M5 Ultra Mac Studio (possibly with 512–768GB RAM) and that Apple wants to avoid buyer regret on a soon-to-be-obsolete $10K machine. Exact roadmap is unclear and based on rumors.

Apple Silicon, AI, and Local Models

  • High‑RAM Mac Studios are seen as compelling for local LLM inference: unified memory is shared CPU/GPU RAM and cheaper per GB than equivalent GPU VRAM rentals.
  • Others argue that for many, slotted RAM PCs with upgradeability or GPU VRAM still make more sense for ML.
  • Concern that soldered, non-upgradable RAM forces overbuying “for future‑proofing,” especially painful during a RAM price spike.

RAM Shortage vs. Cartel Debate

  • Many attribute rising prices and product changes to AI data center demand for DRAM.
  • Others argue the big DRAM vendors act as a de facto cartel via public, coordinated supply cuts, pointing to past price‑fixing cases and long‑term flat real prices.
  • A detailed comment claims large AI players pre‑committed a huge share of global RAM supply, pushing up prices and squeezing consumers, open‑source, and small providers.
  • There is disagreement whether this is primarily genuine scarcity, coordinated supply management, or both.

Broader Hardware Market Effects

  • Raspberry Pi 5 and other SBCs have become much more expensive; several posters now see used x86 mini PCs as better value, with Pis retained mainly for low power, PoE, and ecosystem.
  • Some expect RAM shortages to normalize in 1–3 years, as in past cycles; others say this spike is unprecedented and could be “extinction-level” for low-cost electronics makers.

Future Macs & Positioning

  • Speculation that Apple will:
    • Release an M5 Ultra Studio (possibly 768GB), and maybe a rethought Mac Pro focused on AI.
    • Continue using high RAM tiers in marketing around local model capability.
  • Product naming (Max vs Ultra) and fragmented line (Air/Pro/Mini/Studio/Pro) are seen as confusing.