Hardware
Mac hardware, memory, performance and setup guides for local AI on Apple Silicon.
- Choose the right hardware
- Plan RAM correctly
- Calculate value
- Understand cooling
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Best MacBook for AI Development in 2026: M5 Pro 48GB vs 64GB
M5 Pro 48GB is the best overall MacBook for local AI development (7B-32B models). M5 Air 24GB, M5 Pro 64GB and M5 Max 128GB for Ollama, MLX, LM Studio.
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How Much RAM Does a Local LLM Need on a Mac?
16GB runs 7B–8B models, 24–32GB is the sweet spot for 12B–32B, and 70B Q4 needs 64GB with checks. Mac RAM tiers for Ollama, LM Studio and MLX, incl. KV cache.
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Mac mini M4 for Local AI in 2026: 16GB, 24GB or M4 Pro?
The Mac mini M4 with 24GB is the practical pick for local AI: 4B-8B models with headroom. 32GB opens 8B-14B, M4 Pro adds bandwidth. Check Activation Lock used.