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Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max or M5 Ultra) vs Apple Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMac Studio (M5 Max or M5 Ultra)ApplePower Mac G4 (Digital Audio)
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2026January 2001
Performance
ProcessorApple M5 Max or Apple M5 UltraPowerPC G4 466 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio), PowerPC G4 533 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio), 2 × PowerPC G4 533 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio), PowerPC G4 667 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio) or PowerPC G4 733 MHz (Power Mac Digital Audio)
CPU cores18, 30 or 361 or 2
Graphics32-core GPU, 40-core GPU, 64-core GPU or 80-core GPUATI RAGE 128 Pro (16 MB) or NVIDIA GeForce2 MX (32 MB)
Memory36 GB, 48 GB, 64 GB, 96 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB128 MB, 256 MB or 1.5 GB
Storage512 GB to 16 TB30 GB to 60 GB
CPUM5 Max: 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores; M5 Ultra: 30-core CPU with 10 super cores and 20 performance cores, or 36-core CPU with 12 super cores and 24 performance cores466/533 MHz single or dual 533 MHz G4: 1 MB backside L2 cache at half processor speed. 667/733 MHz: 256 KB on-chip L2 and 1 MB backside L3; retained 733 sheet specifies quarter-speed L3, whereas launch prose loosely says half-speed. 133 MHz system bus. Generic per-processor chip records do not infer silicon identity.
GPUNeural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracingStock 466 MHz: ATI RAGE 128 Pro 16 MB; stock 533/667/733 MHz: NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 32 MB. Retained options include ATI Radeon 32 MB and GeForce3 64 MB; these are not silently treated as launch stock.
AI engine16-core Neural Engine (M5 Max); 32-core Neural Engine (M5 Ultra)–
Memory typeApple’s current specification table lists 256GB and 512GB with the 36-core CPU / 80-core GPU M5 Ultra; its configure-to-order section only explicitly restricts 512GB. Current UK store configurator lists memory options up to 256GB, so the maker-confirmed 512GB option is not claimed as currently selectable there.128 MB standard on 466/533 MHz; 256 MB on 667/733 MHz. Three PC133 SDRAM DIMM slots support up to 1.5 GB; base and maximum memory retain evidenced processor/drive/graphics ties.
Memory bandwidthM5 Max: 460GB/s with the 32-core GPU, 614GB/s with the 40-core GPU; M5 Ultra: 1.2TB/s–
Storage typeSSDStock 466 MHz: 30 GB 5400 rpm; 533 MHz: 40 GB 7200 rpm; 667/733 MHz: 60 GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA/66. CD-RW 8x/4x/32x on lower configurations; 733 MHz SuperDrive writes DVD-R 2x and CD-R 8x. Current retained sheet additionally lists a 733 MHz CD-RW factory variant and omits launch 667 MHz; both distinctions retained here. Macs Only tested a maker-store dual 533 MHz with a named 30 GB downgrade from standard 40 GB; only these restricted dual configurations are included. Three drive bays; optional SCSI and independent CTO options remain in details.
Expansion slots–Four full-length 64-bit 33 MHz PCI slots plus dedicated AGP 4x graphics slot.
Media engineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode; M5 Max: video decode engine, two video encode engines and two ProRes encode and decode engines; M5 Ultra: two video decode engines, four video encode engines and four ProRes encode and decode engines–
Display
ScreenNone built inNone built in
Connections
Ports4 × Thunderbolt 5, 2 × USB-C, 2 × USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet10 Gb/s1 Gb/s
External displaysUp to 5–
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7–
Bluetooth6–
Front portsM5 Max: 2 × USB-C (up to 10Gb/s); M5 Ultra: 2 × Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s); SDXC card slot (UHS-II)–
Back ports4 × Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) with Thunderbolt 5 and USB 4 (up to 120Gb/s), USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) and DisplayPort 2.1; 2 × USB-A (USB 3, up to 5Gb/s); HDMI 2.1 with multichannel audio output; 10Gb Ethernet (RJ-45); 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphonesTwo FireWire 400 and two 12 Mbps USB chassis ports; Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, ADC and VGA; optional 11 Mbps AirPort card. Headphone jack and Apple Pro Speakers minijack; no analog audio-input jack. Keyboard USB ports excluded.
External displaysM5 Max: up to five (four at up to 6K 60Hz or 4K 165Hz, plus a fifth at up to 5K 60Hz over HDMI), or three (two at up to 8K 60Hz, 5K 120Hz or 4K 240Hz, plus a third at up to 5K 60Hz over HDMI); M5 Ultra: up to eight at up to 6K 60Hz or 4K 165Hz, or four at up to 8K 60Hz, 5K 120Hz or 4K 240Hz; up to four over a single Thunderbolt port; VRR and HDR supportedADC and VGA; maker graphics support up to 1920 × 1200. No assumption of simultaneous extended desktop for standard cards.
SpeakersBuilt-in speakerBuilt-in speaker; optional Apple Pro Speakers use a dedicated amplified connection.
Keyboard and mouse–Apple Pro Keyboard and optical Apple Pro Mouse.
MicrophonesNone built in; Apple says an external microphone or headset is needed for calls–
Design and power
TypeCompactTower
Weight2.7 kg13.6 kg
Width × depth × height197 × 197 × 95 mm226 × 467 × 432 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detail–Maker reference weight 13.6 kg; height 43.2, width 22.6, depth 46.7 cm. Weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Power supplyBuilt-in; 100–240V AC; 480W maximum continuous powerMaximum continuous power 338 W.
Power useM5 Max with 32-core GPU, 36GB and 512GB: 7W idle, 200W maximum; M5 Ultra with 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 512GB memory and 16TB: 9W idle, 385W maximum (Apple wall-power test)–
NoiseDeclared to ECMA-109 as 1.5 B sound power and 7 dB sound pressure at the operator position, at idle and wireless web (M5 Ultra, 30-core CPU, 64-core GPU)–
Materials100% recycled aluminium enclosure; 35% recycled content overall–
ColoursSilver–
In the boxMac Studio, power leadMac OS 9.1 in reviewed shipment; iMovie 2 and downloadable iTunes/Disc Burner. Maker confirms 466/533 MHz immediately available on 9 January, 667/733 MHz expected February, and actual 733 MHz SuperDrive shipments on 19 February 2001. Later options are not a new generation.

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