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Apple Cuts More Mac Studio and Mac Mini RAM Options as Memory Shortage Worsens

I know that the way Apple connects RAM to their SoCs has advantages in terms of latency and especially bandwidth, but this shortage makes me appreciate that I can reuse the RAM modules in my Linux desktop and Framework Laptop for several generations of CPUs.
 
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gsmornot said:
This is not good. I am ready to replace my 27" iMac and had the idea I would go back to a mini but at this point, I may be moving to a laptop even though my MAC normally stays home. I carry my iPad more often when I'm out. I need to decide if I want to get in line or just take another path.
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I am in the same boat. I've got a 2017 27'' iMac and I really want to replace it with either a Mac Mini or maybe an entry level Mac Studio. Have been patiently waiting for the M5 versions of both. don't want a laptop. I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer although I am quite worried what "several months" means to Cook. I am afraid it means the same thing as "in the coming year" meant about the new Siri last May.
 
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V.K. said:
I am in the same boat. I've got a 2017 27'' iMac and I really want to replace it with either a Mac Mini or maybe an entry level Mac Studio. Have been patiently waiting for the M5 versions of both. don't want a laptop. I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer although I am quite worried what "several months" means to Cook. I am afraid it means the same thing as "in the coming year" meant about the new Siri last May.
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I don’t think you’ll have to wait that long. We’d still all be on M3s waiting for M4 if the hardware were on the Siri timeline. 😉
 
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turbineseaplane said:
I honestly question the functional usefulness of higher RAM spec on MBAs due to the fanless nature.

It seems like most things you're likely to do that would really utilize 24+ GB of RAM would get hampered by throttling on an MBA.

Having any fan at all, like in the Mac Mini, does absolute wonders for this.
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That is very good food for thought. I’ve read a few posts from people saying their 8GB RAM or 16GB RAM MacBook Air having laggy slowness caused by virtual memory kicking in every time they use a web browser with multiple tabs open. I used to think maybe that problem could be solved by getting a MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM, but your post has made me think that might not be the case.

It’s too bad Tim Cook removed the fan from the MacBook Air, likely in order to cut costs to maximize profits, despite Apple claiming the reason was to improve the form factor.
 
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ThomasJL said:
That is very good food for thought. I’ve read a few posts from people saying their 8GB RAM or 16GB RAM MacBook Air having laggy slowness caused by virtual memory kicking in every time they use a web browser with multiple tabs open. I used to think maybe that problem could be solved by getting a MacBook Air with 32GB of RAM, but your post has made me think that might not be the case.

It’s too bad Tim Cook removed the fan from the MacBook Air, likely in order to cut costs to maximize profits, despite Apple claiming the reason was to improve the form factor.
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@ThomasJL I usually agree with about 47.3% of your Tim Cook pronouncements, but in this case I think no fan in the MBA was mainly a form-factor consideration and the cost-savings was just a happy coincidence for Tim Cook. 😉
 
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Bought an M5 Macbook air about 6 weeks ago fully loaded (32gigs of ram, 4TB internal SSD). Glad I made that move, who knows where this whole thing is going as more data centers go up all over the world. I don't expect to purchase my next Mac for for another 3 years, hopefully the situation will be over by then. I guess we'll see.
 
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gsmornot said:
This is not good. I am ready to replace my 27" iMac and had the idea I would go back to a mini but at this point, I may be moving to a laptop even though my MAC normally stays home. I carry my iPad more often when I'm out. I need to decide if I want to get in line or just take another path.
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To replace my 2015 27” iMac l, I bought my refurbished mini (64 GB RAM, 8TB SSD) from B&H Photo in February. Very pleased with their service and of course, with the mini, which I paired with a 27” Dell monitor.
 
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gsmornot said:
This is not good. I am ready to replace my 27" iMac and had the idea I would go back to a mini but at this point, I may be moving to a laptop even though my MAC normally stays home. I carry my iPad more often when I'm out. I need to decide if I want to get in line or just take another path.
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I replaced my 27" with the mid tier M4 iMac and have been quite happy with it.
 
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I finally found a reason to get a Mac mini - imagine my surprise when the $599 model was gone.

I had to drop down to a used 16GB M1 to stay within the budget (actually well below the budget). Which isn’t a problem—I’m not hitting anything hard on the system. I could have maybe squeaked in an M2, but the other problem was finding one. The M1 was the right price and it was available, so I have a desktop for the first time in a hojillion years.

But still: frustrating.
 
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jwh49 said:
You could be my twin. That's why I'm modifying my 27" to serve as the monitor for the mini when it's available.
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wait, that's a possibility?! I didn't know. is that supported or is it some kind of hack? I was just going to buy a 3rd party monitor of some kind.
 
WOW.. The Mac Studio M4 Max is only available with 64 and 96. No 48GB anymore.

Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 6.37.47 PM.png
 
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Charlie Bonesx said:
There’s a service on the web somewhere that you input the specs you want and it emails you when it’s live on the refurb store

Can’t remember what it’s called but a quick web search should find it
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This sounds like something an AI agent could do... 😉
 
conmee said:
This sounds like something an AI agent could do... 😉
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Or you could write a script to do it

These things have been around a lot longer than “ai agents”

Ever here of rss?

I mean sure, an ai agent could do it less efficiently for something like 1000x the $, water and electricity
 
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HiVolt said:
That's already happening in many places, and has nothing to do with AI. Our police here were telling people to give up your car keys to the home invasion criminals, or better yet just put them by the front door.
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That was just police looking for more $$$ and toys
 
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