NVIDIA DGX SPARK
I am looking at getting a MacStudio in the future to handle the likes of gpt-oss-120b-mlx-6Bit (96GB) etc models for private LLM or even larger models give or take in the future.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand that the DGX Spark would be way more optimized for AI and ML training if needed, but looking at the prices, it's interesting that:
A) The Spark is at 128GB unified (interesting huh?)
B) The Studio is at 96GB unified (each for the $3999)
That's sick that what small AI computing NPU Boxes are coming to.
I've read articles about multi-gpu boxes etc, but I have also read articles about, and have experience (a little), of GPU's dying in 6 months or 2-3 years on average.
I hate swapping GPUs etc
But this segment is interesting because it's like OK, 96-128 GB of RAM? $4000!
Now they have a higher costing model (not yet out) called the :
DGX Station (Blackwell Ultra / GB300 class) → The desktop big-memory beast.
I mean for a 512GB Unified, from Apple you are talking about $9500, but the Nvidia? Probably the same if not more, in price.
Now you guys can put all your little haha's (fanboy etc) you want cause I think Apple isn't looking to shabby. I only say this because of Unified Memory.
But also of the fact of this consumer level product. I mean you get macOS and you can use the damn thing for other stuff.
So from a consumer point of view that's pretty nice. (I mean I like my 40-120 VRR HDR! just as much as the next guy! hehe)
But I mean if you look what segments we have, it's: Gaming Rig <-> Development Rig <-> AnIMaL Rig.
Which we know yeah if we could have gaming on mac sure, but I mean gees, come on with the games we have iOS, I still would rather get a PS6!
But this will put Apple right smack dab in the MIDDLE, which I think is a PERFECT PLACE to BE!
I am running a Mac Mini M4 Pro with 64GB and getting really good results from a Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B-Instruct-MLX-4bit (45GB) in Xcode it's pretty nice:
Private, Free, works in Xcode! Get's a little crazy sometimes if not put on a leash, but still!
But man a MacStudio M5 Ultra? for say $4000 with 128GB? or even bump up to 256GB Unified? for $5600 ~ $6000?
That's not bad from Apple IMHO...
I mean to not be a 100% AI company and to have a "side project" Mac Studio that is right there?! in the mix of all this? AMAZING...
source: MEDIUM ARTICLE
2¢
I am looking at getting a MacStudio in the future to handle the likes of gpt-oss-120b-mlx-6Bit (96GB) etc models for private LLM or even larger models give or take in the future.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand that the DGX Spark would be way more optimized for AI and ML training if needed, but looking at the prices, it's interesting that:
A) The Spark is at 128GB unified (interesting huh?)
B) The Studio is at 96GB unified (each for the $3999)
That's sick that what small AI computing NPU Boxes are coming to.
I've read articles about multi-gpu boxes etc, but I have also read articles about, and have experience (a little), of GPU's dying in 6 months or 2-3 years on average.
I hate swapping GPUs etc
But this segment is interesting because it's like OK, 96-128 GB of RAM? $4000!
Now they have a higher costing model (not yet out) called the :
DGX Station (Blackwell Ultra / GB300 class) → The desktop big-memory beast.
- Up to ~784 GB coherent memory (≈288 GB HBM3e GPU + 496 GB LPDDR5X CPU), NVLink-C2C up to 900 GB/s, ConnectX-8 up to 800 Gb/s.
I mean for a 512GB Unified, from Apple you are talking about $9500, but the Nvidia? Probably the same if not more, in price.
Now you guys can put all your little haha's (fanboy etc) you want cause I think Apple isn't looking to shabby. I only say this because of Unified Memory.
But also of the fact of this consumer level product. I mean you get macOS and you can use the damn thing for other stuff.
So from a consumer point of view that's pretty nice. (I mean I like my 40-120 VRR HDR! just as much as the next guy! hehe)
But I mean if you look what segments we have, it's: Gaming Rig <-> Development Rig <-> AnIMaL Rig.
Which we know yeah if we could have gaming on mac sure, but I mean gees, come on with the games we have iOS, I still would rather get a PS6!
But this will put Apple right smack dab in the MIDDLE, which I think is a PERFECT PLACE to BE!
I am running a Mac Mini M4 Pro with 64GB and getting really good results from a Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B-Instruct-MLX-4bit (45GB) in Xcode it's pretty nice:
Private, Free, works in Xcode! Get's a little crazy sometimes if not put on a leash, but still!
But man a MacStudio M5 Ultra? for say $4000 with 128GB? or even bump up to 256GB Unified? for $5600 ~ $6000?
That's not bad from Apple IMHO...
I mean to not be a 100% AI company and to have a "side project" Mac Studio that is right there?! in the mix of all this? AMAZING...
source: MEDIUM ARTICLE
2¢
