New M4 Max Mac Studio - Thunderbolt 5 ports issues - help

[Chancha]

Note that the 28 CPU core M3 Ultra can still be configured with 256GB of RAM, which means it has the full 8 controllers and SDRAMs (at 32GB each.)

Interesting, I just assumed the base M3 Ultra must have been just two binned M3 Max stitched so it would also carry over the same limits. Turns out there’s more to it.

 

[LeDao]

I am having lots of issues with monitors - been using a Studio Display and a LD 32 4K monitor and a Huion Kamvas Pro 24 Pen display I have used these for years connected to a MacPro 2019. I am unable to get all of these working with the Mac Studio M4 Max. I can get both the studio Display and LG displays working fine. Last week with a combination of Huion and LG on HDMI I got all three working. Then I upgraded to 15.4 and the Huion no longer registers in Displays. Still works fine when plugged into a MacBook Pro so its definitely the Mac Studio. Reading this thread makes me wonder if I need a hub as its a power drain issue any thoughts/ I already have 3 storage units connected via am OWC TB Hub as well which works fine.

Today (04/02/2025)I received a different answer from Apple support on this issue. They have recognised an issue, which they believe is software and are now working on a fix. This seemed like progress and should help most issues above as well.

 

[brandair]

Unbelievable that the Apple monks still did not fix this glaring TB bug in even the latest Mac Studio M variant. They are clearly not producing for Pro's anymore.

It’s a well known issue for Apple desktops. Despite Apple advertising them as Thunderbolt 4/5, they don’t always meet the power requirements of supplying 15W to external unpowered devices. I have a M4 Mac Mini and a M4 Max Mac Studio, and they can only power 2 external Thunderbolt drives. All 3 of my drives are Thunderbolt only (like your Acasis Air model). Some Acasis enclosures have a USB fall-back option and will connect at USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds when there is not enough power. I suppose the Lacie drive in the Apple store was a 3.1 Gen 2 device, which is why it connected.

More information in this thread here ->
'M4 Mac Mini - External Thunderbolt Drives Limitation'
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m4-mac-mini-external-thunderbolt-drives-limitation.2445812/

 

[LeDao]

Unbelievable that the Apple monks still did not fix this glaring TB bug in even the latest Mac Studio M variant. They are clearly not producing for Pro's anymore.

The issue with connected displays is a Software issue. Apple has confirmed this and are working on a fix. My Display pen Provider Huoin was really helpful and provided a potential fix, which is to delete plist files relayed to displays. I am waiting for the fix as I don't wish to make the situation worse and the directory structure they described doesn't match the Library structure. please note that all my TB connected devices work fine aside fro, displays

 

[davewolfs]

The issue with connected displays is a Software issue. Apple has confirmed this and are working on a fix. My Display pen Provider Huoin was really helpful and provided a potential fix, which is to delete plist files relayed to displays. I am waiting for the fix as I don't wish to make the situation worse and the directory structure they described doesn't match the Library structure. please note that all my TB connected devices work fine aside fro, displays

My confidence level in them fixing anything is low to none.

Have you seen the 5k display thread? They have known about this since the M4 release and we still do not have a fix.

Your issue with one monitor not connecting sounds like a possible bandwidth issue. Have you tried using better display to force your other monitors to connect using 8 bit instead of 10bit?

 

[MNGR]

Thanks to everyone for their replies & info.
I've decided to keep the Studio & just deal with the Thunderbolt issues.

Today, I ordered the OWC Thunderbolt 5 hub off Amazon, to hopefully allow me to connect all 3 Acasis Thunderbolt enclosures/2TB drives along with my 2nd Dell monitor.

I'll reply back once I get the hub & let everyone know how it goes.

Experienced a strange issue just a few minutes ago for the 2nd time today: I installed Sequoia onto the TB501 Pro Thunderbolt 5 with 2TB WD SN850X SSD earlier today & have been booting off of it. I just powered up to reply here & all of a sudden, my monitor/display lost video signal. This is the monitor that's plugged into the HDMI port. The other monitor is currently unplugged as I wait for the OWC TB 5 hub. I don't think this was a video issue though. I get the sneaky suspicion that this was related to a connection loss with the TB501 Pro running Sequoia. So I booted off the Studio's internal SSD to post this reply.

Ugh, Apple. If only your internal storage was affordable, I'd have at least 4TB SSD built in.

Another thought: If the OWC hub runs well, maybe I'll RAID 0 the TBU405 Air drives. Has anyone here tried it with external TB drives? Results?

I have tried TWO OWC TB5 hubs to my Mac Studio. Nothing works. And the system report does not show anything connected

 

[streetfunk]

so its definitely the Mac Studio.

glad to read i´m not alone. sorry for you ofcoarse.

i run right now 3 different display threads. figure that


ok, at least this helps to understand that i have to be very cautious and flexibel vs. what i´m doing and that i´m on the right track ( spent so far lots of money allready for cables and hubs and converters etc.)


One would have guessed that the studio operates display flawless, and at least better than the cheap M4mini base. But the contrary is the case. I also have the small mini.....i just swichted

 

[Chancha]

I have tried TWO OWC TB5 hubs to my Mac Studio. Nothing works. And the system report does not show anything connected

Interesting, I can use both a OWC and a Akitio Pro dock, both TB3 and are powered, to bypass the issue of the Studio not providing enough bus power.

I think OWC has only released one TB5 hub and it is definitely DC powered? I wonder what has changed.

 

[MNGR]

Thanks to everyone for their replies & info.
I've decided to keep the Studio & just deal with the Thunderbolt issues.

Today, I ordered the OWC Thunderbolt 5 hub off Amazon, to hopefully allow me to connect all 3 Acasis Thunderbolt enclosures/2TB drives along with my 2nd Dell monitor.

I'll reply back once I get the hub & let everyone know how it goes.

Experienced a strange issue just a few minutes ago for the 2nd time today: I installed Sequoia onto the TB501 Pro Thunderbolt 5 with 2TB WD SN850X SSD earlier today & have been booting off of it. I just powered up to reply here & all of a sudden, my monitor/display lost video signal. This is the monitor that's plugged into the HDMI port. The other monitor is currently unplugged as I wait for the OWC TB 5 hub. I don't think this was a video issue though. I get the sneaky suspicion that this was related to a connection loss with the TB501 Pro running Sequoia. So I booted off the Studio's internal SSD to post this reply.

Ugh, Apple. If only your internal storage was affordable, I'd have at least 4TB SSD built in.

Another thought: If the OWC hub runs well, maybe I'll RAID 0 the TBU405 Air drives. Has anyone here tried it with external TB drives? Results?

I tried the OWC TB5. Never got it to work with my 2025 Mac Studio. Returned in. Now using the
iVANKY Intel Certified Thunderbolt 5 Dock . Connects everything fine but now having an issue with external drives disconnecting when system goes to sleep. And the setting for powering down disks is set correctly

 

[xraydoc]

I tried the OWC TB5. Never got it to work with my 2025 Mac Studio. Returned in. Now using the
iVANKY Intel Certified Thunderbolt 5 Dock . Connects everything fine but now having an issue with external drives disconnecting when system goes to sleep. And the setting for powering down disks is set correctly

Just out of curiosity, what didn't work about the OWC TB5?

 

[Ifti]

I have 3 OWC Thunderblade V4 drives all connected to a single OWC TB Hub, and I have had no issues when connecting with a single TB cable from the Hub to my M4 Max Mac Studio.....
So the above uses one of my Studio TB ports, ASD uses another of course, and I have had 2 OWC 1M2 drives connected to the final 2 ports. That's the max I've ever gone, and likely to go at any one time, and its been OK for me........

Bear in mind I always disconnect my drives once I'm done using them for that session - so rarely place my computer to sleep etc with any drives connected......