# Mac Studio M4max or M3Ultra? **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware Questions\ **Tags:** mac-studio\ **Created:** [April 29, 2025, 4:06am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736 "2025-04-29T04:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![memory02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@memory02](https://forum.logik.tv/u/memory02)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:06am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/1 "2025-04-29T04:06:13Z")
Hello~ I am having trouble choosing a Mac Studio from the models below. Please help me purchase a Mac Studio. 1. M4 Max (16C/40GPU/128GB/1TB) 2. M3 Ultra (28C/60GPU/96GB/1TB) 3. M3 Ultra (32C/80GPU/96GB/1TB) I plan to purchase 8TB nvme Raid (TB5) storage separately. Since model 1 is M4, the single core speed is fast, and it is about 10% different from M3 Ultra in GeekBench, so the performance looks very good for the price. However, will model 1 be much slower than models 2 and 3 in Vector Analysis, Camera Tracking, ML, OpenFX, etc. because the GPU is lacking? I am currently using a 13900KF/128GB/RTX4090 (Rocky Linux 8.7) computer. I am satisfied with the performance, but Linux is too inconvenient, so I am thinking of replacing it with a Mac. I am also curious about the performance difference between models 1, 2, and 3 above compared to a Linux computer. ---
**Author:** ![Juha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Juha](https://forum.logik.tv/u/Juha)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/2 "2025-04-29T05:20:19Z")
Option 3 has 80 GPU if you opt to 32core CPU. Is there any reason not going best of the best if you have a budget? ---
**Author:** ![memory02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@memory02](https://forum.logik.tv/u/memory02)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 8:37am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/3 "2025-04-29T08:37:18Z")
Thank you for your comment~ I modified the content ---
**Author:** ![johnag](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.logik.tv/johnag/32/573_2.png) [@johnag](https://forum.logik.tv/u/johnag)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 8:38am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/4 "2025-04-29T08:38:51Z")
Not sure if your Apple Store region supports a refund upon returing a machine within 2 weeks of purchase and if so buy all 3. Do tests and return 2 of them. Check with them before you buy. ---
**Author:** ![Juha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Juha](https://forum.logik.tv/u/Juha)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 10:25am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/5 "2025-06-12T10:25:38Z")
> [@memory02](#): > > …wer than models 2 and 3 in Vector Analysis, Camera Tracking, ML, OpenFX, etc. because the GPU is lacking?I am currently using a 13900KF/128GB/RTX4090 (Rocky Linux 8.7) computer.I am satisfied with the performance, but Linux is too inconvenient, so I am thinking of replacing it with a Mac.I am also curious about the performance difference between models 1, 2, and 3 above compared to a Linux computer. Have you ever decided on one of those options? I’m also torn between options 1 and 2. They’re pretty similar in price, but I’m not sure how they’ll actually perform except for some benchmarks. ---
**Author:** ![randy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.logik.tv/randy/32/6122_2.png) [@randy](https://forum.logik.tv/u/randy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/6 "2025-06-12T12:51:55Z")
Buy both and return one. Buy one, use one. You’ll prob like it. Buy one, use one, and if you don’t like it, return it and buy the other one Buy one, use one, sell it, buy the other one. I bought and sold a lot of Macs over the years and you always get pretty real decent pricing for slightly used recent models. Sites like OWC and Apple but back their stuff at okay prices. Low stress. Or go private buyer for higher margin higher stress. Buying a computer is like ordering Ramen. Are some better than others? Yup. But I’ve never regretted ordering it. ---
**Author:** ![johnag](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.logik.tv/johnag/32/573_2.png) [@johnag](https://forum.logik.tv/u/johnag)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/7 "2025-06-12T23:07:23Z")
I like the buy and return policy but if its a “Custom Order” I don’t think it qualifies. Or I think there’s a 5% re stock fee. I was told by my reseller that if you vary the options from default then it’s a CTO ---
**Author:** ![andy\_dill](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.logik.tv/andy_dill/32/15475_2.png) [@andy\_dill](https://forum.logik.tv/u/andy_dill)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/8 "2025-06-13T00:33:01Z")
If they both price out similarly just roll the dice and pick one. I’m still using flame on an M1 Max and it’s fine, so I’m sure an m3 or m4 would be a wonderful machine to run flame on for the next five years. ---
**Author:** ![hBomb42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bbce88/32.png) [@hBomb42](https://forum.logik.tv/u/hBomb42)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/9 "2025-06-13T01:06:57Z")
Tim Apple is doing refurb Studios now! > **[Apple Begins Selling Refurbished Mac Studio With M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips at...](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/12/refurbished-mac-studio-m4-max-m3-ultra/)** > > Apple today added Mac Studio models with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips to its online certified refurbished store in the United States, Canada, Japan,... ---
**Author:** ![philm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.logik.tv/philm/32/9286_2.png) [@philm](https://forum.logik.tv/u/philm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://forum.logik.tv/t/mac-studio-m4max-or-m3ultra/12736/10 "2025-06-13T01:22:27Z")
> [@randy](#): > > Buying a computer is like ordering Ramen. Are some better than others? Yup. But I’ve never regretted ordering it. You could get one for work and one for noodling around…