Mac mini (M5 Pro) vs Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PC for local AI

Both of these fit on a bookshelf and run large AI models on shared, fast memory. Apple’s Mac mini with the M5 Pro chip has the faster memory; mini PCs built on AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (the chip family called Strix Halo) offer twice as much of it. Which matters more depends on the models you want to run.

Side by side

	Mac mini (M5 Pro)	Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (GMKtec EVO-X2)
Memory	24, 48 or 64 GB unified	64 or 128 GB unified
Memory bandwidth	307 GB/s	256 GB/s
Processor	18 cores (Apple M5 Pro)	16 cores / 32 threads (Zen 5)
Graphics	20-core Apple GPU	Radeon 8060S, 40 compute units
Operating system	macOS	Windows 11 Pro or Linux
Ports	3 Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, 2.5 GbE (10 GbE optional)	2 USB4, HDMI, DisplayPort, 2.5 GbE
Storage	Fixed at purchase	Two M.2 slots
Price	$2,799 with 48 GB, $3,199 with 64 GB (1 TB)	$2,199.99 with 64 GB, $3,499.99 with 128 GB (1 TB)

Prices at Apple and GMKtec on September 26, 2026.

Speed: the Mac mini is faster

Writing speed follows memory bandwidth, and the M5 Pro has about 20% more. In published llama.cpp results for the 7B model we use as a reference, the M5 Pro wrote 66 tokens per second and the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 48. Our estimates for current models show the same order:

Estimated writing speed, tokens per second

Machine	Qwen3.5 9B5.68 GB file	gpt-oss 20B12.11 GB file	Qwen3.6 35B-A3B22.13 GB file	Llama 3.3 70B42.52 GB file	gpt-oss 120B63.39 GB file
Apple Mac mini (M5 Pro, 64 GB) 64 GB, 307 GB/s	34-45	68-87	67-86	4-5	No fit
GMKtec EVO-X2 128 GB, 256 GB/s	29-38	57-74	56-73	4-5	41-53

Everything up to about 35B runs well on both, well above reading speed. The difference shows at the top end.

Memory: the Ryzen holds bigger models

The Mac mini stops at 64 GB, and by default macOS lets the graphics use about three quarters of it. That is enough for 27B to 35B models and, just, for a 70B model at 4-bit, but not for gpt-oss 120B or other 120B-class models. The 128 GB EVO-X2 holds them with room to spare, at an estimated 41 to 53 tokens per second on gpt-oss 120B, for $300 more than the 64 GB Mac mini.

At 64 GB, the comparison flips to price: the 64 GB EVO-X2 costs $1,000 less than the 64 GB Mac mini, for somewhat slower writing.

Software and everyday use

• Apps: LM Studio and Ollama run on both. On the Mac, Apple’s MLX framework is an extra option; on the Ryzen, you can choose Windows or Linux, and some AI tools are built for Linux first.
• Everyday computer: the Mac mini is a full macOS desktop; the EVO-X2 is a normal Windows PC with two M.2 slots for more storage later.
• Power: Apple lists the M5 Pro Mac mini’s maximum continuous power as 155 W. We haven’t measured either machine’s power draw yet.

Which should you buy?

Choose for speed on models up to 35B Researched, not tested

Apple Mac mini (M5 Pro, 64 GB)

M5 Pro 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 64 GB, 1 TB. Apple M5 Pro, 18-core CPU

Memory

64 GB unified

Bandwidth

307 GB/s

Price

$3,199

The small, silent way to run mid-size local models. The M5 Pro's 307 GB/s of unified memory bandwidth is about 20% more than a Ryzen AI Max+ 395, but 64 GB is the maximum, so 120B-class models don't fit.

If your models fit in 64 GB, the Mac mini is the faster and simpler machine. It is the better choice for coding assistants and chat with 20B to 35B models, especially if you already use a Mac.

What we like

• 307 GB/s memory bandwidth in a tiny, near-silent box
• Very low power draw for always-on use

What we don't

• 64 GB maximum, fixed at purchase
• Apple charges a lot for memory upgrades

Where to buy

• Check price at Apple 64 GB / 1 TB

list price $3,199 (Apple store price for M5 Pro 18-core CPU / 20-core GPU / 64 GB / 1 TB; checked Sep 25, 2026). Prices change often; the buttons show today's price at each store.

Choose for the biggest models Researched, not tested

GMKtec EVO-X2

128 GB / 1 TB (also sold with 64 GB). AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16 cores / 32 threads, up to 5.1 GHz)

Memory

128 GB unified

Bandwidth

256 GB/s

Price

$3,499.99

A Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PC with 128 GB of fast unified memory, and the lowest-priced 128 GB machine among those we compared in September 2026. It holds gpt-oss 120B and 70B-class models.

If you want gpt-oss 120B and other 120B-class models, you need 128 GB, and this is the cheapest way we found to get it. The 64 GB version, at $2,199.99, is the budget alternative to the Mac mini if you don’t need its extra speed.

What we like

• 128 GB of 256 GB/s unified memory for less than rivals
• Two M.2 slots
• Also sold with 64 GB for $1,300 less

What we don't

• Memory is soldered; choose the size you need up front
• Only 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, where some rivals have 10 Gigabit

Where to buy

• Check price at GMKtec 64 GB or 128 GB
• Check price on Amazon 128 GB / 2 TB

$3,499.99 at GMKtec for 128 GB / 1 TB on Sep 25, 2026; list price $3,999.99 (GMKtec store regular price for 128 GB / 1 TB; checked Sep 25, 2026). Prices change often; the buttons show today's price at each store.

How we compared

We compared list and store prices on September 26, 2026, published llama.cpp results on the same reference model, and our speed estimates, which use the method in our bandwidth study. We have not tested either machine ourselves. For more options at 128 GB, see our mini PC guide.