The best local LLM for a Mac Studio M5 Max (36 GB) is Qwen3.8-27B at 30 tok/s. With 36 GB of unified memory it runs 43 of the models we benchmark — from compact options up to 35B-class models. For everyday chat and coding, Qwen3.8-27B is the sweet spot. Full ranking below.
Ranked by LLMCheck suitability (capability balanced against speed on the M5 Max). Click a model for its full benchmark and setup. All speeds are index estimates (memory-bandwidth model, cross-referenced with sourced benchmarks where available) — submit a real run →
| # | Model | Size | License | Speed | Capability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qwen3.8-27B | 27.8B | Apache 2.0 | 30 tok/s est. | 46/50 |
| 2 | Qwen 3.6-27B | 27B | Apache 2.0 | 30 tok/s | 44/50 |
| 3 | Muse Glimmer 30B | 30B | Apache 2.0 | 27 tok/s | 42/50 |
| 4 | KAT-Coder-V2.5 | 35B | Apache 2.0 | 52 tok/s | 39/50 |
| 5 | Qwen 3.6-35B-A3B | 35B | Apache 2.0 | 48 tok/s | 38/50 |
| 6 | Nemotron 3.5 Lightning | 30B | OpenMDW | 60 tok/s | 36/50 |
| 7 | Gemma 4 31B | 31B | Apache 2.0 | 26 tok/s | 40/50 |
| 8 | Gemma 4 26B-A4B | 26B | Apache 2.0 | 50 tok/s | 35/50 |
| 9 | Laguna XS 2.1 | 33B | OpenMDW | 55 tok/s | 33/50 |
| 10 | GLM-4.7-Flash | 31B | MIT | 26 tok/s | 35/50 |
| 11 | Bonsai 27B | 27B | Apache 2.0 | 30 tok/s | 33/50 |
| 12 | Maple Preview 20B-A1B | 20B | MIT | 288 tok/s est. | 20/50 |
Showing the top 12 of 43 models that fit in 36 GB. See the full leaderboard or all benchmarks.
The fastest way to get started is Ollama. Install it, then pull the top pick for your Mac:
Prefer a GUI? LM Studio gives you a one-click download and chat window. For step-by-step help see our Ollama install guide, or open the Qwen3.8-27B on M5 Max benchmark page for exact settings.
The Mac Studio M5 Max (36 GB) comfortably runs 43 of the models we benchmark, led by Qwen3.8-27B. Grab one and start running LLMs offline today:
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Qwen3.8-27B (27.8B, Apache 2.0) is the best all-round pick at 30 tok/s on the M5 Max. If you want maximum speed, Maple Preview 20B-A1B hits 288 tok/s; for maximum capability, Qwen 3.6-27B still fits in 36 GB.
About 43 of the 81 models in the LLMCheck leaderboard fit in 36 GB of unified memory, from compact models up to KAT-Coder-V2.5 (35B).
Not comfortably. A 70B model in Q4 needs ~40–44 GB; with 36 GB you should stick to models up to ~30 GB, such as Qwen3.8-27B. For 70B, look at a 48 GB+ Mac.
36 GB is great for small-to-mid models (up to ~14B comfortably); for 30B+ you'll want 32 GB or more. Because Apple Silicon uses unified memory, that figure is both your system RAM and your VRAM.