can-i-run-this-llm

GPU comparison

MacBook Air/Pro M4 (16GB) vs MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB) for local LLMs

How the two stack up for running open-source LLMs locally — memory, bandwidth, price, and how many of the 34 tracked models each one can run.

MacBook Air/Pro M4 (16GB)MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB)
Memory16.0 GB16.0 GB
Bandwidth120 GB/s153 GB/s
Price (approx)$1,199$1,099
LLMs it runs13 of 3413 of 34
Best model it runsDevstral Small 2 24B · 8–12 tok/sDevstral Small 2 24B · 10–15 tok/s

The MacBook Air/Pro M4 (16GB) and MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB) run the same set of tracked models; pick on price and ecosystem. The MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB) has more memory bandwidth (153 GB/s), so it generates tokens faster at the same model and quant.

What the MacBook Air/Pro M4 (16GB) runs →What the MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB) runs →Open the calculator →