Mac Studio M4 Max for AI/Virtualization/Development

Question

Vic_LaLoggia Author

Level 1

0 points

Mac Studio M4 Max for AI/Virtualization/Development

Hello Folks;

I'd like to use a Mac Studio with M4 Max as an AI/Virtualization/Development server/Media Server.

Here's the details of what I'm looking for. All these functionalities should be running concurrently:

Run LLMs via LMStudio/Ollama/MLX
Nested Virtualization of Windows environments. Meaning, I need to run Windows in a VM within which is running Docker containers
Development environments for Python, NextJS/React, and .Net
Media Server: Make files available for use and RAG: Images, Documents, Media, etc.

Will all this be possible on Mac Studio with an M4 Max processor?

Thank you very much,

vic

Posted on Aug 19, 2025 7:21 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Level 10

214,783 points

Aug 19, 2025 7:50 AM in response to Vic_LaLoggia

Most of that should be possible, except Windows, unless you can work with the Windows for Arm version (Snapdragon) and the docker instances can run on that.

Aim for the most RAM and storage your budget allows.

But if you need to absolutely run x86 Windows, then you'll need a Windows PC / server for that. Even in VMs, you will be limited to Windows for Arm on Apple Silicon Macs.

Reply

Answer 2

Phil0124

Level 10

214,783 points

Aug 19, 2025 11:26 AM in response to Vic_LaLoggia

Then you likely need a full x64 Windows version which cannot be installed on an Apple Silicon Mac.

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 19, 2025 8:23 AM in response to Vic_LaLoggia

Docker simulates a Linux environment. If you must have Docker, there are versions of Docker that run on a Mac.

Also, since MacOS is built on an older Unix base, there may be ways you could run some of the tools you need directly in MacOS Terminal environment instead.

Reply

Answer 4

Phil0124

Level 10

214,783 points

Aug 19, 2025 10:13 AM in response to Vic_LaLoggia

Vic_LaLoggia wrote:

Thank you very much @Phil0124.

Might you know if nested virtualization will be possible with Windows for Arm? I.e.: Running a Docker container within the Windows for Arm VM?

That would be a question best asked of Docker. But you should be able to as mentioned run Docker on Mac directly and avoid the Windows nesting.

Reply

Answer 5

Vic_LaLoggia Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 19, 2025 10:50 AM in response to Phil0124

Indeed Phil0124.

However, in my case, I need to run Sitecore development environments inside the Windows VM.

These Sitecore development environments run Docker containers to run SqlServer, IIS, SOLR, etc.. This is done to speed development environment setup, rather than installing directly in Windows.

This is why I'm inquiring about nested virtualization.

Reply