Purpose

Analyze the value proposition of Mac Studio M3 Ultra configurations, specifically evaluating an eBay listing for an open-box unit with 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 256GB RAM, 2TB SSD at $3,900 (current bid, auction ending soon).

Key Findings

Retail Pricing (New from Apple/Retailers)

Base M3 Ultra Configuration:

  • MSRP: $3,999
  • Specs: 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 96GB RAM, 1TB SSD

Configured with 256GB RAM + 2TB SSD:

  • Base price: $3,999 (M3 Ultra 28-core, 96GB, 1TB)
  • 256GB RAM upgrade: +1,850 (varies by retailer)
  • 2TB SSD upgrade: +650
  • Total retail price: ~6,650 (new)
    • B&H Photo: $6,249 (confirmed pricing)
    • Micro Center: Lists custom configurations
    • Apple.com: Build-to-order available

Memory Upgrade Pricing Tiers

The M3 Ultra (28-core) offers these memory options:

  • 96GB (base): Included in $3,999 MSRP
  • 256GB: +$1,600 upgrade

Note: No 128GB, 192GB, or 384GB options available. Memory jumps from 96GB directly to 256GB.

For the 32-core CPU / 80-core GPU M3 Ultra:

  • Base with 96GB: $5,499
  • 512GB option: +9,499 before storage upgrades)

Storage Upgrade Pricing

Storage upgrade costs from 1TB base:

  • 2TB: +650 (depending on retailer)
  • 4TB: +1,200
  • 8TB: +$2,400
  • 16TB: +$4,800

Maximum Configuration Pricing

A fully maxed-out M3 Ultra Mac Studio costs $14,099:

  • 32-core CPU / 80-core GPU
  • 512GB unified memory
  • 16TB SSD

eBay Listing Analysis

Listing Details:

  • Current bid: $3,900 (48 bids, ending in ~17 minutes)
  • Condition: Open box
  • Specs: M3 Ultra 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, 256GB RAM, 2TB SSD, + $800 extras
  • Seller: yimahg (309 ratings, 98.2% positive)

Value Assessment

Retail Comparison:

  • New from B&H Photo: $6,249
  • Current eBay bid: $3,900
  • Potential savings: $2,349 (37.6% off retail)

Risk Factors:

  1. Condition: “Open box” - may have minor cosmetic imperfections, warranty status unclear
  2. Auction format: Price will likely increase in final 17 minutes
  3. No Apple warranty: Open box typically means manufacturer warranty may be reduced or void
  4. Unknown $800 extras: Listing mentions extras but doesn’t specify what’s included

Opportunity Assessment:

✅ Strong value IF:

  • Final bid stays under $5,000 (20% savings vs. retail)
  • Open box condition is cosmetically excellent
  • Includes AppleCare+ or transferable warranty
  • “$800 extras” include valuable accessories (Studio Display, external drives, etc.)

⚠️ Proceed with caution IF:

  • Final bid exceeds $5,500 (reduces savings below 15%)
  • No warranty coverage
  • Unknown extras turn out to be low-value items
  • Cosmetic damage affects resale value

❌ Poor value IF:

  • Final bid exceeds $6,000 (minimal savings vs. new)
  • Significant cosmetic damage or functional issues
  • No warranty and seller has rigid return policy

Used Market Context

General Used Market Observations:

  • Apple’s official refurbished store: Up to 15% savings with 1-year Apple warranty
  • eBay listings for Mac Studio M3 Ultra vary widely by configuration
  • High-end configurations (512GB RAM, 16TB SSD) list at 10,000+ prices
  • 2022 Mac Studio M1 Ultra models available through OWC and other resellers

Recommendation:

At $3,900 current bid, this is potentially an excellent deal IF:

  1. You verify “open box” means minimal use and excellent condition
  2. The auction doesn’t escalate significantly in the final minutes
  3. The “$800 extras” include genuinely useful accessories
  4. You’re comfortable without Apple warranty (or seller offers protection)

Decision Framework:

  • Under $4,500 final price: Excellent value (28% savings)
  • 5,000: Good value (17-20% savings)
  • 5,500: Fair value (12-17% savings)
  • Above $5,500: Consider new with warranty instead

Action Items Before Bidding:

  1. Ask seller about warranty status and transferability
  2. Clarify what the “$800 extras” include
  3. Review seller’s return policy for open-box items
  4. Set maximum bid based on your comfort level (~$5,000 recommended ceiling)
  5. Consider that eBay auctions often spike 5-15% in final minutes

Performance Context

The M3 Ultra configuration being evaluated offers:

  • 2.6x faster GPU performance vs. M1 Ultra
  • 1.8x faster CPU performance vs. M1 Ultra
  • 24 streams of 8K ProRes playback
  • Support for up to 8 displays (4K and 6K)
  • Memory bandwidth: Exceptional due to unified memory architecture

This configuration is ideal for:

  • Professional video editing (8K workflows)
  • 3D rendering and motion graphics
  • Large-scale ML/AI model training
  • Software development with heavy virtualization
  • Multi-display setups (8x 4K/6K monitors)

Sources

Retail Pricing

Configuration and Specifications

Reviews and Analysis

Used Market and Pricing