Can I Run Aya Expanse on Apple M1 Pro?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026
Yes, but it's tight — Aya Expanse 32B at Q4_K_M needs 21.6 GB at 8K context (19.5 GB weights + 2.1 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.4 GB of the Apple M1 Pro's 24 GB usable memory, at ~5 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 16K context.
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Apple M1 Pro Specs
| VRAM | 32 GB unified memory |
| Memory Bandwidth | 200 GB/s |
Aya Expanse 32B on the Apple M1 Pro: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 32 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 66.7 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 36.5 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q6_K | 28.6 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 25 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q4_K_M | 21.6 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | Build for this |
| Q3_K_M | 15.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q2_K | 12.8 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
Assumes an 8K-token context with an f16 KV cache. A longer window needs more; a quantized KV cache needs less. “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 32 GB of unified memory. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.
Context costs VRAM too. At Q4_K_M on the Apple M1 Pro: 8K 21.6 GB · 32K 25.7 GB ✗ · 125K 41.3 GB ✗. Past 32K it no longer fits 32 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
No compatible GPU? Aya Expanse 32B on 32 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs comfortably.
Aya Expanse Sizes That Fit the Apple M1 Pro (at 8K context)
| Aya Expanse 32B | Q4_K_M · 21.6 GB at 8K context · ~5 tok/s (est.) |
| Aya Expanse 8B | Q4_K_M · 6.7 GB at 8K context · ~19 tok/s (est.) |
Aya Expanse needs ~22 GB but this GPU has 32 GB. Rent a RTX 4090 (24 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:
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Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.
FAQ
Aya Expanse on the Apple M1 Pro — does it fit?
Yes, but it's tight — Aya Expanse 32B at Q4_K_M needs 21.6 GB at 8K context (19.5 GB weights + 2.1 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.4 GB of the Apple M1 Pro's 24 GB usable memory, at ~5 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 16K context.
Which Aya Expanse variant fits best on the Apple M1 Pro?
Aya Expanse 32B at Q4_K_M quantization needs 21.6 GB at 8K context (19.5 GB weights + 2.1 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~5 tokens/sec, up to 16K context.
Every Aya Expanse size on the Apple M1 Pro
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aya Expanse 32B | 21.6 GB | Runs | ~5 tok/s |
| Aya Expanse 8B | 6.7 GB | Runs | ~19 tok/s |
Aya Expanse on Other GPUs
- Aya Expanse on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- Aya Expanse on Apple M4
- Aya Expanse on Apple M2 Pro
- Aya Expanse on Apple M5
- Aya Expanse on Apple M3 Pro
Popular Models on the Apple M1 Pro
VRAM Tier
Troubleshooting
- Ollama: "model requires more system memory than is available"
- Which GGUF quant should I download? (Q4 vs Q5 vs Q8)
Buying Guide
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