Can I Run Cosmos 3 Nano on Apple M3 Max?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 29, 2026
Yes. Cosmos 3 Nano needs 34.2 GB at 8K context (32 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead) at BF16 and the Apple M3 Max has 96 GB usable, leaving about 61.8 GB of headroom, at roughly 13 tok/s (estimated).
See what else this hardware can run →
The numbers
| Model | Cosmos 3 Nano |
| Parameters | 16B |
| Quantization | BF16 |
| VRAM needed (8K context) | 34.2 GB |
| Apple M3 Max usable memory | 96 GB |
| Verdict | Runs |
| Estimated speed | ~13 tok/s |
Cosmos 3 Nano on the Apple M3 Max: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 128 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 34.2 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q8_0 | 19.2 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q6_K | 15.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 13.6 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 11.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 9.1 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q2_K | 7.5 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
Assumes an 8K-token context with an f16 KV cache, on an estimated architecture — this model publishes no config we can read. A longer window needs more; a quantized KV cache needs less. “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 128 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 BF16 on the Apple M3 Max: 8K 34.2 GB · 16K 35.7 GB. Every window this model publishes still fits 128 GB.
What to do next
Nothing to change — run it at BF16. If you want more capability, check whether the next size up also fits.
No compatible GPU? Cosmos 3 Nano on 16 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Running Cosmos 3 Nano on this card:
Cosmos 3 Nano needs ~34 GB but this GPU has 128 GB. Rent a A100 (40 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.
Other Cosmos 3 sizes on the Apple M3 Max
- Cosmos 3 Super — runs at a lower quant (131.1 GB)
- Cosmos 3 Edge — runs (9.7 GB)
Cosmos 3 Nano on nearby hardware
- NVIDIA H100 80GB (PCIe) (80 GB) — runs
- Apple M2 Ultra (192 GB) — runs
All Cosmos 3 sizes on the Apple M3 Max | Cosmos 3 Nano model page | Apple M3 Max GPU page | VRAM calculator | Check your hardware