Can I Run Granite 4.2 30B on Apple M5?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 11, 2026
Yes. Granite 4.2 30B needs 20.7 GB at 8K context (18.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead) at Q4_K_M and the Apple M5 has 24 GB usable, leaving about 3.3 GB of headroom, at roughly 4 tok/s (estimated) with room for up to 16K of context.
See what else this hardware can run →
The numbers
| Model | Granite 4.2 30B |
| Parameters | 30B |
| Quantization | Q4_K_M |
| VRAM needed (8K context) | 20.7 GB |
| Apple M5 usable memory | 24 GB |
| Verdict | Runs |
| Max context | 16K |
| Estimated speed | ~4 tok/s |
Granite 4.2 30B on the Apple M5: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 32 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 62.6 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 34.5 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 27.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 23.8 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 20.7 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 15.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q2_K | 12.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
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 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 M5: 8K 20.7 GB · 32K 26 GB ✗ · 128K 47.4 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.
What to do next
Nothing to change — run it at Q4_K_M. If you want more capability, check whether the next size up also fits.
No compatible GPU? Granite 4.2 30B on 32 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs comfortably.
Running Granite 4.2 30B on this card:
Granite 4.2 30B needs ~21 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.
Other IBM Granite 4.2 sizes on the Apple M5
- Granite 4.2 8B — runs (6.8 GB)
- Granite 4.2 3B — runs (3.5 GB)
Granite 4.2 30B on nearby hardware
- AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX (24 GB) — runs
- Apple M3 Pro (36 GB) — runs
All IBM Granite 4.2 sizes on the Apple M5 | Granite 4.2 30B model page | Apple M5 GPU page | VRAM calculator | Check your hardware