Can I Run Llama 4 on Apple M1 Max?

Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026

No — Llama 4 doesn't fit the Apple M1 Max's 64 GB. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA A100 80GB (80 GB).

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Apple M1 Max Specs

VRAM64 GB unified memory
Memory Bandwidth400 GB/s

Llama 4 Scout 17B on the Apple M1 Max: VRAM by quantization

QuantVRAM neededFits 64 GB?Max context
F16219.6 GB✗ No
Q8_0117.4 GB✗ No
Q6_K91 GB✗ No
Q5_K_M78.9 GB✗ No
Q4_K_M67.4 GB✗ No
Q3_K_M48.1 GB✓ Yes64K
Q2_K37.4 GB✓ Yes128K

VRAM needed assumes a 4K-token context with an f16 KV cache; “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 64 GB of unified memory. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.

Why It Does Not Fit

Every Llama 4 variant requires more VRAM than the Apple M1 Max provides (64 GB).

Nearest GPU That Fits

NVIDIA A100 80GB (80 GB VRAM).

NVIDIA A100 80GB PCIe
Launch MSRP: $15,000
2026 prices are volatile — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon
Won't fit — rent Llama 4 instead

Llama 4 needs ~66 GB but this GPU has 64 GB. Rent a A100 (80 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:

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Vast.ai $0.77/hr · typical low · varies
Rent on Vast.ai →
RunPod $1.39/hr
Rent on RunPod →

Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.

FAQ

Llama 4 on the Apple M1 Max — does it fit?

No — Llama 4 doesn't fit the Apple M1 Max's 64 GB. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA A100 80GB (80 GB).

What GPU should I get instead to run Llama 4?

The NVIDIA A100 80GB (80 GB VRAM) is the cheapest upgrade that fits it.

Llama 4 on Other GPUs

Popular Models on the Apple M1 Max

VRAM Tier

Troubleshooting

Buying Guide

← Can I Run It? | Llama 4 Model Page | Apple M1 Max GPU Page | Check Your Hardware