Can I Run Llama 4 on Apple M3 Max?

Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026

No — Llama 4 doesn't fit the Apple M3 Max's 64 GB. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA A100 80GB (80 GB).

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Apple M3 Max Specs

VRAM64 GB unified memory
Memory Bandwidth400 GB/s

Llama 4 Scout 17B on the Apple M3 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 M3 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

Is the Apple M3 Max enough to run Llama 4 locally?

No — Llama 4 doesn't fit the Apple M3 Max's 64 GB. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA A100 80GB (80 GB).

What's the cheapest GPU that runs 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 M3 Max

VRAM Tier

Troubleshooting

Buying Guide

← Can I Run It? | Llama 4 Model Page | Apple M3 Max GPU Page | Check Your Hardware