Can I Run Llama 4 on Apple M5 Pro?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026
No — Llama 4 Scout 17B at Q4_K_M needs 68.2 GB at 8K context (65.8 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead), and the Apple M5 Pro's 48 GB usable memory leaves it ~20.2 GB short. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell (72 GB) (72 GB).
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Apple M5 Pro Specs
| VRAM | 64 GB unified memory |
| Memory Bandwidth | 307 GB/s |
Llama 4 Scout 17B on the Apple M5 Pro: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 64 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 220.4 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 118.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 91.8 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 79.7 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q4_K_M | 68.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q3_K_M | 48.9 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q2_K | 38.2 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
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 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.
Context costs VRAM too. At Q4_K_M on the Apple M5 Pro: 8K 68.2 GB ✗ · 32K 73.1 GB ✗ · 128K 92.4 GB ✗. Past 8K it no longer fits 64 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
No compatible GPU? Llama 4 Scout 17B on 48 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Why It Does Not Fit
Every Llama 4 variant requires more VRAM than the Apple M5 Pro provides (64 GB).
Nearest GPU That Fits
NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell (72 GB) (72 GB VRAM).
Llama 4 needs ~68 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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FAQ
Can I run Llama 4 on the Apple M5 Pro?
No — Llama 4 Scout 17B at Q4_K_M needs 68.2 GB at 8K context (65.8 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead), and the Apple M5 Pro's 48 GB usable memory leaves it ~20.2 GB short. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell (72 GB) (72 GB).
What's the cheapest GPU that runs Llama 4?
The NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell (72 GB) (72 GB VRAM) is the cheapest upgrade that fits it.
Every Llama 4 size on the Apple M5 Pro
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llama 4 Maverick 17B | 243.9 GB | Does not fit | — |
| Llama 4 Scout 17B | 68.2 GB | Runs at Q2_K | — |
Llama 4 on Other GPUs
- Llama 4 on Apple M1 Max
- Llama 4 on NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation
- Llama 4 on NVIDIA L40S
- Llama 4 on NVIDIA A100 80GB (PCIe)
- Llama 4 on NVIDIA H100 80GB (PCIe)
Popular Models on the Apple M5 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
← Can I Run It? | Llama 4 Model Page | Apple M5 Pro GPU Page | VRAM calculator | Check Your Hardware