Can I Run Nemotron Cascade 2 on Apple M1 Pro?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 11, 2026
Yes, but it's tight — Nemotron-Cascade 2 30B-A3B at Q4_K_M needs 21.7 GB at 8K context (19.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.3 GB of the Apple M1 Pro's 24 GB usable memory, at ~33 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 16K context.
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Apple M1 Pro Specs
| VRAM | 32 GB unified memory |
| Memory Bandwidth | 200 GB/s |
Nemotron-Cascade 2 30B-A3B on the Apple M1 Pro: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 32 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 65.8 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 36.2 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q6_K | 28.5 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 25 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q4_K_M | 21.7 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | Build for this |
| Q3_K_M | 16.1 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q2_K | 13 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 M1 Pro: 8K 21.7 GB · 32K 27.1 GB ✗ · 128K 48.9 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.
No compatible GPU? Nemotron-Cascade 2 30B-A3B on 24 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs.
Nemotron Cascade 2 Sizes That Fit the Apple M1 Pro (at 8K context)
| Nemotron-Cascade 2 30B-A3B | Q4_K_M · 21.7 GB at 8K context · ~33 tok/s (est.) |
Nemotron Cascade 2 needs ~22 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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FAQ
Does the Apple M1 Pro have enough VRAM for Nemotron Cascade 2?
Yes, but it's tight — Nemotron-Cascade 2 30B-A3B at Q4_K_M needs 21.7 GB at 8K context (19.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.3 GB of the Apple M1 Pro's 24 GB usable memory, at ~33 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 16K context.
Which quantization of Nemotron Cascade 2 should I use on the Apple M1 Pro?
Nemotron-Cascade 2 30B-A3B at Q4_K_M quantization needs 21.7 GB at 8K context (19.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~33 tokens/sec, up to 16K context.
Nemotron Cascade 2 on Other GPUs
- Nemotron Cascade 2 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- Nemotron Cascade 2 on Apple M4
- Nemotron Cascade 2 on Apple M2 Pro
- Nemotron Cascade 2 on Apple M5
- Nemotron Cascade 2 on Apple M3 Pro
Popular Models on the Apple M1 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
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