Can I Run Nex-N1 on Apple M3 Ultra?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 8, 2026
No — DeepSeek-V3.1-Nex-N1 671B at Q4_K_M needs 406.5 GB at 8K context (405.1 GB weights + 1.4 GB KV cache/overhead), and the Apple M3 Ultra's 384 GB usable memory leaves it ~22.5 GB short.
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Apple M3 Ultra Specs
| VRAM | 512 GB unified memory |
| Memory Bandwidth | 819 GB/s |
DeepSeek-V3.1-Nex-N1 671B on the Apple M3 Ultra: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 512 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 1343.4 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 714.3 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 551.6 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 476.9 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q4_K_M | 406.5 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q3_K_M | 287.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
| Q2_K | 222 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
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 512 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 M3 Ultra: 8K 406.5 GB ✗ · 32K 408.2 GB ✗ · 125K 414.9 GB ✗. Past 8K it no longer fits 512 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
Why It Does Not Fit
Every Nex-N1 variant requires more VRAM than the Apple M3 Ultra provides (512 GB).
Nex-N1 needs ~407 GB but this GPU has 512 GB. Rent a 8× H100 (640 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.
FAQ
Does the Apple M3 Ultra have enough VRAM for Nex-N1?
No — DeepSeek-V3.1-Nex-N1 671B at Q4_K_M needs 406.5 GB at 8K context (405.1 GB weights + 1.4 GB KV cache/overhead), and the Apple M3 Ultra's 384 GB usable memory leaves it ~22.5 GB short.
Nex-N1 on Other GPUs
Popular Models on the Apple M3 Ultra
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? | Nex-N1 Model Page | Apple M3 Ultra GPU Page | VRAM calculator | Check Your Hardware