Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated August 15, 2026
Only with offload — GPT-OSS spills onto CPU/system RAM on the Apple M1 (16 GB), so expect a large speed penalty.
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| VRAM | 16 GB unified memory |
| Memory Bandwidth | 68 GB/s |
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 16 GB? | Max context |
|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 42.8 GB | ✗ No | — |
| Q8_0 | 23.2 GB | ✗ No | — |
| Q6_K | 18.1 GB | ✗ No | — |
| Q5_K_M | 15.8 GB | ✓ Yes | 4K |
| Q4_K_M | 13.6 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K |
| Q3_K_M | 9.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K |
| Q2_K | 7.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 128K |
VRAM needed assumes a 4K-token context with an f16 KV cache; “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 16 GB of unified memory. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.
Every GPT-OSS variant requires more VRAM than the Apple M1 provides (16 GB).
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20 GB VRAM).
GPT-OSS needs ~11 GB but this GPU has 16 GB. Rent a RTX 4090 (24 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.
Only with offload — GPT-OSS spills onto CPU/system RAM on the Apple M1 (16 GB), so expect a large speed penalty.
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20 GB VRAM) is the cheapest upgrade that fits it.
| Size | VRAM | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-oss 120B | 70.5 GB | Does not fit | — |
| GPT-OSS 20B | 11.1 GB | Runs at Q3_K_M | — |
← Can I Run It? | GPT-OSS Model Page | Apple M1 GPU Page | Check Your Hardware