Can I Run Llama 4 Maverick 17B on Apple M3 Ultra?
Autor: Jakub Rusinowski · Ostatnia aktualizacja: 12 lipca 2026
Yes. Llama 4 Maverick 17B needs 243.9 GB at 8K context (241.5 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead) at Q4_K_M and the Apple M3 Ultra has 384 GB usable, leaving about 140.1 GB of headroom, at roughly 36 tok/s (estimated) with room for up to 512K of context.
See what else this hardware can run →
The numbers
| Model | Llama 4 Maverick 17B |
| Parameters | 17B active / 400B total |
| Quantization | Q4_K_M |
| VRAM needed (8K context) | 243.9 GB |
| Apple M3 Ultra usable memory | 384 GB |
| Verdict | Runs |
| Max context | 512K |
| Estimated speed | ~36 tok/s |
Llama 4 Maverick 17B on the Apple M3 Ultra: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 512 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 802.4 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 427.4 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 330.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 256K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 285.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 256K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 243.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 512K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 172.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 1M | — |
| Q2_K | 133.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 1M | — |
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 243.9 GB · 32K 248.7 GB · 128K 268.1 GB. Every window this model publishes still fits 512 GB.
What to do next
Nothing to change — run it at Q4_K_M. If you want more capability, check whether the next size up also fits.
No compatible GPU? Llama 4 on 48 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Running Llama 4 Maverick 17B on this card:
Llama 4 Maverick 17B needs ~244 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.
Other Llama 4 sizes on the Apple M3 Ultra
- Llama 4 Scout 17B — runs (68.2 GB)
Llama 4 Maverick 17B on nearby hardware
- AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (128 GB) — does not fit
All Llama 4 sizes on the Apple M3 Ultra | Llama 4 Maverick 17B model page | Apple M3 Ultra GPU page | VRAM calculator | Check your hardware