What is the best DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) quantization for a 36GB GPU?

The Q4_K_M (4-bit Recommended) variant (~41.9GB) is the best fit on the Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max).

GPU × Model Compatibility

Can a Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) run DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B)?

Q: Can a Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) run DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) locally?

Not comfortably — the Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) has 36GB VRAM and DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) needs more than that even in its smallest quantization. Use the cloud or a larger GPU.

Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) has 36GB VRAM. Here's exactly whichprecision (FP16, FP8, GGUF)of DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) fits and how smoothly it runs.

Too much for this GPU

The Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) (36GB) doesn't have enough VRAM for DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) even at its smallest size (41.9GB needed). Rent a cloud GPU or step up to a bigger card.

41.9GB

smallest fit on this GPU

Run it in the cloud instead

A 24GB RTX 4090 instance runs DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) at full quality, starting at pennies/hour.

Disclosure: Cloud provider links are referrals at no additional cost to you.

RunPod ↗Vast.ai ↗

DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) variants on the Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max)

Variant	Precision	Size	Total VRAM needed	Headroom	Fits?
Q4_K_M (4-bit Recommended)REC	q4_k_m	41.9GB	41.9GB	-5.9GB	✗ OOM
Q8_0 (8-bit GGUF)	q8_0	78.8GB	78.8GB	-42.8GB	✗ OOM
FP16 (Uncompressed)	fp16	147.7GB	147.7GB	-111.7GB	✗ OOM

"Total VRAM needed" = variant size + 0.0GB estimated text-encoder/VAE overhead. Headroom = GPU VRAM (36GB) − total needed. Green ≥ 1.5GB headroom; Red ≤ −2GB (will OOM).

Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) at a glance

VRAM

36GB

Est. price

$3500

Best for

141.2GB DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) and lighter

Can a Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) run DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B)?

Too much for this GPU

Run it in the cloud instead

DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B) variants on the Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max)

Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max) at a glance

Other models on the Apple MacBook Pro (M3 Max)

Other GPUs for DeepSeek-R1 Distill Llama (70B)