🔌
New: connect Claude & other AIs to GenAIList over MCP — research the catalog and contribute to the shared knowledge base. Learn how →
// RUN — FITS
Can the Apple M3 Max 36GB run Phi-2?
Yes — here's how fast and up to what context, with real measured numbers.
Phi-2 on the Apple M3 Max 36GB
| Quant | Fits? | Max context | Speed | Beyond context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FP16 | yes | 389k | 37.8-45.6 t/s | ~1.3-1.5 (slow) |
| Q8 | yes | 430k | 75.6-91.1 t/s | ~2.5-3 (slow) |
| Q4 | yes | 448k | 134.9-162.7 t/s | ~4.5-5.4 (slow) |
Estimate (memory-bound). Beyond "max context" the KV cache spills to SSD swap and speed drops to the "beyond" figure.
FAQ
Can the Apple M3 Max 36GB run Phi-2?▶
Yes. At Q4 it generates ~134.9-162.7 tok/s and fits up to 448k context; beyond that it spills to SSD swap and slows to ~4.5-5.4 tok/s.
How much context fits?▶
At Q4, up to about 448k tokens stay in fast memory; longer context spills to SSD swap and throughput collapses.