Can I run this LLM?
Can a MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB) run Gemma 3 12B?
Gemma · Gemma · estimated for a 16.0 GB machine at 4K context.
Yes — it runs great.
Best fit: Gemma 3 12B at Q3_K_M · 6.0 GB · 13–19 tok/s on a MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB).
Every quantization on this machine
| Quant | Size | Speed | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 4.8 GB | 15–22 tok/s | Runs great |
| Q3_K_M | 6.0 GB | 13–19 tok/s | Runs great |
| Q4_K_M | 7.3 GB | 11–16 tok/s | Tight / slow |
| Q5_K_M | 8.5 GB | 10–15 tok/s | Tight / slow |
| Q6_K | 9.7 GB | 9–13 tok/s | Won't fit |
| Q8_0 | 12.5 GB | 7–11 tok/s | Won't fit |
| FP16 | 23.5 GB | 4–6 tok/s | Won't fit |
Open the full calculator →Everything a MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB) runsGemma 3 12B on other machinesWhat to buy to run it →
Ran Gemma 3 12B on a MacBook Air/Pro M5 (16GB)? Add your real numbers →