← Can It Run? — GPU compatibility matrix · Local LLMs guide
Qwen 2.5 72B needs 41 GB VRAM at Q4. The Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB has 128 GB.
🌐 Qwen 2.5 72B (Alibaba) is a 72B-parameter model for top-tier reasoning, code, and multilingual work. Flagship open model, competitive with the best 70B-class LLMs. The question is whether the Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB’s 128 GB of VRAM can hold it — here’s the exact math.
VRAM requirements
| Quantization | VRAM needed | Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB |
|---|---|---|
| Q4_K_M (recommended) | 41 GB | ✅ |
| Q8_0 (near-lossless) | 74 GB | ✅ |
Expected performance
Running Qwen 2.5 72B at Q4 on the Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB, expect roughly ~7 tokens/sec in Ollama or llama.cpp — comfortably faster than reading speed, so chat feels responsive.
Headroom: 41 GB used of 128 GB leaves about 87 GB free for KV cache (context). That’s fine for 4-8K context; for 32K+ you may need a smaller batch or a lower quant.
About the Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB
Architecture: Apple Silicon · VRAM: 128 GB · Price: ~$3,500.
Good: Unified 128GB runs 70B+ models silently at low power
Watch out: Slower raw throughput than NVIDIA; costly; no upgrades
Check current Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB price on Amazon →
Related checks
Other models on the Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB
🎯 LLM Hardware Checker
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💾 VRAM Requirements
Exact VRAM per model at Q4/Q5/Q8/FP16 with context scaling.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB run Qwen 2.5 72B?
Yes — runs at Q4 and full Q8 quality. Qwen 2.5 72B needs 41 GB VRAM at Q4_K_M; the Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB has 128 GB.
How much VRAM does Qwen 2.5 72B need?
Qwen 2.5 72B needs about 41 GB at Q4_K_M (recommended) and 74 GB at Q8_0.
How many tokens per second will the Mac Studio M4 Max 128GB get on Qwen 2.5 72B?
Roughly ~7 tokens/sec at Q4 in Ollama or llama.cpp.