How much VRAM does Llama 2 7B Chat need?

Llama 2 7B Chat (7B parameters) requires approximately 13.5 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Llama 2 7B Chat?

The recommended quantization for Llama 2 7B Chat is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

Can it run?

Yes, MacBook Pro M3 Max 64GB can run Llama 2 7B Chat with a C grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 56.2 tok/s.

CUsable

Runs well

Using Q4_K_M in Ollama

Capabilities:

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

56.2 tok/s

TTFT

3444 ms

Safe context

55K

Memory

13.5 GB / 46.1 GB

Weights4.3 GB

KV Cache1.1 GB

Runtime1.2 GB

Headroom6.9 GB

Workload	Grade	Fit	Decode	TTFT	Context
Agentic Coding	C	Runs well	56.2 tok/s	5010 ms	101K
Chat	C	Runs well	56.2 tok/s	1879 ms	28K
Coding	C	Runs well	56.2 tok/s	3444 ms	55K
RAG	C	Runs well	60.9 tok/s	5781 ms	101K
Reasoning	C	Runs well	56.2 tok/s	4071 ms	55K

How Llama 2 7B Chat (7B params) fits at each quantization level on MacBook Pro M3 Max 64GB (46.1 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	2.7 GB	Low	D31
Q3_K_S	3	3.4 GB	Low	D31
NVFP4	4

Upgrade options

MacBook Pro M4 Max 96GBBudget pick

C80.6 tok/s decode

~$2,499 MSRP

Mac Studio M1 Ultra 128GBBest value

C103 tok/s decode

~$3,999 MSRP