Best hardware for Qwen3 8B
8B params at Q4_K_M — every tracked GPU and current Mac, graded. Engine estimates, dataset updated 2026-09-03.
Qwen3 8B on every tracked GPU
| GPU | Memory | Verdict | Est. speed | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 | 32 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~145 tok/s | 31 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell | 96 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~145 tok/s | 11 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 | 24 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~104 tok/s | 30 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | 16 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~94 tok/s | 60 / $1k | Full verdict |
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 24 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~89 tok/s | 127 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 16 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~87 tok/s | 76 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 | 24 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~87 tok/s | 97 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER | 16 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~79 tok/s | 49 / $1k | |
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT | 20 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~74 tok/s | 135 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER | 16 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~72 tok/s | 49 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | 12 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~59 tok/s | 75 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER | 12 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~56 tok/s | 51 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | 12 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~52 tok/s | 55 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti | 16 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~51 tok/s | 74 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | 12 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~42 tok/s | 70 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti | 16 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~34 tok/s | 57 / $1k | Full verdict |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 | 8 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~30 tok/s | 50 / $1k | Full verdict |
| AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (Strix Halo) | 110 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~30 tok/s | 8 / $1k |
Value = est. tok/s per $1,000 at the dated median listing price. Cheapest: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (~$550 used).
Qwen3 8B on current Macs (M5/M6)
| Mac | Memory | Verdict | Est. speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Mini M6 16GB | 16 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~28 tok/s | |
| MacBook Air M5 24GB | 24 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~25 tok/s | |
| MacBook Pro M5 Pro 48GB | 48 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~50 tok/s | |
| MacBook Pro M5 Max 128GB | 128 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~85 tok/s | |
| Mac Studio M5 Ultra 256GB | 256 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~124 tok/s |
Unified memory: the RAM budget (~70-85%) is the limit, not a VRAM wall. Current-gen configs only.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest GPU that runs Qwen3 8B well?
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the cheapest tracked card where Qwen3 8B (Q4_K_M) runs comfortably — ~74 tok/s estimated, at ~$550 used.
What is the best value GPU for Qwen3 8B?
On estimated tokens per dollar, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT leads for Qwen3 8B at ~135 tok/s per $1,000 (~$550 used). Prices are dated listing medians.
Does Qwen3 8B run on a Mac?
Yes. Qwen3 8B runs from the Mac Mini M6 16GB (~28 tok/s est.) up; unified memory means the RAM budget, not a VRAM wall, is the limit. Apple Silicon is often the cheapest path to large models.
What is the fastest way to run Qwen3 8B?
The fastest tracked machine for Qwen3 8B is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 at ~145 tok/s estimated. Speed is memory-bandwidth-bound, so high-bandwidth cards win.
Cite this page
ModelFit: Best hardware for Qwen3 8B (8B, Q4_K_M). https://modelfit.io/best-hardware-for/qwen3-8b/ (dataset updated 2026-09-03, CC BY 4.0).