Dataset updated 2026-10-26Granite Switch 4.1 8B
Granite Switch 4.1 8B loads in 6.4 GB at Q4_K_M, comfortably from 16 GB of memory, Macs included, starting at the Mac Mini M6 16GB. Below is the memory math we ran for it, the smallest card that fits, and the fastest machine we track.
- Parameters
- 8.8B
- Format
- Q4_K_M
- Min memory
- 12 GB
- Best for
- Chat, Decisions, Safety checks
How much memory does Granite Switch 4.1 8B need?
Granite Switch 4.1 8B is a 8.8B dense model built for chat, decisions, safety checks. The weights alone take 6.4 GB at Q4_K_M; add context and the OS, and it belongs in the 16 GB memory class. Every number below comes from the ModelFit engine: speeds are estimates, labeled est., because we do not benchmark hardware ourselves.
KV = fp16 estimate (q8_0 cache roughly halves it). "Comfortable" = weights + KV within the engine's tiered budget (~70-85% of memory).
Which machines run Granite Switch 4.1 8B?
- Smallest GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060est. 31 tok/s · 8 GB VRAMtypical error 5%
- Fastest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090est. 175 tok/stypical error 5%
- Runs on a Mac?
- Mac Mini M6 16GBest. 20 tok/stypical error 10%
Verdicts come from the same engine that powers our fit checker: memory capacity first, bandwidth for speed. How we compute these numbers · What typical error means · Hugging Face model card
More Granite models
6 pagesGet told when a better model fits your MacBook Air M5 16 GB
Get one email when a new open-weight model is a better fit for this machine.
For: MacBook Air M5 16 GB
You'll also get the weekly ModelFit email. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe from either email anytime, in one click.
Frequently asked questions
How much memory does Granite Switch 4.1 8B need?
6.4 GB for the Q4_K_M weights, plus ~2.0 GB of KV-cache at 16k context, about 8.4 GB total. Comfortable from 16 GB of VRAM or unified memory.
Does Granite Switch 4.1 8B run on a Mac?
Yes, from the Mac Mini M6 16GB (est. 20 tok/s, typical error 10%). Unified memory means the RAM budget is the only limit.
What is the smallest GPU for Granite Switch 4.1 8B?
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (8 GB VRAM) is the smallest tracked card that runs Granite Switch 4.1 8B comfortably, est. 31 tok/s, typical error 5%.
Cite this page
ModelFit: Granite Switch 4.1 8B, specs, memory math and hardware verdicts. https://modelfit.io/models/granite-switch-4.1-8b/ (dataset updated 2026-10-26, CC BY 4.0).