Would CUDA be a better path than Gaudi 3 128GB for DeepSeek R1 1.5B?

Often yes, if your goal is the easiest setup and the widest runtime support. Intel can offer attractive memory capacity, but CUDA still tends to win on tooling maturity, guides, kernels, and model coverage for local AI.

Can DeepSeek R1 1.5B run on Gaudi 3 128GB?

Q: What should I upgrade first if DeepSeek R1 1.5B feels slow on Gaudi 3 128GB?

Prefer CUDA if you want the path of least resistance. If your goal is maximum runtime coverage, easier troubleshooting, and better support for new local AI releases, CUDA is usually still the safer upgrade path.

YES — Runs Great

C50Usable

Estimated from fit model

DeepSeek R1 1.5B needs ~15.0 GB VRAM. Gaudi 3 128GB has 128.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~21 tok/s.

Runtime: llama.cppCapacity: RoomyBandwidth: HighStack: StandardBottleneck: Balanced

Operating mode

Choose the run profile you care about

Interactive favors responsiveness, while light API and scale-out lean harder on serving readiness. The fit stays the same, but the recommendation lens changes.

Current mode

Balanced

Balanced for general local use. Keeps the ranking neutral across personal and serving workflows.

Capabilities:

Select quantization to explore

Q4_K_M (Medium quality) — 15.0 GB, 21.0 tok/s, Runs well

15.0 GB required128.0 GB available

12% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

21.0 tok/s

TTFT

9219 ms

Safe context

33K

Memory

15.0 GB / 128.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights0.9 GB

KV Cache0.4 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom12.8 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsDeepSeek R1 1.5B on Gaudi 3 128GB
1st promptCold start — includes initialization
>Write a Python function to sort a list
Here's a Python function that sorts a list using quicksort:

def quicksort(arr):
    if len(arr) <= 1:
        return arr
    pivot = arr[len(arr) // 2]
    left   = [x for x in arr if x < pivot]
    middle = [x for x in arr if x == pivot]
    right  = [x for x in arr if x > pivot]
    return quicksort(left) + middle + quicksort(right)

# Example usage
numbers = [3, 6, 8, 10, 1, 2, 1]
print(quicksort(numbers))  # [1, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10]

The algorithm picks a pivot, partitions the list into smaller, equal, and larger elements, then recursively sorts each partition and concatenates the results.
2nd promptWarm — model ready, no init overhead
>Now add type hints and a docstring
def quicksort(arr: list[int]) -> list[int]:
    """Sort a list using the quicksort algorithm.

    Args:
        arr: List of integers to sort.

    Returns:
        A new sorted list.
    """
    if len(arr) <= 1:
        return arr
    pivot = arr[len(arr) // 2]
    left   = [x for x in arr if x < pivot]
    middle = [x for x in arr if x == pivot]
    right  = [x for x in arr if x > pivot]
    return quicksort(left) + middle + quicksort(right)

Added type hints for the input and return type, plus a Google-style docstring.
Estimated: 21.0 tok/s decode · 9.2s TTFT (warm) · 53 tok/s prefill

What limits this setup

The raw memory story may look fine, but the software ecosystem is still a constraint here.

Runtime ecosystem is narrower than CUDA

Intel GPUs can look attractive on memory per dollar, but local AI tooling, kernels, and model coverage are still broader and easier on CUDA today.

Best improvement path

Prefer CUDA if you want the path of least resistance

If your goal is maximum runtime coverage, easier troubleshooting, and better support for new local AI releases, CUDA is usually still the safer upgrade path.

Performance by workload

Workload	Grade	Fit	Decode	TTFT	Context
Chat	C	Runs well	21.0 tok/s	5029 ms	33K
Coding	C	Runs well	21.0 tok/s	9219 ms	33K
Agentic Coding	C	Runs well	21.0 tok/s	13410 ms	33K
Reasoning	C	Runs well	21.0 tok/s	10895 ms	33K
RAG	C	Runs well	21.0 tok/s	16762 ms	33K

Quantization options

How DeepSeek R1 1.5B (1.5B params) fits at each quantization level on Gaudi 3 128GB (128.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	0.6 GB	Low	C49
Q3_K_S	3	0.7 GB	Low	C49
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run DeepSeek R1 1.5B on your machine.

Run

ollama run deepseek-r1:1.5b

Upgrade options

Hardware that runs DeepSeek R1 1.5B well

Mac Studio M3 Ultra 256GBBudget pick

256 GB Unified (+128)

Adds memory headroom for longer context windows and future model growth.21 tok/s decode

Adds memory headroom for longer context windows and future model growth.

~$6,999 MSRP

Frequently asked questions

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run DeepSeek R1 1.5B?

Yes, Gaudi 3 128GB can run DeepSeek R1 1.5B with a C grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 21.0 tok/s.

How much VRAM does DeepSeek R1 1.5B need?

DeepSeek R1 1.5B (1.5B parameters) requires approximately 15.0 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for DeepSeek R1 1.5B?

The recommended quantization for DeepSeek R1 1.5B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will DeepSeek R1 1.5B run at on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, DeepSeek R1 1.5B achieves approximately 21.0 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 9219ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run DeepSeek R1 1.5B for coding?

For coding workloads, DeepSeek R1 1.5B on Gaudi 3 128GB receives a C grade with 21.0 tok/s and 33K context.

What context window can DeepSeek R1 1.5B use on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, DeepSeek R1 1.5B can safely use up to 33K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 33K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if DeepSeek R1 1.5B feels slow on Gaudi 3 128GB?

See all results for Gaudi 3 128GB See all hardware for DeepSeek R1 1.5B

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