Is unified memory on Mac mini M4 64GB as fast as VRAM for Gemma 3 27B?

Not always. Mac mini M4 64GB can often fit larger models thanks to unified memory, but a discrete GPU with dedicated high-bandwidth VRAM may still decode faster once the model fits. For this combination, the important distinction is capacity versus sustained throughput.

Can Gemma 3 27B run on Mac mini M4 64GB?

YES — Runs Great

A81Great

Estimated — low-sample bucket· few comparable runs

Gemma 3 27B needs ~35.5 GB VRAM. Mac mini M4 64GB has 46.1 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~7 tok/s.

Runtime: llama.cppCapacity: RoomyBandwidth: Very lowStack: StandardBottleneck: Memory bandwidth

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) — 35.5 GB, 6.9 tok/s, Runs well

35.5 GB required46.1 GB available

77% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

6.9 tok/s

TTFT

28108 ms

Safe context

31K

Memory

35.5 GB / 46.1 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights16.5 GB

KV Cache11.2 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom6.9 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsGemma 3 27B on Mac mini M4 64GB
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: 6.9 tok/s decode · 28.1s TTFT (warm) · 17 tok/s prefill

What limits this setup

The model fits in shared memory, but shared-memory bandwidth is now the real limiter.

Fit does not mean dedicated-VRAM speed

Unified or shared memory can make a model technically fit, but sustained tokens per second may still trail a discrete high-bandwidth GPU with less total memory.

Shared-memory contention still exists

The OS, browser, and inference runtime all compete for the same physical memory pool, so real-world headroom is less forgiving than raw capacity suggests.

Best improvement path

Prioritize bandwidth, not only capacity

If this workload feels slow, the next useful step is often a GPU tier with materially faster memory bandwidth rather than only a small bump in capacity.

Performance by workload

Workload	Grade	Fit	Decode	TTFT	Context
Chat	A	Runs well	6.9 tok/s	15331 ms	31K
Coding	A	Runs well	6.9 tok/s	28108 ms	31K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs with offload (needs ~0.2 GB host RAM)	6.7 tok/s	42289 ms	31K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	6.9 tok/s	33218 ms	31K
RAG	A	Runs with offload (needs ~0.2 GB host RAM)	6.7 tok/s	52861 ms

Quantization options

How Gemma 3 27B (27B params) fits at each quantization level on Mac mini M4 64GB (46.1 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	10.5 GB	Low	A76
Q3_K_S	3	13.2 GB	Low	A77
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Gemma 3 27B on your machine.

Run

ollama run gemma3

Your hardware

More models your Mac mini M4 64GB can run

Model	Params	Grade	Decode	Capabilities
Qwen3-Coder 30B A3B Instruct	30.5B	S	13.1 tok/s
Qwen 3.6 35B A3B	35B	S	12.1 tok/s

Frequently asked questions

Can Mac mini M4 64GB run Gemma 3 27B?

Yes, Mac mini M4 64GB can run Gemma 3 27B with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 6.9 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Gemma 3 27B need?

Gemma 3 27B (27B parameters) requires approximately 35.5 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Gemma 3 27B?

The recommended quantization for Gemma 3 27B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Gemma 3 27B run at on Mac mini M4 64GB?

On Mac mini M4 64GB, Gemma 3 27B achieves approximately 6.9 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 28108ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Mac mini M4 64GB run Gemma 3 27B for coding?

For coding workloads, Gemma 3 27B on Mac mini M4 64GB receives a A grade with 6.9 tok/s and 31K context.

What context window can Gemma 3 27B use on Mac mini M4 64GB?

On Mac mini M4 64GB, Gemma 3 27B can safely use up to 31K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 131K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if Gemma 3 27B feels slow on Mac mini M4 64GB?

Prioritize bandwidth, not only capacity. If this workload feels slow, the next useful step is often a GPU tier with materially faster memory bandwidth rather than only a small bump in capacity.

See all results for Mac mini M4 64GB See all hardware for Gemma 3 27B

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