Would CUDA be a better path than Intel Arc B580 12GB for Granite 4.1 8B?

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 Granite 4.1 8B run on Intel Arc B580 12GB?

Q: What should I upgrade first if Granite 4.1 8B feels slow on Intel Arc B580 12GB?

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

A79Great

Estimated from fit model

Granite 4.1 8B needs ~9.4 GB VRAM. Intel Arc B580 12GB has 12.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~45 tok/s.

Runtime: llama.cppCapacity: RoomyBandwidth: MediumStack: 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) — 9.4 GB, 48.2 tok/s, Runs well

9.4 GB required12.0 GB available

78% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

48.2 tok/s

TTFT

4015 ms

Safe context

33K

Memory

9.4 GB / 12.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights4.9 GB

KV Cache2.4 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom1.2 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsGranite 4.1 8B on Intel Arc B580 12GB
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: 48.2 tok/s decode · 4.0s TTFT (warm) · 121 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	A	Runs well	48.2 tok/s	2190 ms	33K
Coding	A	Runs well	44.9 tok/s	4316 ms	33K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs with offload	48.2 tok/s	5840 ms	33K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	48.2 tok/s	4745 ms	33K
RAG	A	Runs with offload	48.2 tok/s	7300 ms	33K

Quantization options

How Granite 4.1 8B (8B params) fits at each quantization level on Intel Arc B580 12GB (12.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	3.1 GB	Low	A74
Q3_K_S	3	3.9 GB	Low	A75
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Granite 4.1 8B on your machine.

Run

ollama run granite4.1:8b

Your hardware

More models your Intel Arc B580 12GB can run

Model	Params	Grade	Decode	Capabilities
Qwen 3.5 9B	9B	S	42.9 tok/s
Qwen 3 14B	14B	A	17.8 tok/s

Frequently asked questions

Can Intel Arc B580 12GB run Granite 4.1 8B?

Yes, Intel Arc B580 12GB can run Granite 4.1 8B with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 44.9 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Granite 4.1 8B need?

Granite 4.1 8B (8B parameters) requires approximately 9.4 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Granite 4.1 8B?

The recommended quantization for Granite 4.1 8B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Granite 4.1 8B run at on Intel Arc B580 12GB?

On Intel Arc B580 12GB, Granite 4.1 8B achieves approximately 44.9 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 4316ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Intel Arc B580 12GB run Granite 4.1 8B for coding?

For coding workloads, Granite 4.1 8B on Intel Arc B580 12GB receives a A grade with 44.9 tok/s and 33K context.

What context window can Granite 4.1 8B use on Intel Arc B580 12GB?

On Intel Arc B580 12GB, Granite 4.1 8B can safely use up to 33K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 131K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if Granite 4.1 8B feels slow on Intel Arc B580 12GB?

See all results for Intel Arc B580 12GB See all hardware for Granite 4.1 8B

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