Would CUDA be a better path than Gaudi 3 128GB for Granite Code 20B?

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 Code 20B run on Gaudi 3 128GB?

Q: What should I upgrade first if Granite Code 20B 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

A76Great

Estimated from fit model

Granite Code 20B needs ~29.1 GB VRAM. Gaudi 3 128GB has 128.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~229 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) — 29.1 GB, 229.3 tok/s, Runs well

29.1 GB required128.0 GB available

23% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

229.3 tok/s

TTFT

844 ms

Safe context

Memory

29.1 GB / 128.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights12.2 GB

KV Cache3.2 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom12.8 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsGranite Code 20B 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: 229.3 tok/s decode · 844ms TTFT (warm) · 573 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	229.3 tok/s	461 ms	8K
Coding	A	Runs well	229.3 tok/s	844 ms	8K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs well	229.3 tok/s	1228 ms	8K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	229.3 tok/s	998 ms	8K
RAG	A	Runs well	229.3 tok/s	1535 ms	8K

Quantization options

How Granite Code 20B (20B params) fits at each quantization level on Gaudi 3 128GB (128.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	7.8 GB	Low	B68
Q3_K_S	3	9.8 GB	Low	B68
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Granite Code 20B on your machine.

Run

ollama run granite-code:20b

Your hardware

More models your Gaudi 3 128GB can run

Model	Params	Grade	Decode	Capabilities
Devstral 2 123B Instruct	123B	S	37.5 tok/s
Qwen3-Coder 30B A3B Instruct	30.5B	S

Frequently asked questions

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Granite Code 20B?

Yes, Gaudi 3 128GB can run Granite Code 20B with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 229.3 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Granite Code 20B need?

Granite Code 20B (20B parameters) requires approximately 29.1 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Granite Code 20B?

The recommended quantization for Granite Code 20B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Granite Code 20B run at on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Granite Code 20B achieves approximately 229.3 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 844ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Granite Code 20B for coding?

For coding workloads, Granite Code 20B on Gaudi 3 128GB receives a A grade with 229.3 tok/s and 8K context.

What context window can Granite Code 20B use on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Granite Code 20B can safely use up to 8K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 8K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if Granite Code 20B feels slow on Gaudi 3 128GB?

See all results for Gaudi 3 128GB See all hardware for Granite Code 20B

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