Would CUDA be a better path than Gaudi 3 128GB for Laguna XS 2.1?

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 Laguna XS 2.1 run on Gaudi 3 128GB?

Q: What should I upgrade first if Laguna XS 2.1 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

A80Great

Estimated from fit model

Laguna XS 2.1 needs ~36.5 GB VRAM. Gaudi 3 128GB has 128.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~342 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) — 34.7 GB, 370.3 tok/s, Runs well

34.7 GB required128.0 GB available

27% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

370.3 tok/s

TTFT

523 ms

Safe context

262K

Memory

34.7 GB / 128.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights20.4 GB

KV Cache0.6 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom12.8 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsLaguna XS 2.1 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: 370.3 tok/s decode · 523ms TTFT (warm) · 926 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	341.9 tok/s	350 ms	262K
Coding	A	Runs well	341.9 tok/s	566 ms	262K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs well	341.9 tok/s	824 ms	262K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	341.9 tok/s	669 ms	262K
RAG	A	Runs well	341.9 tok/s	1030 ms	262K

Inference speed

Laguna XS 2.1 inference speed — tokens per second by GPU & Mac

Estimated decode speed (tokens/sec) for Laguna XS 2.1 at Q4_K_M across popular GPUs and Apple Silicon, using the fastest local runtime per device. Fastest is RTX 5090 32GB at ~144 tok/s. Speed is memory-bandwidth bound, so cards that fit the whole model in VRAM run far faster than ones that offload to system RAM.

GPU / Mac	Memory	Quant	Speed (tok/s)	Fits?
RTX 5090 32GB	32 GB	Q4_K_M	144.2	Fits
RTX 4090 24GB	24 GB	Q4_K_M	85.8	Offloads

Quantization options

How Laguna XS 2.1 (33.400001525878906B params) fits at each quantization level on Gaudi 3 128GB (128.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q1_0_G128	1.125	4.8 GB	Very Low	B70
Q2_0_G128	1.71	8.9 GB	Low	A70
Q2_K	2

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Laguna XS 2.1 on your machine.

Run

docker run --rm -it ghcr.io/ggerganov/llama.cpp:full \
  --hf-repo "poolside/Laguna-XS-2.1" \
  --hf-file "Laguna-XS-2.1-Q4_K_M.gguf" \
  -c 4096 -ngl 99

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
Qwen 3.5 122B A10B	122B	S

Frequently asked questions

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Laguna XS 2.1?

Yes, Gaudi 3 128GB can run Laguna XS 2.1 with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 341.9 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Laguna XS 2.1 need?

Laguna XS 2.1 (33.400001525878906B parameters) requires approximately 36.5 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Laguna XS 2.1?

The recommended quantization for Laguna XS 2.1 is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Laguna XS 2.1 run at on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Laguna XS 2.1 achieves approximately 341.9 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 566ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Laguna XS 2.1 for coding?

For coding workloads, Laguna XS 2.1 on Gaudi 3 128GB receives a A grade with 341.9 tok/s and 262K context.

What context window can Laguna XS 2.1 use on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Laguna XS 2.1 can safely use up to 262K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 262K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if Laguna XS 2.1 feels slow on Gaudi 3 128GB?

See all results for Gaudi 3 128GB See all hardware for Laguna XS 2.1

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