Would CUDA be a better path than Gaudi 3 128GB for Qwen 3 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 Qwen 3 8B run on Gaudi 3 128GB?

YES — Runs Great

S85Excellent

Estimated from fit model

Qwen 3 8B needs ~20.8 GB VRAM. Gaudi 3 128GB has 128.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~112 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) — 20.8 GB, 112.0 tok/s, Runs well

20.8 GB required128.0 GB available

16% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

112.0 tok/s

TTFT

1729 ms

Safe context

131K

Memory

20.8 GB / 128.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights4.9 GB

KV Cache2.2 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom12.8 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsQwen 3 8B on Gaudi 3 128GB
1st promptCold start — includes initialization
>Solve: If a train travels at 60 mph for 2.5 hours, how far does it go?
Let me work through this step by step.

Given information:
  - Speed = 60 mph (miles per hour)
  - Time  = 2.5 hours

Formula: Distance = Speed x Time

Calculation:
  Distance = 60 mph x 2.5 h
           = 150 miles

The train travels 150 miles.

Double-check: at 60 mph the train covers 60 miles each hour. In half an hour it covers 30 miles. So in 2.5 hours: 60 + 60 + 30 = 150 miles. Confirmed.
2nd promptWarm — model ready, no init overhead
>What if the train stops for 20 minutes halfway?
The stop doesn't change the total distance covered while moving, but it affects total trip time.

Breakdown:
  - First half: 1.25 hours at 60 mph = 75 miles
  - Stop: 20 minutes (no distance)
  - Second half: 1.25 hours at 60 mph = 75 miles

Total distance: 150 miles (same)
Total time: 2.5 h + 0.33 h = 2.83 hours
Average speed: 150 / 2.83 = 53 mph

The distance stays the same but average speed drops to 53 mph because of the stop.
Estimated: 112.0 tok/s decode · 1.7s TTFT (warm) · 280 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	S	Runs well	112.0 tok/s	943 ms	131K
Coding	S	Runs well	112.0 tok/s	1729 ms	131K
Agentic Coding	S	Runs well	112.0 tok/s	2514 ms	131K
Reasoning	S	Runs well	112.0 tok/s	2043 ms	131K
RAG	S	Runs well	112.0 tok/s	3143 ms	131K

Quantization options

How Qwen 3 8B (8B params) fits at each quantization level on Gaudi 3 128GB (128.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	3.1 GB	Low	A78
Q3_K_S	3	3.9 GB	Low	A78
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Qwen 3 8B on your machine.

Run

ollama run qwen3:8b

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 Qwen 3 8B?

Yes, Gaudi 3 128GB can run Qwen 3 8B with a S grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 112.0 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Qwen 3 8B need?

Qwen 3 8B (8B parameters) requires approximately 20.8 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Qwen 3 8B?

The recommended quantization for Qwen 3 8B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Qwen 3 8B run at on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Qwen 3 8B achieves approximately 112.0 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 1729ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Qwen 3 8B for coding?

For coding workloads, Qwen 3 8B on Gaudi 3 128GB receives a S grade with 112.0 tok/s and 131K context.

What context window can Qwen 3 8B use on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Qwen 3 8B can safely use up to 131K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 131K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if Qwen 3 8B 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.

See all results for Gaudi 3 128GB See all hardware for Qwen 3 8B

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