Would CUDA be a better path than Gaudi 3 128GB for Qwen 3.5 9B?

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 3.5 9B run on Gaudi 3 128GB?

YES — Runs Great

S87Excellent

Estimated from fit model

Qwen 3.5 9B needs ~21.4 GB VRAM. Gaudi 3 128GB has 128.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~126 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) — 21.4 GB, 126.0 tok/s, Runs well

21.4 GB required128.0 GB available

17% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

126.0 tok/s

TTFT

1537 ms

Safe context

131K

Memory

21.4 GB / 128.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights5.5 GB

KV Cache2.2 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom12.8 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsQwen 3.5 9B 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: 126.0 tok/s decode · 1.5s TTFT (warm) · 315 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	126.0 tok/s	838 ms	131K
Coding	S	Runs well	126.0 tok/s	1537 ms	131K
Agentic Coding	S	Runs well	126.0 tok/s	2235 ms	131K
Reasoning	S	Runs well	126.0 tok/s	1816 ms	131K
RAG	S	Runs well	126.0 tok/s	2794 ms	131K

Quantization options

How Qwen 3.5 9B (9B params) fits at each quantization level on Gaudi 3 128GB (128.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	3.5 GB	Low	A80
Q3_K_S	3	4.4 GB	Low	A80
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Qwen 3.5 9B on your machine.

Run

ollama run qwen3.5:9b

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 3.5 9B?

Yes, Gaudi 3 128GB can run Qwen 3.5 9B with a S grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 126.0 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Qwen 3.5 9B need?

Qwen 3.5 9B (9B parameters) requires approximately 21.4 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Qwen 3.5 9B?

The recommended quantization for Qwen 3.5 9B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Qwen 3.5 9B run at on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Qwen 3.5 9B achieves approximately 126.0 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 1537ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Qwen 3.5 9B for coding?

For coding workloads, Qwen 3.5 9B on Gaudi 3 128GB receives a S grade with 126.0 tok/s and 131K context.

What context window can Qwen 3.5 9B use on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Qwen 3.5 9B 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 3.5 9B 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 3.5 9B

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