Would CUDA be a better path than Intel Arc A770 16GB for Solar 7B?

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 Solar 7B run on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

YES — Runs Great

A74Great

Estimated from fit model

Solar 7B needs ~9.7 GB VRAM. Intel Arc A770 16GB has 16.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~59 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) — 9.7 GB, 63.4 tok/s, Runs well

9.7 GB required16.0 GB available

61% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

63.4 tok/s

TTFT

3052 ms

Safe context

Memory

9.7 GB / 16.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights4.3 GB

KV Cache2.9 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom1.6 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsSolar 7B on Intel Arc A770 16GB
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: 63.4 tok/s decode · 3.1s TTFT (warm) · 159 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	63.4 tok/s	1664 ms	8K
Coding	A	Runs well	59.0 tok/s	3280 ms	8K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs well	63.4 tok/s	4439 ms	8K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	63.4 tok/s	3606 ms	8K
RAG	A	Runs well	63.4 tok/s	5548 ms	8K

Quantization options

How Solar 7B (7B params) fits at each quantization level on Intel Arc A770 16GB (16.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	2.7 GB	Low	B67
Q3_K_S	3	3.4 GB	Low	B68
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Solar 7B on your machine.

Run

lms load Solar-7B && lms server start

Your hardware

More models your Intel Arc A770 16GB can run

Model	Params	Grade	Decode	Capabilities
Qwen 3.5 9B	9B	S	49.3 tok/s
Qwen 3 14B	14B	S	31.9 tok/s

Frequently asked questions

Can Intel Arc A770 16GB run Solar 7B?

Yes, Intel Arc A770 16GB can run Solar 7B with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 59.0 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Solar 7B need?

Solar 7B (7B parameters) requires approximately 9.7 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Solar 7B?

The recommended quantization for Solar 7B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Solar 7B run at on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

On Intel Arc A770 16GB, Solar 7B achieves approximately 59.0 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 3280ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Intel Arc A770 16GB run Solar 7B for coding?

For coding workloads, Solar 7B on Intel Arc A770 16GB receives a A grade with 59.0 tok/s and 8K context.

What context window can Solar 7B use on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

On Intel Arc A770 16GB, Solar 7B 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 Solar 7B feels slow on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

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 Intel Arc A770 16GB See all hardware for Solar 7B

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