Would CUDA be a better path than Gaudi 3 128GB for StarCoder 15B?

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 StarCoder 15B run on Gaudi 3 128GB?

YES — Runs Great

A74Great

Estimated from fit model

StarCoder 15B needs ~39.4 GB VRAM. Gaudi 3 128GB has 128.0 GB. With Q5_K_M quantization, expect ~210 tok/s.

Runtime: OllamaCapacity: RoomyBandwidth: HighStack: BasicBottleneck: 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

Q5_K_M (High quality) — 39.4 GB, 210.0 tok/s, Runs well

39.4 GB required128.0 GB available

31% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

210.0 tok/s

TTFT

922 ms

Safe context

Memory

39.4 GB / 128.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights10.8 GB

KV Cache14.6 GB

Runtime1.2 GB

Headroom12.8 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsStarCoder 15B 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: 210.0 tok/s decode · 922ms TTFT (warm) · 525 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	210.0 tok/s	503 ms	8K
Coding	A	Runs well	210.0 tok/s	922 ms	8K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs well	210.0 tok/s	1341 ms	8K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	210.0 tok/s	1090 ms	8K
RAG	A	Runs well	210.0 tok/s	1676 ms	8K

Quantization options

How StarCoder 15B (15B params) fits at each quantization level on Gaudi 3 128GB (128.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	5.9 GB	Low	B63
Q3_K_S	3	7.4 GB	Low	B63
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run StarCoder 15B on your machine.

Run

lms load starcoder && lms server start

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 StarCoder 15B?

Yes, Gaudi 3 128GB can run StarCoder 15B with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 210.0 tok/s.

How much VRAM does StarCoder 15B need?

StarCoder 15B (15B parameters) requires approximately 39.4 GB of memory with Q5_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for StarCoder 15B?

The recommended quantization for StarCoder 15B is Q5_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will StarCoder 15B run at on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, StarCoder 15B achieves approximately 210.0 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 922ms using Q5_K_M quantization.

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run StarCoder 15B for coding?

For coding workloads, StarCoder 15B on Gaudi 3 128GB receives a A grade with 210.0 tok/s and 8K context.

What context window can StarCoder 15B use on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, StarCoder 15B 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 StarCoder 15B 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 StarCoder 15B

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