Can M4 Max run Distil-Whisper Large v3?
Yes — runs locally
~102 tok/sec · Instant — feels like typing. No noticeable delay.
The verdict
The M4 Max (128 GB VRAM) handles Distil-Whisper Large v3 comfortably using the Q8_0 quantization, which fits in 1.9 GB. Expected throughput is around 102 tokens/second, which feels Instant — feels like typing. No noticeable delay. in interactive use. Distilled Whisper. 6x faster than large-v3 with 1% accuracy loss.
Setup tutorial: Distil-Whisper Large v3 on M4 Max
AI-generated, GPU-specific. Verified commands for your exact hardware.
Run Distil-Whisper Large v3 on an Apple M4 Max with Ollama using the Q8_0 quantization. Expect Grade S performance at ~1705 tok/sec.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have at least 2GB of free disk space, macOS 12.3 or later, and Xcode Command Line Tools installed. You can install Xcode CLT by running `xcode-select --install` in your terminal.
Expected performance
With the Q8_0 quantization, you can expect ~1705 tok/sec processing speed, using approximately 1.9GB of VRAM. This leaves you with 126.1GB of VRAM for context, allowing for very large context windows without running into memory constraints.
1. Install runtimeOllama (preferred on Apple Silicon)
brew install ollama
ollama setup2. Download the model
Download the Q8_0 quantized version of Distil-Whisper Large v3 (1.4GB file) from HuggingFace.
ollama pull distil-whisper/distil-large-v3-ggml:Q8_03. Run it
ollama run distil-whisper/distil-large-v3-ggml:Q8_0
ollama interactive distil-whisper/distil-large-v3-ggml:Q8_04. Optimize for M4 Max
For optimal performance on the Apple M4 Max, utilize the Metal/MLX backend to leverage the GPU's 128GB of VRAM. Ensure that MPS layers are enabled to take full advantage of the unified memory architecture. With 128GB VRAM, you have ample headroom for large context windows.
Troubleshooting
Low processing speed or high CPU usage
Ensure that the Metal/MLX backend is enabled and that MPS layers are utilized. Run `ollama config set backend metal` to set the backend.
Out-of-memory errors during inference
Reduce the batch size or context length to fit within the available 126.1GB of VRAM. Adjust the context length to balance performance and memory usage.
Model not found after pulling
Verify that the model was successfully downloaded by running `ollama list`. If not, try pulling the model again with `ollama pull distil-whisper/distil-large-v3-ggml:Q8_0`.
Alternative runtimes
While Ollama is the preferred runtime for Apple Silicon, alternatives like LM Studio, llama.cpp, and MLX can be used for more advanced customization or specific use cases. For example, LM Studio offers a graphical interface, while llama.cpp provides more control over quantization and optimization settings. MLX is another option for leveraging Metal performance optimizations.
Other models that run great on M4 Max
FAQ (20)
What GPU do I need to run Distil-Whisper Large v3?
To run Distil-Whisper Large v3, you need a GPU with at least 1.9 GB of VRAM. NVIDIA GPUs such as the GTX 1060 or higher are recommended.
Is Distil-Whisper Large v3 good for coding?
Distil-Whisper Large v3 is primarily designed for speech recognition tasks and may not be optimized for coding-specific tasks. For coding, models like Codex or CodeLlama are more suitable.
Distil-Whisper Large v3 vs Llama 3.1 8B?
Distil-Whisper Large v3 has 0.76B parameters and is optimized for speech recognition, while Llama 3.1 8B is a larger, more versatile model with 8B parameters, better suited for a wider range of NLP tasks.
Can I run Distil-Whisper Large v3 on a Mac?
Yes, you can run Distil-Whisper Large v3 on a Mac, but ensure your Mac has a compatible GPU with at least 1.9 GB of VRAM. M1 and later Macs with Metal support are recommended.
How much VRAM does Distil-Whisper Large v3 need?
Distil-Whisper Large v3 requires 1.9 GB of VRAM, which is consistent across different quantization levels.
Is Distil-Whisper Large v3 censored?
No, Distil-Whisper Large v3 is not censored. It is an open-source model under the MIT license, allowing for unrestricted use and modification.
Is Distil-Whisper Large v3 commercial-use allowed?
Yes, Distil-Whisper Large v3 is licensed under the MIT license, which allows for commercial use without restrictions.
Distil-Whisper Large v3 context length?
The context length for Distil-Whisper Large v3 is currently unknown. For more detailed information, refer to the model's documentation or source code.
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