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DeepSeek V4.1 Flash — VRAM requirements & what it costs to run
Bottom line: at q4_k_m with 8k context you need ≈ 474.2 GiB; smallest single accelerator in our catalog: none — multi-GPU/offload.
Quantization table (GiB)
| quant | weights | total @8k | need @8k | smallest fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| native | 475.25 | 523.96 | 524.0 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| bf16 | 1421.58 | 1564.93 | 1564.9 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| fp8 | 710.79 | 783.06 | 783.1 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| q8_0 | 755.21 | 831.92 | 831.9 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| q6_k | 582.85 | 642.32 | 642.3 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| q5_k_m | 503.77 | 555.34 | 555.3 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| q4_k_m | 430.03 | 474.22 | 474.2 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| q3_k_m | 347.4 | 383.33 | 383.3 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
| q2_k | 297.64 | 328.6 | 328.6 | needs multi-GPU / offload |
Dataset: modelvram.com open dataset (CC BY 4.0 / MIT), retrieved 2026-10-20. "total @8k" already includes KV cache + runtime overhead per dataset methodology; we extrapolate KV linearly by context (formula).
KV-cache scaling at q4_k_m (total GiB)
| context | total |
|---|---|
| 4k | 473.9 |
| 8k | 474.2 |
| 16k | 474.8 |
| 32k | 476.1 |
| 128k | 483.6 |
Cost: rent vs buy vs API
Needs ≥474.2 GiB — no single listed rental instance fits (multi-GPU / offload only). modelvram.com public table (self-stated check 2026-09-29, retrieved 2026-10-20). Partial re-verify 2026-10-20: Lambda A100 40GB $1.99/h CONFIRMED on lambda.ai/pricing (fetched directly); Lambda H100 rows ambiguous on-page ($3.99 vs $4.09 configs) → not adopted; RunPod & Vast pricing pages are JS-rendered, no extractable static figures — verify rates visually before spending. Re-check 2026-10-22 (us): source table values unchanged since its stated 2026-09-29 check.
Running DeepSeek V4.1 Flash with Ollama
Typical q4_k_m GGUF download ≈ 430.03 GiB (weights, dataset figure); expect ≥ 474.2 GiB resident at 8k context. Find tags: ollama.com/search (we do not mirror tag lists — sizes on Ollama are their numbers, ours are dataset-sourced).
Picking a runtime? Ollama vs llama.cpp · Ollama vs LM Studio · Ollama vs vLLM (official-docs comparison, checked 2026-10-23).
FAQ
How much VRAM does DeepSeek V4.1 Flash need?
At q4_k_m with an 8k context it needs about 474.2 GiB including KV cache and runtime overhead; the smallest card in our catalog that fits is a multi-GPU setup. Numbers come from the modelvram.com open dataset (CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-20) and our published formula (https://llmbudgetlab.com/method/).
Can I run DeepSeek V4.1 Flash on a Mac?
Use the calculator: macOS caps GPU-usable memory well below your spec-sheet unified RAM. We count 2/3 of unified (3/4 above 36GB) as a deliberately conservative rule of ours, not an Apple constant — compare required GiB against usable memory, then confirm on your own machine with sysctl iogpu.wired_limit_mb (why).
Is renting a GPU cheaper than buying one for DeepSeek V4.1 Flash?
Rental requires multi-GPU — plug both into the calculator's break-even field; buy price and electricity are yours to enter because we refuse to guess market prices.
**DeepSeek V4.1 Flash** needs ~474.2 GiB VRAM at q4_k_m (8k context) → minimum multi-GPU. Check & cost-compare: [LLM Budget Lab](https://llmbudgetlab.com/models/deepseek-v4-1-flash/)or grab the SVG badge →
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