Cheapest box to run GLM-4.6 at BF16
Z.ai’s GLM-4.6 is 357B parameters, 32B of them read per token. The number below is computed from that and each vendor’s published specs, not asserted. Switch the quant or the context and it recomputes in place.
GLM-4.6 at BF16 needs 718GB.
Nothing on the Grid runs GLM-4.6 at BF16 today. The largest Config, Mac Studio, M5 Ultra, 512GB, is 214GB short. At it fits with 69GB headroom.
- Mac mini, M6, 16GB$1,099Won't fit−705GB headroom
- Mac mini, M6, 24GB$1,299Won't fit−697GB headroom
- Mac mini, M6, 32GB$1,499Won't fit−689GB headroom
- Mac mini, M5 Pro, 24GB$1,699Won't fit−697GB headroom
- Mac mini, M5 Pro, 48GB$2,499Won't fit−674GB headroom
- Mac Studio, M5 Max, 36GB$2,499Won't fit−685GB headroom
- Mac mini, M5 Pro, 64GB$2,899Won't fit−659GB headroom
- GeForce RTX 5090, 32GB$2,999.99+hostWon't fit−687GB headroom
- Won't fit−659GB headroom
- Mac Studio, M5 Max, 48GB$3,099Won't fit−674GB headroom
- Mac Studio, M5 Max, 64GB$3,499Won't fit−659GB headroom
- Won't fit−598GB headroom
- Won't fit−630GB headroom
- Won't fit−598GB headroom
- Won't fit−598GB headroom
- Won't fit−598GB headroom
- Won't fit−630GB headroom
- Won't fit−470GB headroom
- Won't fit−470GB headroom
- Won't fit−214GB headroom
| Config | Memory | Price | $/GB | Fit | Headroom | Est. speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac mini, M6 | 16GB | $1,099 | $69 | Won't fit | −705GB | — |
| Mac mini, M6 | 24GB | $1,299 | $54 | Won't fit | −697GB | — |
| Mac mini, M6 | 32GB | $1,499 | $47 | Won't fit | −689GB | — |
| Mac mini, M5 Pro | 24GB | $1,699 | $71 | Won't fit | −697GB | — |
| Mac mini, M5 Pro | 48GB | $2,499 | $52 | Won't fit | −674GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M5 Max | 36GB | $2,499 | $69 | Won't fit | −685GB | — |
| Mac mini, M5 Pro | 64GB | $2,899 | $45 | Won't fit | −659GB | — |
| GeForce RTX 5090 | 32GB | $2,999.99+host | $94 | Won't fit | −687GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M4 Max, refurb | 64GB | $3,049 | $48 | Won't fit | −659GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M5 Max | 48GB | $3,099 | $65 | Won't fit | −674GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M5 Max | 64GB | $3,499 | $55 | Won't fit | −659GB | — |
| Ascent GX10, GB10 Grace Blackwell | 128GB | $3,999.99 | $31 | Won't fit | −598GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M3 Ultra, refurb | 96GB | $4,329 | $45 | Won't fit | −630GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M4 Max, refurb | 128GB | $4,409 | $34 | Won't fit | −598GB | — |
| DGX Spark, GB10 Grace Blackwell | 128GB | $4,699 | $37 | Won't fit | −598GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M5 Max | 128GB | $5,099 | $40 | Won't fit | −598GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M5 Ultra | 96GB | $5,499 | $57 | Won't fit | −630GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M3 Ultra, refurb | 256GB | $7,729 | $30 | Won't fit | −470GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M5 Ultra | 256GB | $9,499 | $37 | Won't fit | −470GB | — |
| Mac Studio, M5 Ultra | 512GB | — | — | Won't fit | −214GB | — |
GeForce RTX 5090 is a card, not a computer: every price shown for it is the cheapest listing we found plus $1,000 for the minimum host machine.
memory = 357B × 2.000 B/param (16 bits) + 0.377 GB/1K × 8K K/V + 1.2 GB runtime
speed = bandwidth × 0.5 ÷ (32B active × 2.000 B/param) = 64.0 GB read per token
usable = memory − operating system reserve (8% on a Mac, 6% on a DGX Spark, 4% on a card)
Bandwidth is the vendor’s published figure. Every speed is an estimate and says so. Methodology.