Free tools

Llama 4 Scout Instruct GPU requirements

What it takes to run Llama 4 Scout Instruct (17Bx16E) locally: memory by quantization, the smallest GPU that fits, and the managed alternative.

Llama 4 Scout Instruct serves up to 1,048,576 tokens of context; the KV cache grows linearly toward that ceiling, so the slider below shows exactly what longer context costs in memory.

FP1640 GB needed at 8K contextL40S
8-bit20 GB needed at 8K contextRTX 4090
4-bit11 GB needed at 8K contextRTX 4090
12 GBmemory needed · Llama 4 Scout Instruct at 4-bit, 16K context

Smallest single device that fits: RTX 4090 (24 GB)

RTX 4090 (24 GB)Fits
RTX 5090 (32 GB)Fits
L40S (48 GB)Fits
A100 (80 GB)Fits
H100 (80 GB)Fits
H200 (141 GB)Fits
B200 (192 GB)Fits
Mac M4 Max (128 GB unified)Fits
Mac M3 Ultra (512 GB unified)Fits

How it works

1
Check the table
Llama 4 Scout Instruct at 8K context across FP16, 8-bit, and 4-bit, with the smallest single device that fits each.
2
Tune the calculator
Longer context grows the KV cache. The slider shows exactly how much memory that adds.
3
Decide how to run it
If your hardware fits it, run it there. If not, use managed serving.

Common questions

How much VRAM does Llama 4 Scout Instruct need?

At 8K context: roughly 40 GB at FP16, 20 GB at 8-bit, and 11 GB at 4-bit, including KV cache and runtime overhead. Longer context adds memory linearly.

Can a single GPU run Llama 4 Scout Instruct?

At 4-bit, yes: a RTX 4090 (24 GB) or larger handles it at 8K context. At FP16 you need a L40S (48 GB) or larger.

Does quantization hurt Llama 4 Scout Instruct's quality?

Modern 4-bit quantization costs a small amount of quality for a 4x memory saving; 8-bit is near-lossless. Validate on your own tasks before production.

What license is Llama 4 Scout Instruct under?

Llama community. Check the license terms for your use case before deployment.

Is there an alternative to buying GPUs for Llama 4 Scout Instruct?

Yes: managed inference. Allocate serves Llama 4 Scout Instruct token-metered from $0.18 per million input tokens at provider list price, plus the 7% transaction fee. Idle time costs nothing.

More free tools

Allocate serves open-weight models like Llama 4 Scout Instruct token-metered inside your own boundary. No hardware to buy, and if you fine-tune on your data, the weights are yours.