Twoody
Local LLM calculator
The best local LLM for your iMac
From the M1 to the M4, with 8 to 32 GB: the strongest model that runs comfortably on each iMac, and how fast it writes.
| Your computer | Memory | Strongest that runs comfortably | Writes | Suggested by Twoody by default |
|---|---|---|---|---|
M4 — MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac |
16 GB | Gemma 4 12B One click in Twoody | 11–15 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 9B (7.4 GB) |
| 24 GB | Qwen3 14B One click in Twoody | 8.6–12 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 9B (7.4 GB) | |
| 32 GB | Qwen3.6 35B-A3B One click in Twoody | 30–59 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 9B (7.9 GB) | |
M3 — MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac |
8 GB | Qwen3.5 4B One click in Twoody | 17–33 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 4B (4 GB) |
| 16 GB | Gemma 4 12B One click in Twoody | 9.4–14 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 9B (7.4 GB) | |
| 24 GB | Qwen3 14B One click in Twoody | 7.4–11 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 9B (7.4 GB) | |
M1 — MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac |
8 GB | Qwen3.5 4B One click in Twoody | 11–22 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 4B (4 GB) |
| 16 GB | Gemma 4 12B One click in Twoody | 6.3–9 tokens/s | Qwen3.5 9B (7.4 GB) |
Speeds are estimates, not measurements made with Twoody, computed from public llama.cpp benchmarks. Figures reviewed on October 16, 2026.
How to read this table
One line per chip of this family and per memory size it comes with: the memory decides which models fit, the chip how fast they write.
- Strongest that runs comfortably
- The strongest model that fits comfortably there and writes at least at your reading speed, 5 tokens per second; under its name, whether it installs in one click in Twoody.
- Writes
- Its speed there, in tokens per second: an estimate from public llama.cpp benchmarks, not a measurement made with Twoody.
- Suggested by Twoody by default
- The model the app installs first on that computer, and the memory it needs there. Not always the strongest: one Twoody has measured with its memory, its tools and your documents.
Twoody is in private beta: leave your email to request access.
An iMac with 8 GB runs models of about 4 billion parameters; with 16 or 24 GB, 8 to 14 billion — enough for writing and for questions about your documents.
The M3 and M4 write and read faster than the M1 with the same model; the memory decides which models fit.
On a desk all day, an iMac is also a good computer for the iPhone and Android apps, in private beta, to use from afar.
Questions about running an LLM locally
Which LLM for an iMac with M4?
The strongest models that run comfortably there, by memory: with 16 GB, Gemma 4 12B (11–15 tokens/s, one click in Twoody); with 24 GB, Qwen3 14B (8.6–12 tokens/s, one click in Twoody); with 32 GB, Qwen3.6 35B-A3B (30–59 tokens/s, one click in Twoody). Twoody suggests Qwen3.5 9B by default, which needs 7.4–7.9 GB of memory there: one of the models it has measured with its memory, its tools and your documents.
Can an iMac with 8 GB run a local LLM?
Yes. With 8 GB, the strongest model that runs comfortably there is Qwen3.5 4B, which writes 11–33 tokens/s depending on the Mac. It installs in one click from Twoody's catalogue. It is also the model Twoody suggests by default; it needs 4 GB of memory there. Enough for emails and summaries.
And an Intel iMac?
Twoody runs on Intel iMacs with macOS 13.3 or later; the model runs on the processor, more slowly. See the page on Intel Macs.
The best local LLM, by computer
Try Twoody before it opens to everyone.
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