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This guide focuses on two highly efficient engines: llama.cpp and MTPLX. I'm not affiliated with either project. I discovered these through extensive experimentation with Ollama and oMLX. While Ollama and oMLX are excellent tools, I found llama.cpp and MTPLX to be more stable for my specific workflow. Feel free to pick whichever engine you prefer. This guide remains applicable regardless of your choice.

Llama.cpp offers broad hardware flexibility across macOS, Linux, and Windows, while MTPLX is optimized solely for Apple Silicon.

Note on testing methodology: I benchmarked all models on a MacBook M4 Pro with 48 GB of RAM. GPU figures are based on community research and documentation, not personal benchmarks. Speed figures are from my M4 Pro.…