DeepSeek AI · qwen3
Can I run deepseek-r1?
DeepSeek-R1 is a family of open reasoning models with performance approaching that of leading models, such as O3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro.
8.2B parameters128K contexttextMIT License27 builds
deepseek-r1 system requirements
Memory needed at 4K context, counting model weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead. Download sizes come from the official Ollama registry.
| Build | Quantization | Download | Memory needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| deepseek-r1:1.5b | Q4_K_M | 1.0 GB | ~1.9 GB(est.) |
| deepseek-r1:1.5b-qwen-distill-q8_0 | Q8_0 | 1.8 GB | ~2.9 GB(est.) |
| deepseek-r1:1.5b-qwen-distill-fp16 | F16 | 3.3 GB | ~5.1 GB(est.) |
| deepseek-r1:7b | Q4_K_M | 4.4 GB | ~6.6 GB(est.) |
| deepseek-r1:8b-llama-distill-q4_K_M | Q4_K_M | 4.6 GB | ~6.9 GB(est.) |
| deepseek-r1:8b | Q4_K_M | 4.9 GB | ~7.3 GB(est.) |
| deepseek-r1:7b-qwen-distill-q8_0 | Q8_0 | 7.5 GB | ~11.2 GB(est.) |
| deepseek-r1:8b-llama-distill-q8_0 | Q8_0 | 8.0 GB | ~11.8 GB(est.) |
Figures marked (est.) approximate the KV cache because this model's architecture details are not published. They are indicative rather than exact.
How to run deepseek-r1 locally
- 1.Install Ollama for Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 2.Run this in a terminal:
ollama run deepseek-r1:1.5b - 3.The weights download on first run, then an interactive prompt opens.
Frequently asked questions about deepseek-r1
- How much VRAM do I need to run deepseek-r1?
- At 4K context, the smallest published build of deepseek-r1 (Q4_K_M) needs roughly 1.9 GB of GPU memory once weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead are counted. Bigger quantizations and longer context windows need more. It can also run partly or entirely on the CPU using system RAM, more slowly.
- Can I run deepseek-r1 without a dedicated GPU?
- Yes, but slowly. Without a GPU the model runs on the CPU using system RAM, which usually means a few tokens per second rather than dozens. You would need at least 1.9 GB of free RAM for the smallest build.
- How big is the deepseek-r1 download?
- The smallest published build is 1.0 GB. There are 27 builds in total, the largest being 1250.1 GB. Leave some extra free disk space beyond the download itself.
- How do I run deepseek-r1 locally?
- Install Ollama, then run "ollama run deepseek-r1:1.5b" in a terminal. The weights download on first use and an interactive session opens.
Will deepseek-r1 run on your PC?
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Model data from the official Ollama registry · verified 13/09/2026