Alibaba Cloud · qwen2
Can I run qwen2?
Qwen2 is a new series of large language models from Alibaba group
Parameter counts and memory belong to each build below. A family can contain several sizes and tasks; fitting in memory is not a quality ranking.
Calculate memory for a build and contextqwen2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| qwen2:0.5b500M parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | Q4_0 | 0.3 GB | ~0.9 GB |
| qwen2:0.5b-instruct-q4_K_M500M parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | Q4_K_M | 0.4 GB | ~0.9 GB |
| qwen2:0.5b-instruct-q5_K_M500M parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | Q5_K_M | 0.4 GB | ~1.0 GB |
| qwen2:0.5b-instruct-q6_K500M parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | Q6_K | 0.5 GB | ~1.0 GB |
| qwen2:0.5b-instruct-q8_0500M parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | Q8_0 | 0.5 GB | ~1.1 GB |
| qwen2:1.5b1.5B parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | Q4_0 | 0.9 GB | ~1.5 GB |
| qwen2:1.5b-instruct-q4_K_M1.5B parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | Q4_K_M | 0.9 GB | ~1.5 GB |
| qwen2:0.5b-instruct-fp16500M parameters (tag)32K documented maximum contextBuild sourceCatalog checked 2026-10-13 | F16 | 0.9 GB | ~1.5 GB |
Showing the 8 smallest non-alias builds. Choose any build and change the context. A context above the build's documented maximum is a hypothetical calculation, not a supported setting.
How to run qwen2 locally
- 1.Install Ollama for Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 2.Download this exact build in a terminal:
ollama pull qwen2:0.5b - 3.Check the source for the build's task. For text generation, run
ollama run qwen2:0.5b. Base/text builds may need a prompt template; an instruct build is usually the appropriate starting point for a conversation.
Frequently asked questions about qwen2
- How much VRAM do I need to run qwen2?
- At 4K context, the smallest published build of qwen2 (Q4_0) needs roughly 0.9 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 qwen2 without a dedicated GPU?
- A supported CPU runtime can use system RAM. The smallest listed build needs an estimated 0.9 GB at 4K context, plus headroom for your operating system. Check the build's runtime requirements. We have not measured its speed on your CPU.
- How big is the qwen2 download?
- The smallest published build is 0.3 GB. There are 33 builds in total, the largest being 135.4 GB. Leave some extra free disk space beyond the download itself.
- How do I run qwen2 locally?
- Install Ollama, then download a specific build with "ollama pull qwen2:0.5b". For a build that supports text generation, use ollama run with the same tag. Check the model source for its task and prompt format.
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Or start from your memory: 8 GB VRAM, 12 GB VRAM, 16 GB VRAM, 24 GB VRAM or a 16 GB Mac.
Model data from the official Ollama registry · verified 13/10/2026