12 GB VRAM (+4)
C
Adds memory headroom for longer context windows and future model growth.48.7 tok/s decode
Adds memory headroom for longer context windows and future model growth.
~$329 MSRP
Can DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 8B run on RTX 5060 Ti 8GB?
YES — With Offload
C53Usable
○Estimated from fit model
DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 8B needs ~7.8 GB VRAM. RTX 5060 Ti 8GB has 8.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~57 tok/s.
Runtime: OllamaCapacity: OffloadBandwidth: LowStack: BasicBottleneck: Balanced
Share:
Operating mode
Choose the run profile you care about
Interactive favors responsiveness, while light API and scale-out lean harder on serving readiness. The fit stays the same, but the recommendation lens changes.
Current mode
Balanced
Balanced for general local use. Keeps the ranking neutral across personal and serving workflows.
Select quantization to explore
Q4_K_M (Medium quality) — 7.8 GB, 56.9 tok/s, Runs with offload
7.8 GB required8.0 GB available
98% VRAM used
Fit status
Runs with offload
Decode
56.9 tok/s
TTFT
3401 ms
Safe context
19K
Memory
7.8 GB / 8.0 GB
Memory breakdown
Weights4.9 GB
KV Cache0.9 GB
Runtime1.2 GB
Headroom0.8 GB
See how fast it feels
See how fast it feelsDeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 8B on RTX 5060 Ti 8GB
1st promptCold start — includes initialization
>Solve: If a train travels at 60 mph for 2.5 hours, how far does it go?
Let me work through this step by step.
Given information:
- Speed = 60 mph (miles per hour)
- Time = 2.5 hours
Formula: Distance = Speed x Time
Calculation:
Distance = 60 mph x 2.5 h
= 150 miles
The train travels 150 miles.
Double-check: at 60 mph the train covers 60 miles each hour. In half an hour it covers 30 miles. So in 2.5 hours: 60 + 60 + 30 = 150 miles. Confirmed.
2nd promptWarm — model ready, no init overhead
>What if the train stops for 20 minutes halfway?
The stop doesn't change the total distance covered while moving, but it affects total trip time.
Breakdown:
- First half: 1.25 hours at 60 mph = 75 miles
- Stop: 20 minutes (no distance)
- Second half: 1.25 hours at 60 mph = 75 miles
Total distance: 150 miles (same)
Total time: 2.5 h + 0.33 h = 2.83 hours
Average speed: 150 / 2.83 = 53 mph
The distance stays the same but average speed drops to 53 mph because of the stop.
Estimated: 56.9 tok/s decode · 3.4s TTFT (warm) · 142 tok/s prefill
What limits this setup
This setup is broadly balanced for this model.
Very little memory headroom
You can run the model, but there is not much room left for longer context, bigger batches, extra apps, or future model updates.
Best improvement path
Buy headroom, not only minimum fit
A slightly larger memory tier gives you safer context growth and makes the recommendation more future-proof.
Performance by workload
| Workload | Grade | Fit | Decode | TTFT | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chat | C | Tight fit | 56.9 tok/s | 1855 ms | 19K |
| Coding | C | Runs with offload | 56.9 tok/s | 3401 ms | 19K |
| Agentic Coding | C | Very compromised (needs ~0.4 GB host RAM) | 36.2 tok/s | 7777 ms | 19K |
| Reasoning | C | Runs with offload | 56.9 tok/s | 4020 ms | 19K |
| RAG | C | Very compromised (needs ~0.4 GB host RAM) | 36.2 tok/s | 9721 ms |
Quantization options
How DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 8B (8B params) fits at each quantization level on RTX 5060 Ti 8GB (8.0 GB usable).
| Quant | Bits | VRAM | Quality | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Q2_K | 2 | 3.1 GB | Low | C54 |
Q3_K_S | 3 | 3.9 GB | Low | C54 |
NVFP4 | 4 |
Get started
Copy-paste commands to run DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 8B on your machine.
Run
lms load hf-unsloth--deepseek-r1-distill-llama-8b-gguf && lms server startUpgrade options
Hardware that runs DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 8B well
12 GB VRAM (+4)672 GB/s (+224)
B
Raises estimated decode speed by about 53%.86.8 tok/s decode
Raises estimated decode speed by about 53%.
Adds memory headroom for longer context windows and future model growth.
~$549 MSRP
12 GB VRAM (+4)504 GB/s (+56)
B
Raises estimated decode speed by about 40%.79.5 tok/s decode
Raises estimated decode speed by about 40%.
Adds memory headroom for longer context windows and future model growth.
~$599 MSRP