System Requirements for Running MTPLX on Apple Silicon: Hardware and Software Prerequisites

MTPLX requires Apple Silicon (M1 or newer), macOS 14 Sonoma or later, 16 GB RAM minimum (32 GB recommended for 27B models), and Python 3.11+ for CLI usage.

MTPLX is a native macOS application and command-line interface built specifically for Apple Silicon chips, leveraging Apple's Metal framework and MLX library for accelerated inference. Whether you're installing via Homebrew, pip, or the signed DMG, understanding the exact system requirements ensures optimal performance and prevents installation failures.

Hardware Requirements

Processor: Apple Silicon Only

MTPLX is architected exclusively for Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, or newer). The runtime depends on Metal-accelerated kernels in vllm_metal/metal/* that target the unified memory architecture of Apple's ARM chips. Intel-based Macs are not supported.

The scripts/install_macos.sh installer performs an automatic hardware detection during onboarding. If non-Apple Silicon hardware is detected, the installation aborts immediately with a clear error message.

Memory: Model-Dependent Minimums

Model Size	Minimum RAM	Recommended RAM
4B and 9B	16 GiB	16 GiB
27B "Optimized Speed"	32 GiB	48 GiB+

Memory pressure is the primary bottleneck for large model inference. MTPLX automatically detects available system memory and recommends a compatible model variant. Attempting to load a 27B FP16 checkpoint on a 16 GB machine will trigger an out-of-memory failure before inference begins.

Disk Space

Allocate sufficient storage for your selected checkpoint:

• 4B/9B quantized models: ~15–25 GB
• 27B FP16 build: ~60 GB
• Virtual environment at ~/.mtplx: ~2 GB additional

Software Requirements

Operating System: macOS 14 Sonoma or Later

MTPLX uses Metal 3 features and kernel primitives introduced in macOS 14. Earlier macOS versions lack the necessary Metal driver support for MLX operations. Check your version before installation:

sw_vers -productVersion

Python Runtime: 3.11 or Newer

Two installation paths exist with different Python requirements:

• DMG installer: Bundles its own isolated Python environment; no system Python required
• pip/Homebrew installation: Requires system-wide Python 3.11+

Verify your Python version:

python3 --version

The pyproject.toml file in the repository root declares requires-python = ">=3.11" and pins mlx>=0.13 as a core dependency.

MLX Support

No manual MLX compilation is required. MTPLX installs the stock PyPI mlx package, which includes prebuilt Metal drivers. The library automatically detects your chip generation and selects appropriate compute kernels:

• M1/M2: FP16-optimized builds
• M3/M4: FP8-native paths where available

Optional: Thermal Management Tools

For sustained high-throughput workloads, MTPLX supports optional fan control integration:

# Enable maximum cooling profile (requires ThermalForge or TG Pro)

mtplx max

These tools are not required for basic operation but prevent thermal throttling during extended benchmark runs or batch inference.

Installation Verification

After satisfying all requirements, verify your setup:

# Install via Homebrew (recommended)

brew install youssofal/mtplx/mtplx

# Or install via pip

python3 -m pip install -U mtplx

# Run system diagnostics

mtplx doctor

# Launch interactive CLI with auto-detection

mtplx start

The mtplx doctor command validates Apple Silicon detection, Metal driver status, available RAM, and model compatibility in a single report.

GUI Installation Alternative

For users preferring a graphical interface:

# Download signed DMG

curl -L https://mtplx.com/download -o MTPLX.dmg

# Mount and install

open MTPLX.dmg

# Drag to /Applications; hardware check runs automatically on first launch

Summary

• Apple Silicon (M1+) is mandatory—Metal acceleration requires unified memory architecture
• macOS 14 Sonoma minimum for Metal 3 kernel support
• 16 GB RAM baseline, 32 GB+ for 27B models
• Python 3.11+ for CLI installs; DMG bundles its own runtime
• Automatic hardware detection in scripts/install_macos.sh prevents incompatible installations
• MLX ships via PyPI—no manual driver installation needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Does MTPLX run on Intel Macs?

No. MTPLX requires Apple Silicon and the Metal framework. The install_macos.sh script aborts immediately on Intel hardware detection.

Can I run MTPLX on macOS Ventura (13.x)?

No. MTPLX requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later for Metal 3 kernel features. Earlier versions lack the necessary driver support.

How much RAM do I actually need for the 27B model?

The README specifies 32 GiB minimum, but 48 GiB or more is recommended for the "Optimized Speed" FP16 variant. MTPLX will recommend a smaller quantized model if your system has insufficient memory.

Do I need to install MLX separately?

No. Running pip install mtplx or brew install mtplx pulls the correct mlx package from PyPI automatically. The Metal drivers are included with macOS 14+.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}