> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.macstadium.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Performance: GPU Passthrough

> Intel-only: enable GPU passthrough for Orka VMs using orka3 vm deploy --gpu. Covers cluster prerequisites, per-VM defaults, and node-level limitations.

<Note>
  GPU passthrough configuration applies only to Intel-based VMs. GPU passthrough is always enabled on Apple silicon VMs and cannot be disabled. For more information, see [Feature Parity: Apple Hardware](/orka/compatibility/feature-parity-apple-hardware) and [Compatibility: Performance Improving Features](/orka/compatibility/compatibility-performance-improving-features).
</Note>

When GPU passthrough is enabled for a cluster, VMs with GPU passthrough enabled can access and use the host GPU for their workloads.

GPU passthrough must be enabled on the Intel-based nodes in your cluster before you can use it on VMs. Contact the [MacStadium team](https://portal.macstadium.com/) to request that GPU passthrough is enabled on your nodes.

## Defaults

GPU passthrough is disabled at the VM level for all Intel-based VMs, even when it is enabled in the cluster. You must explicitly enable it at deploy time or in a VM config template.

## Limitations

* You can deploy only one VM with GPU passthrough per Intel-based node at a time.
* GPU passthrough and VNC cannot work together on Intel-based VMs. Enabling GPU passthrough automatically disables the VNC console. Always pass `--disable-vnc` alongside `--gpu`. Make sure you can still access the VM via SSH or Apple Screen Sharing before enabling GPU passthrough.
* GPU passthrough is always enabled for Apple silicon-based nodes and VMs and cannot be disabled.

## Enable GPU passthrough in a VM config template

Create a reusable template with GPU passthrough enabled:

```bash theme={null}
orka3 vm-config create gpu-config --image <IMAGE> --gpu --disable-vnc
```

## Deploy a VM with GPU passthrough

To deploy a VM with GPU passthrough enabled, pass `--gpu` and `--disable-vnc`:

```bash theme={null}
orka3 vm deploy --config gpu-config --gpu --disable-vnc
```

You can also override a template's GPU setting at deploy time:

```bash theme={null}
# Enable
orka3 vm deploy --config <CONFIG> --gpu --disable-vnc

# Disable
orka3 vm deploy --config <CONFIG> --gpu=false
```