diff --git a/evolution/quant_selector.py b/evolution/quant_selector.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73a5442
--- /dev/null
+++ b/evolution/quant_selector.py
@@ -0,0 +1,548 @@
+"""Auto-select TurboQuant compression level based on available VRAM/RAM.
+
+Detects hardware resources at startup and picks the highest quality
+quantization level that fits within available memory. Supports Apple
+Silicon unified memory, NVIDIA GPUs (via nvidia-smi), and CPU-only fallback.
+
+Usage:
+    from evolution.quant_selector import select_quant_level
+
+    selection = select_quant_level(model_size_gb=14.0, context_length=32768)
+    print(selection.level)       # "turbo4"
+    print(selection.reasoning)   # "M4 Max 36GB unified: turbo4 fits 14.0GB model + ..."
+    print(selection.env_vars)    # {"TURBO_LAYER_ADAPTIVE": "7"}
+"""
+
+import logging
+import os
+import platform
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+# ── Quant Level Definitions ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@dataclass
+class QuantLevel:
+    """A TurboQuant compression level with its memory characteristics."""
+    name: str               # e.g. "turbo4"
+    bits_per_channel: float # e.g. 3.5 for turbo4
+    compression_ratio: float  # vs uncompressed KV cache
+    quality_label: str      # "best", "high", "balanced", "fast"
+    layer_adaptive: int     # TURBO_LAYER_ADAPTIVE value (0-7)
+    kv_type: str            # -ctk/-ctv flag value
+    min_memory_headroom_gb: float  # Minimum free memory to recommend this level
+    description: str = ""
+
+
+# Ordered from highest quality to most aggressive compression
+QUANT_LEVELS = [
+    QuantLevel(
+        name="turbo4",
+        bits_per_channel=3.5,
+        compression_ratio=4.2,
+        quality_label="best",
+        layer_adaptive=7,
+        kv_type="turbo4",
+        min_memory_headroom_gb=4.0,
+        description="PolarQuant + QJL 4-bit. Best quality, ~4.2x KV compression."
+    ),
+    QuantLevel(
+        name="turbo3",
+        bits_per_channel=2.5,
+        compression_ratio=6.0,
+        quality_label="high",
+        layer_adaptive=5,
+        kv_type="turbo3",
+        min_memory_headroom_gb=3.0,
+        description="3-bit TurboQuant. High quality, ~6x KV compression."
+    ),
+    QuantLevel(
+        name="turbo2",
+        bits_per_channel=1.5,
+        compression_ratio=10.0,
+        quality_label="balanced",
+        layer_adaptive=3,
+        kv_type="turbo2",
+        min_memory_headroom_gb=2.0,
+        description="2-bit TurboQuant. Balanced, ~10x KV compression."
+    ),
+    QuantLevel(
+        name="q4_0",
+        bits_per_channel=4.0,
+        compression_ratio=3.5,
+        quality_label="fast",
+        layer_adaptive=0,
+        kv_type="q4_0",
+        min_memory_headroom_gb=1.5,
+        description="Standard 4-bit quant. Fast fallback, no TurboQuant."
+    ),
+]
+
+
+# ── Hardware Detection ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@dataclass
+class HardwareInfo:
+    """Detected hardware resources."""
+    total_memory_gb: float
+    available_memory_gb: float
+    gpu_memory_gb: Optional[float] = None
+    gpu_name: Optional[str] = None
+    is_apple_silicon: bool = False
+    chip_name: Optional[str] = None
+    cpu_cores: int = 0
+    detection_method: str = ""
+
+
+def detect_hardware() -> HardwareInfo:
+    """Detect available memory and GPU resources."""
+    system = platform.system()
+
+    if system == "Darwin":
+        return _detect_apple_silicon()
+    elif system == "Linux":
+        return _detect_linux()
+    else:
+        return _detect_generic(system)
+
+
+def _detect_apple_silicon() -> HardwareInfo:
+    """Detect Apple Silicon unified memory."""
+    info = HardwareInfo(
+        total_memory_gb=0,
+        available_memory_gb=0,
+        is_apple_silicon=True,
+        detection_method="sysctl",
+    )
+
+    try:
+        # Get total memory
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["sysctl", "-n", "hw.memsize"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
+        )
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            info.total_memory_gb = int(result.stdout.strip()) / (1024**3)
+
+        # Get chip name
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["sysctl", "-n", "machdep.cpu.brand_string"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
+        )
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            info.chip_name = result.stdout.strip()
+
+        # Try to get GPU name (Apple Silicon)
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["system_profiler", "SPDisplaysDataType"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=10
+        )
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            for line in result.stdout.split("\n"):
+                if "Chipset" in line or "GPU" in line:
+                    info.gpu_name = line.split(":")[-1].strip()
+                    break
+
+        # Estimate available memory (vm_stat)
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["vm_stat"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
+        )
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            page_size = 4096  # macOS default
+            free_pages = 0
+            for line in result.stdout.split("\n"):
+                if "Pages free:" in line:
+                    try:
+                        free_pages = int(line.split(":")[-1].strip().rstrip("."))
+                    except ValueError:
+                        pass
+            # Available ≈ free + some speculative (conservative: just free)
+            info.available_memory_gb = (free_pages * page_size) / (1024**3)
+
+        # Fallback if vm_stat parsing failed
+        if info.available_memory_gb < 1:
+            # Conservative: 70% of total
+            info.available_memory_gb = info.total_memory_gb * 0.70
+
+        # Apple Silicon shares memory — GPU memory = total memory
+        info.gpu_memory_gb = info.total_memory_gb
+
+        # Detect CPU cores
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["sysctl", "-n", "hw.ncpu"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
+        )
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            info.cpu_cores = int(result.stdout.strip())
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"Apple Silicon detection failed: {e}")
+        # Fallback
+        info.total_memory_gb = 16.0
+        info.available_memory_gb = 12.0
+        info.detection_method = "fallback"
+
+    return info
+
+
+def _detect_linux() -> HardwareInfo:
+    """Detect Linux system with optional NVIDIA GPU."""
+    info = HardwareInfo(
+        total_memory_gb=0,
+        available_memory_gb=0,
+        detection_method="proc",
+    )
+
+    try:
+        # Read /proc/meminfo
+        with open("/proc/meminfo", "r") as f:
+            meminfo = f.read()
+
+        for line in meminfo.split("\n"):
+            if line.startswith("MemTotal:"):
+                kb = int(line.split()[1])
+                info.total_memory_gb = kb / (1024 * 1024)
+            elif line.startswith("MemAvailable:"):
+                kb = int(line.split()[1])
+                info.available_memory_gb = kb / (1024 * 1024)
+
+        # CPU cores
+        info.cpu_cores = os.cpu_count() or 1
+
+        # Check for NVIDIA GPU
+        try:
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                ["nvidia-smi", "--query-gpu=name,memory.total,memory.free",
+                 "--format=csv,noheader,nounits"],
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=10
+            )
+            if result.returncode == 0 and result.stdout.strip():
+                lines = result.stdout.strip().split("\n")
+                if lines:
+                    parts = lines[0].split(", ")
+                    if len(parts) >= 3:
+                        info.gpu_name = parts[0].strip()
+                        info.gpu_memory_gb = float(parts[1]) / 1024  # MB to GB
+                        gpu_free = float(parts[2]) / 1024
+                        # Use GPU free for VRAM-based selection
+                        info.available_memory_gb = max(info.available_memory_gb, gpu_free)
+                        info.detection_method = "nvidia-smi"
+        except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired):
+            pass  # No NVIDIA GPU
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"Linux detection failed: {e}")
+        info.total_memory_gb = 16.0
+        info.available_memory_gb = 12.0
+        info.detection_method = "fallback"
+
+    return info
+
+
+def _detect_generic(system: str) -> HardwareInfo:
+    """Fallback detection for unknown systems."""
+    import psutil
+    mem = psutil.virtual_memory()
+    return HardwareInfo(
+        total_memory_gb=mem.total / (1024**3),
+        available_memory_gb=mem.available / (1024**3),
+        cpu_cores=os.cpu_count() or 1,
+        detection_method="psutil",
+    )
+
+
+# ── KV Cache Memory Estimation ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def estimate_kv_cache_gb(
+    context_length: int,
+    num_layers: int = 48,
+    num_kv_heads: int = 8,
+    head_dim: int = 128,
+    bits_per_channel: float = 3.5,
+) -> float:
+    """Estimate KV cache memory for given parameters.
+
+    Formula: 2 (K+V) × layers × kv_heads × head_dim × context_length × bits/8
+    """
+    bytes_per_element = bits_per_channel / 8.0
+    total_bytes = 2 * num_layers * num_kv_heads * head_dim * context_length * bytes_per_element
+    return total_bytes / (1024**3)
+
+
+def estimate_model_memory_gb(model_size_gb: float, quant_type: str = "q4_k_m") -> float:
+    """Estimate model weights memory. Returns loaded size in GB.
+
+    This is a rough estimate — actual depends on exact quant format.
+    """
+    # Common quant ratios (vs fp16)
+    quant_multipliers = {
+        "f16": 1.0,
+        "q8_0": 0.5,
+        "q6_k": 0.42,
+        "q5_k_m": 0.37,
+        "q4_k_m": 0.32,
+        "q3_k_m": 0.27,
+        "q2_k": 0.22,
+    }
+    # model_size_gb is already quantized size
+    return model_size_gb
+
+
+# ── Selection Logic ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@dataclass
+class QuantSelection:
+    """Result of quantization level selection."""
+    level: QuantLevel
+    hardware: HardwareInfo
+    reasoning: str
+    total_required_gb: float
+    available_gb: float
+    headroom_gb: float
+    env_vars: dict = field(default_factory=dict)
+    server_flags: dict = field(default_factory=dict)
+    warnings: list = field(default_factory=list)
+
+
+def select_quant_level(
+    model_size_gb: float = 14.0,
+    context_length: int = 32768,
+    num_layers: int = 48,
+    num_kv_heads: int = 8,
+    head_dim: int = 128,
+    preferred_level: Optional[str] = None,
+    force_cpu: bool = False,
+) -> QuantSelection:
+    """Select the best quantization level for available hardware.
+
+    Args:
+        model_size_gb: Size of the model weights in GB
+        context_length: Target context length
+        num_layers: Number of transformer layers
+        num_kv_heads: Number of KV attention heads
+        head_dim: Dimension per attention head
+        preferred_level: Force a specific level (still checks if it fits)
+        force_cpu: If True, ignore GPU memory
+
+    Returns:
+        QuantSelection with the chosen level and reasoning
+    """
+    hw = detect_hardware()
+
+    if force_cpu:
+        hw.gpu_memory_gb = None
+        hw.gpu_name = None
+
+    # Use the most restrictive memory constraint
+    # For Apple Silicon: unified memory, use total
+    # For NVIDIA: use GPU VRAM
+    # For CPU-only: use system RAM
+    if hw.gpu_memory_gb and hw.gpu_name:
+        memory_pool_gb = hw.gpu_memory_gb
+        memory_label = f"{hw.gpu_name} {hw.gpu_memory_gb:.0f}GB VRAM"
+    elif hw.is_apple_silicon:
+        memory_pool_gb = hw.total_memory_gb
+        memory_label = f"{hw.chip_name or 'Apple Silicon'} {hw.total_memory_gb:.0f}GB unified"
+    else:
+        memory_pool_gb = hw.total_memory_gb
+        memory_label = f"{hw.cpu_cores}c CPU {hw.total_memory_gb:.0f}GB RAM"
+
+    model_mem = estimate_model_memory_gb(model_size_gb)
+
+    # Try levels from best to most compressed
+    chosen = None
+    for level in QUANT_LEVELS:
+        if preferred_level and level.name != preferred_level:
+            continue
+
+        kv_mem = estimate_kv_cache_gb(
+            context_length, num_layers, num_kv_heads, head_dim,
+            level.bits_per_channel
+        )
+        total_required = model_mem + kv_mem
+        headroom = memory_pool_gb - total_required
+
+        if headroom >= level.min_memory_headroom_gb:
+            chosen = level
+            break
+
+        if preferred_level and level.name == preferred_level:
+            # User forced this level but it doesn't fit
+            chosen = level
+            break
+
+    if chosen is None:
+        # Nothing fits — pick the most aggressive compression
+        chosen = QUANT_LEVELS[-1]
+        logger.warning(f"No quant level fits in {memory_pool_gb:.1f}GB. Using {chosen.name}.")
+
+    # Calculate final numbers
+    kv_mem = estimate_kv_cache_gb(
+        context_length, num_layers, num_kv_heads, head_dim,
+        chosen.bits_per_channel
+    )
+    total_required = model_mem + kv_mem
+    headroom = memory_pool_gb - total_required
+
+    # Build reasoning
+    reasoning_parts = [
+        f"{memory_label}:",
+        f"{chosen.name} ({chosen.quality_label}, {chosen.bits_per_channel:.1f}b/ch,",
+        f"{chosen.compression_ratio:.1f}x compression)",
+        f"fits {model_mem:.1f}GB model + {kv_mem:.1f}GB KV cache",
+        f"@ {context_length}K context = {total_required:.1f}GB / {memory_pool_gb:.0f}GB",
+        f"({headroom:.1f}GB headroom)"
+    ]
+    reasoning = " ".join(reasoning_parts)
+
+    # Build environment variables for llama.cpp
+    env_vars = {
+        "TURBO_LAYER_ADAPTIVE": str(chosen.layer_adaptive),
+    }
+
+    # Build server flags
+    server_flags = {
+        "-ctk": chosen.kv_type,
+        "-ctv": chosen.kv_type,
+        "-c": str(context_length),
+    }
+
+    # Warnings
+    warnings = []
+    if headroom < 2.0:
+        warnings.append(
+            f"Low headroom ({headroom:.1f}GB). Consider reducing context length or model size."
+        )
+    if headroom < 0:
+        warnings.append(
+            f"OVERCOMMITTED: needs {total_required:.1f}GB but only {memory_pool_gb:.0f}GB available. "
+            f"Inference may fail or swap heavily."
+        )
+
+    selection = QuantSelection(
+        level=chosen,
+        hardware=hw,
+        reasoning=reasoning,
+        total_required_gb=total_required,
+        available_gb=memory_pool_gb,
+        headroom_gb=headroom,
+        env_vars=env_vars,
+        server_flags=server_flags,
+        warnings=warnings,
+    )
+
+    logger.info(f"Quant selection: {reasoning}")
+    for w in warnings:
+        logger.warning(w)
+
+    return selection
+
+
+# ── CLI ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def main():
+    """CLI entry point for quant level selection."""
+    import argparse
+    import json
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Auto-select TurboQuant compression level based on available hardware"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("--model-size", type=float, default=14.0,
+                        help="Model size in GB (default: 14.0)")
+    parser.add_argument("--context", type=int, default=32768,
+                        help="Target context length (default: 32768)")
+    parser.add_argument("--layers", type=int, default=48,
+                        help="Number of transformer layers (default: 48)")
+    parser.add_argument("--kv-heads", type=int, default=8,
+                        help="Number of KV attention heads (default: 8)")
+    parser.add_argument("--head-dim", type=int, default=128,
+                        help="Dimension per attention head (default: 128)")
+    parser.add_argument("--prefer", type=str, default=None,
+                        choices=[l.name for l in QUANT_LEVELS],
+                        help="Prefer a specific quant level")
+    parser.add_argument("--force-cpu", action="store_true",
+                        help="Ignore GPU, use CPU memory only")
+    parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true",
+                        help="JSON output for automation")
+    parser.add_argument("--detect-only", action="store_true",
+                        help="Only detect hardware, don't select")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format="%(message)s")
+
+    if args.detect_only:
+        hw = detect_hardware()
+        if args.json:
+            print(json.dumps(hw.__dict__, default=str, indent=2))
+        else:
+            print(f"Total memory:    {hw.total_memory_gb:.1f} GB")
+            print(f"Available:       {hw.available_memory_gb:.1f} GB")
+            if hw.gpu_memory_gb:
+                print(f"GPU memory:      {hw.gpu_memory_gb:.1f} GB")
+            if hw.gpu_name:
+                print(f"GPU:             {hw.gpu_name}")
+            if hw.is_apple_silicon:
+                print(f"Chip:            {hw.chip_name or 'Apple Silicon'}")
+            print(f"CPU cores:       {hw.cpu_cores}")
+            print(f"Detection:       {hw.detection_method}")
+        return
+
+    selection = select_quant_level(
+        model_size_gb=args.model_size,
+        context_length=args.context,
+        num_layers=args.layers,
+        num_kv_heads=args.kv_heads,
+        head_dim=args.head_dim,
+        preferred_level=args.prefer,
+        force_cpu=args.force_cpu,
+    )
+
+    if args.json:
+        result = {
+            "level": selection.level.name,
+            "bits_per_channel": selection.level.bits_per_channel,
+            "compression_ratio": selection.level.compression_ratio,
+            "quality": selection.level.quality_label,
+            "reasoning": selection.reasoning,
+            "total_required_gb": round(selection.total_required_gb, 2),
+            "available_gb": round(selection.available_gb, 1),
+            "headroom_gb": round(selection.headroom_gb, 2),
+            "env_vars": selection.env_vars,
+            "server_flags": selection.server_flags,
+            "warnings": selection.warnings,
+            "hardware": {
+                "total_memory_gb": round(selection.hardware.total_memory_gb, 1),
+                "gpu_name": selection.hardware.gpu_name,
+                "is_apple_silicon": selection.hardware.is_apple_silicon,
+                "chip_name": selection.hardware.chip_name,
+                "cpu_cores": selection.hardware.cpu_cores,
+            },
+        }
+        print(json.dumps(result, indent=2))
+    else:
+        print(f"Selected: {selection.level.name} ({selection.level.quality_label})")
+        print(f"  {selection.reasoning}")
+        print()
+        print(f"Environment variables:")
+        for k, v in selection.env_vars.items():
+            print(f"  export {k}={v}")
+        print()
+        print(f"Server flags:")
+        for k, v in selection.server_flags.items():
+            print(f"  {k} {v}")
+        if selection.warnings:
+            print()
+            for w in selection.warnings:
+                print(f"  WARNING: {w}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()