Can I Run Ternary Bonsai 27B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)?

Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated August 15, 2026

Yes. Ternary Bonsai 27B needs 5.8 GB at Ternary (1.58-bit, ~1.71 bpw) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) has 12 GB, leaving about 6.2 GB of headroom, at roughly 31 tok/s (estimated) with room for up to 16K of context.

The numbers

ModelTernary Bonsai 27B
Parameters27B
QuantizationTernary (1.58-bit, ~1.71 bpw)
VRAM needed5.8 GB
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) VRAM12 GB
VerdictRuns
Max context16K
Estimated speed~31 tok/s

What to do next

Nothing to change — run it at Ternary (1.58-bit, ~1.71 bpw). If you want more capability, check whether the next size up also fits.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them, LLM Configurator may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, LLM Configurator earns from qualifying purchases.

Running Ternary Bonsai 27B on this card:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
12 GB VRAM · 170 W board power
2026 prices are volatile — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon

Buy vs. rent Ternary Bonsai 27B
Buy the GPU
~$329
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) · MSRP
Rent by the hour
from $0.34/hr
RTX 4090 (24 GB) class

At 2 hrs/day, buying (~$329) beats renting at $0.34/hr after about 16 months.

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

RunPod $0.34/hr
Rent on RunPod →
Vast.ai $0.35/hr · typical low · varies
Rent on Vast.ai →

Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.

Other Bonsai 27B sizes on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)

Ternary Bonsai 27B on nearby hardware

All Bonsai 27B sizes on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) | VRAM calculator for Ternary Bonsai 27B | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) GPU page | Check your hardware