Can I Run Cosmos 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 21, 2026
Yes, comfortably — Cosmos 3 Edge at BF16 needs 9.7 GB at 8K context (8 GB weights + 1.7 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.3 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)'s 12 GB, at ~45 tok/s (est.).
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) Specs
| VRAM | 12 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 360 GB/s |
Cosmos 3 Edge on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB): VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 12 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 9.7 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q8_0 | 6 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q6_K | 5 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 4.5 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 4.1 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 3.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q2_K | 3 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
Assumes an 8K-token context with an f16 KV cache, on an estimated architecture — this model publishes no config we can read. A longer window needs more; a quantized KV cache needs less. “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 12 GB. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.
Context costs VRAM too. At BF16 on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB): 8K 9.7 GB · 16K 10.6 GB. Every window this model publishes still fits 12 GB.
No compatible GPU? Cosmos 3 Edge on 8 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Cosmos 3 Sizes That Fit the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) (at 8K context)
| Cosmos 3 Edge | BF16 · 9.7 GB at 8K context · ~45 tok/s (est.) |
At 2 hrs/day, buying (~$329) beats renting at $0.34/hr after about 16 months.
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FAQ
Is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) enough to run Cosmos 3 locally?
Yes, comfortably — Cosmos 3 Edge at BF16 needs 9.7 GB at 8K context (8 GB weights + 1.7 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.3 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)'s 12 GB, at ~45 tok/s (est.).
What's the best Cosmos 3 size for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)?
Cosmos 3 Edge at BF16 quantization needs 9.7 GB at 8K context (8 GB weights + 1.7 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~45 tokens/sec.
Every Cosmos 3 size on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmos 3 Super | 131.1 GB | Does not fit | — |
| Cosmos 3 Nano | 34.2 GB | Runs at Q4_K_M | — |
| Cosmos 3 Edge | 9.7 GB | Runs | ~45 tok/s |
Cosmos 3 on Other GPUs
- Cosmos 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
- Cosmos 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
- Cosmos 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super
- Cosmos 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Cosmos 3 on Intel Arc B580
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VRAM Tier
Troubleshooting
Buying Guide
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