Can I Run Gemma 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026
Yes, comfortably — Gemma 3 12B Instruct at Q4_K_M needs 9.1 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 1.9 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.9 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070's 12 GB, at ~52 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.
See what else this hardware can run →
or compare on Vast.ai from $0.35/hr (typical low · varies)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Cloud GPU links are referral links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Specs
| VRAM | 12 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 504 GB/s |
Gemma 3 12B Instruct on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 12 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 25.8 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 14.6 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q6_K | 11.7 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 10.3 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | Build for this |
| Q4_K_M | 9.1 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | Build for this |
| Q3_K_M | 7 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
| Q2_K | 5.8 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
Assumes an 8K-token context with an f16 KV cache. 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 Q4_K_M on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070: 8K 9.1 GB · 32K 10.7 GB · 128K 17.1 GB ✗. Past 128K it no longer fits 12 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
No compatible GPU? Gemma 3 12B Instruct on 16 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Gemma 3 Sizes That Fit the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (at 8K context)
| Gemma 3 12B Instruct | Q4_K_M · 9.1 GB at 8K context · ~52 tok/s (est.) |
| Gemma 3 4B Instruct | Q4_K_M · 3.6 GB at 8K context · ~125 tok/s (est.) |
| Gemma 3 1B Instruct | Q4_K_M · 1.5 GB at 8K context · ~276 tok/s (est.) |
At 2 hrs/day, buying (~$599) beats renting at $0.34/hr after about 2.4 years.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.
FAQ
Does the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 have enough VRAM for Gemma 3?
Yes, comfortably — Gemma 3 12B Instruct at Q4_K_M needs 9.1 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 1.9 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~2.9 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070's 12 GB, at ~52 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.
Which quantization of Gemma 3 should I use on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070?
Gemma 3 12B Instruct at Q4_K_M quantization needs 9.1 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 1.9 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~52 tokens/sec, up to 32K context.
Every Gemma 3 size on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemma 3 27B Instruct | 18.4 GB | Runs at Q2_K | — |
| Gemma 3 12B Instruct | 9.1 GB | Runs | ~52 tok/s |
| Gemma 3 4B Instruct | 3.6 GB | Runs | ~125 tok/s |
| Gemma 3 1B Instruct | 1.5 GB | Runs | ~276 tok/s |
Gemma 3 on Other GPUs
- Gemma 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
- Gemma 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
- Gemma 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super
- Gemma 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)
- Gemma 3 on Intel Arc B580
Popular Models on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- DeepSeek R1 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Qwen 3 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Qwen 2.5 Family on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Tier
Troubleshooting
Buying Guide
← Can I Run It? | Gemma 3 Model Page | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU Page | VRAM calculator | Check Your Hardware