Can I Run Gemma 4 26B-A4B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026
No. Gemma 4 26B-A4B needs 18.2 GB at 8K context (15.7 GB weights + 2.5 GB KV cache/overhead) at Q4_K_M and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has only 8 GB. No quantization we publish closes a gap that size.
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The numbers
| Model | Gemma 4 26B-A4B |
| Parameters | 26B (4B active, MoE) |
| Quantization | Q4_K_M |
| VRAM needed (8K context) | 18.2 GB |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 VRAM | 8 GB |
| Verdict | Does not fit |
Gemma 4 26B-A4B on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 8 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 54.5 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 30.1 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q6_K | 23.8 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 20.9 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q4_K_M | 18.2 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q3_K_M | 13.6 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q2_K | 11.1 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
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 8 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 3070: 8K 18.2 GB ✗ · 32K 23.3 GB ✗ · 128K 43.9 GB ✗. Past 8K it no longer fits 8 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
What to do next
Either step down to a smaller size in this family, or move to a AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20 GB), the card with the least memory we track that holds it.
No compatible GPU? Gemma 4 26B-A4B on 24 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Cheapest card we track with enough VRAM for Gemma 4 26B-A4B:
Gemma 4 26B-A4B needs ~18 GB but this GPU has 8 GB. Rent a RTX 4090 (24 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:
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Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.
Other Gemma 4 sizes on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
- Gemma 4 31B — does not fit (21.3 GB)
- Gemma 4 12B (Unified) — runs at a lower quant (9.4 GB)
- Gemma 4 E4B — runs (6.4 GB)
- Gemma 4 E2B — runs (4.7 GB)
Gemma 4 26B-A4B on nearby hardware
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) (10 GB) — does not fit
All Gemma 4 sizes on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 | Gemma 4 26B-A4B model page | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU page | VRAM calculator | Check your hardware