Can I Run Granite 3.0 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB)?

Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026

Yes, comfortably — Granite 3.0 8B Instruct at Q4_K_M needs 7 GB at 8K context (4.8 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~3 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB)'s 10 GB, at ~72 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 16K context.

See what else this hardware can run →

Buy this hardware NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB — 10 GB VRAM · 320 W board powerDeploy in the cloud now RTX 4090 on RunPod — from $0.34/hr · rate checked 2026-07

or compare on Vast.ai from $0.35/hr (typical low · varies)

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB
10 GB VRAM · 320 W board power
2026 prices are volatile — check the current listing.
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) Specs

VRAM10 GB
Memory Bandwidth760 GB/s

Granite 3.0 8B Instruct on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB): VRAM by quantization

QuantVRAM neededFits 10 GB?Max contextWhole PC
F1618.1 GB✗ No——
Q8_010.6 GB✗ No——
Q6_K8.7 GB✓ Yes8K—
Q5_K_M7.8 GB✓ Yes16K—
Q4_K_M7 GB✓ Yes16K—
Q3_K_M5.6 GB✓ Yes32K—
Q2_K4.8 GB✓ Yes32K—

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 10 GB. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.

Superseded model. Granite 3.0 has been superseded by IBM Granite 4.0. This page is kept for reference; the newer family is a better starting point. IBM Granite 4.0 needs at least 22 GB at Q4_K_M with an 8K context, so it does not fit the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB).

Context costs VRAM too. At Q4_K_M on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB): 8K 7 GB · 32K 11 GB ✗ · 128K 27.1 GB ✗. Past 32K it no longer fits 10 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.

No compatible GPU? Granite 3.0 8B Instruct on 8 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs.

Granite 3.0 Sizes That Fit the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) (at 8K context)

Granite 3.0 8B InstructQ4_K_M · 7 GB at 8K context · ~72 tok/s (est.)
Buy vs. rent Granite 3.0
Buy the GPU
~$699
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) · MSRP
Rent by the hour
from $0.34/hr
RTX 4090 (24 GB) class

At 2 hrs/day, buying (~$699) beats renting at $0.34/hr after about 2.9 years.

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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.

FAQ

Is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) enough to run Granite 3.0 locally?

Yes, comfortably — Granite 3.0 8B Instruct at Q4_K_M needs 7 GB at 8K context (4.8 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~3 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB)'s 10 GB, at ~72 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 16K context.

What's the best Granite 3.0 size for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB)?

Granite 3.0 8B Instruct at Q4_K_M quantization needs 7 GB at 8K context (4.8 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~72 tokens/sec, up to 16K context.

Granite 3.0 on Other GPUs

Popular Models on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB)

VRAM Tier

Troubleshooting

Buying Guide

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