Can I Run IBM Granite 4.2 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 29, 2026
Yes, comfortably — Granite 4.2 30B at Q4_K_M needs 20.7 GB at 8K context (18.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~11.3 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090's 32 GB, at ~68 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Specs
| VRAM | 32 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 1792 GB/s |
Granite 4.2 30B on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 32 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 62.6 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 34.5 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 27.2 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 23.8 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 20.7 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 15.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
| Q2_K | 12.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
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 32 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 5090: 8K 20.7 GB · 32K 26 GB · 128K 47.4 GB ✗. Past 128K it no longer fits 32 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
No compatible GPU? Granite 4.2 30B on 32 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs comfortably.
IBM Granite 4.2 Sizes That Fit the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (at 8K context)
| Granite 4.2 30B | Q4_K_M · 20.7 GB at 8K context · ~68 tok/s (est.) |
| Granite 4.2 8B | Q4_K_M · 6.8 GB at 8K context · ~173 tok/s (est.) |
| Granite 4.2 3B | Q4_K_M · 3.5 GB at 8K context · ~270 tok/s (est.) |
At 2 hrs/day, buying (~$1,999) beats renting at $0.34/hr after about 8.2 years.
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Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.
FAQ
Can I run IBM Granite 4.2 on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090?
Yes, comfortably — Granite 4.2 30B at Q4_K_M needs 20.7 GB at 8K context (18.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~11.3 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090's 32 GB, at ~68 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.
What's the best IBM Granite 4.2 size for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090?
Granite 4.2 30B at Q4_K_M quantization needs 20.7 GB at 8K context (18.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~68 tokens/sec, up to 32K context.
Every IBM Granite 4.2 size on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granite 4.2 30B | 20.7 GB | Runs | ~68 tok/s |
| Granite 4.2 8B | 6.8 GB | Runs | ~173 tok/s |
| Granite 4.2 3B | 3.5 GB | Runs | ~270 tok/s |
IBM Granite 4.2 on Other GPUs
- IBM Granite 4.2 on Apple M4
- IBM Granite 4.2 on Apple M2 Pro
- IBM Granite 4.2 on Apple M1 Pro
- IBM Granite 4.2 on Apple M5
- IBM Granite 4.2 on Apple M3 Pro
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