Can I Run Llama 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 29, 2026
No — Llama 4 Scout 17B at Q4_K_M needs 68.2 GB at 8K context (65.8 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090's 24 GB leaves it ~44.2 GB short. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA A100 80GB (PCIe) (80 GB).
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Specs
| VRAM | 24 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 1008 GB/s |
Llama 4 Scout 17B on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 24 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 220.4 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 118.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 91.8 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 79.7 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q4_K_M | 68.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q3_K_M | 48.9 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q2_K | 38.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
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 24 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 4090: 8K 68.2 GB ✗ · 32K 73.1 GB ✗ · 128K 92.4 GB ✗. Past 8K it no longer fits 24 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
No compatible GPU? Llama 4 Scout 17B on 48 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Why It Does Not Fit
Every Llama 4 variant requires more VRAM than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 provides (24 GB).
Nearest GPU That Fits
NVIDIA A100 80GB (PCIe) (80 GB VRAM).
Llama 4 needs ~68 GB but this GPU has 24 GB. Rent a A100 (80 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:
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FAQ
Will Llama 4 run on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090?
No — Llama 4 Scout 17B at Q4_K_M needs 68.2 GB at 8K context (65.8 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090's 24 GB leaves it ~44.2 GB short. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA A100 80GB (PCIe) (80 GB).
What GPU should I get instead to run Llama 4?
The NVIDIA A100 80GB (PCIe) (80 GB VRAM) is the cheapest upgrade that fits it.
Every Llama 4 size on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llama 4 Maverick 17B | 243.9 GB | Does not fit | — |
| Llama 4 Scout 17B | 68.2 GB | Does not fit | — |
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VRAM Tier
Troubleshooting
- CUDA out of memory — why it happens and how to fix it
- Which GGUF quant should I download? (Q4 vs Q5 vs Q8)
Buying Guide
← Can I Run It? | Llama 4 Model Page | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU Page | Check Your Hardware