Can I Run North Mini Code on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 11, 2026
No — North Mini Code 1.0 30B-A3B at Q4_K_M needs 20.7 GB at 8K context (18.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)'s 12 GB leaves it ~8.7 GB short. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24 GB).
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) Specs
| VRAM | 12 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 360 GB/s |
North Mini Code 1.0 30B-A3B on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB): VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 12 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 62.6 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 34.5 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 27.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 23.8 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q4_K_M | 20.7 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q3_K_M | 15.4 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q2_K | 12.4 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 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 3060 (12GB): 8K 20.7 GB ✗ · 32K 26 GB ✗ · 128K 47.4 GB ✗. Past 8K 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? North Mini Code 1.0 30B-A3B on 16 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Why It Does Not Fit
Every North Mini Code variant requires more VRAM than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) provides (12 GB).
Nearest GPU That Fits
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24 GB VRAM).
North Mini Code needs ~21 GB but this GPU has 12 GB. Rent a RTX 4090 (24 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:
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FAQ
Will North Mini Code run on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)?
No — North Mini Code 1.0 30B-A3B at Q4_K_M needs 20.7 GB at 8K context (18.1 GB weights + 2.6 GB KV cache/overhead), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB)'s 12 GB leaves it ~8.7 GB short. The cheapest card that runs it is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24 GB).
What GPU should I get instead to run North Mini Code?
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24 GB VRAM) is the cheapest upgrade that fits it.
North Mini Code on Other GPUs
- North Mini Code on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
- North Mini Code on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
- North Mini Code on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super
- North Mini Code on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- North Mini Code on Intel Arc B580
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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? | North Mini Code Model Page | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB) GPU Page | VRAM calculator | Check Your Hardware