Can I Run SmolLM2 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026
Yes, comfortably — SmolLM2 1.7B Instruct at Q4_K_M needs 3.4 GB at 8K context (1 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~4.6 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060's 8 GB, at ~105 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 8K context.
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Specs
| VRAM | 8 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 272 GB/s |
SmolLM2 1.7B Instruct on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 8 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 5.8 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q8_0 | 4.2 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q6_K | 3.8 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 3.6 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 3.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 3.1 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
| Q2_K | 3 GB | ✓ Yes | 8K | — |
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 8 GB. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.
No compatible GPU? SmolLM2 1.7B Instruct on 8 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs comfortably.
SmolLM2 Sizes That Fit the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (at 8K context)
| SmolLM2 1.7B Instruct | Q4_K_M · 3.4 GB at 8K context · ~105 tok/s (est.) |
| SmolLM2 360M Instruct | Q4_K_M · 1.4 GB at 8K context · ~265 tok/s (est.) |
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FAQ
Can I run SmolLM2 on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060?
Yes, comfortably — SmolLM2 1.7B Instruct at Q4_K_M needs 3.4 GB at 8K context (1 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~4.6 GB of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060's 8 GB, at ~105 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 8K context.
What's the best SmolLM2 size for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060?
SmolLM2 1.7B Instruct at Q4_K_M quantization needs 3.4 GB at 8K context (1 GB weights + 2.4 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~105 tokens/sec, up to 8K context.
Every SmolLM2 size on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| SmolLM2 1.7B Instruct | 3.4 GB | Runs | ~105 tok/s |
| SmolLM2 360M Instruct | 1.4 GB | Runs | ~265 tok/s |
SmolLM2 on Other GPUs
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VRAM Tier
Troubleshooting
Buying Guide
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