Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 3070 (8GB VRAM)?
Yes — best fit is Gemma 4 E4B at Q4_0 (4-bit) (~5GB) ✅ Comfortable, using 7GB of usable memory on a 8GB RTX 3070.
Every Gemma 4 model on this configuration
| Model | Best quant | Size | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemma 4 E2B | SFP8 (8-bit) | ~4 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 E4B | Q4_0 (4-bit) | ~5 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 12B | Q4_0 (4-bit) | ~6.7 GB | ⚠️ Tight |
| Gemma 4 26B A4B | — | — | ❌ Won't fit |
| Gemma 4 31B | — | — | ❌ Won't fit |
How we got this verdict
8 - 1 = 7GB usable VRAM (the driver and OS reserve roughly 1 GB).
E4B lands on Q4_0 here, so grab the official QAT (quantization-aware training) checkpoint instead of a generic Q4_0 quant. Google shipped a full-quality QAT build for E4B at essentially the same ~6.1GB download size, with noticeably better output quality than a naive 4-bit quant. See the QAT guide for exact file names.
Switching to the RTX 3070 Ti (8GB VRAM) doesn't change the top recommendation — E4B is still the best fit, just with more headroom.
The fastest lever on a fixed budget isn't more VRAM on the same card — it's switching cards. Compare this tier against neighboring cards below, or check the full checker for any GPU model.
Real-world notes for this configuration
The RTX 3070 uses the same GA104 die and 8GB/256-bit memory configuration as the 3060 Ti and 3070 Ti — all three cards share an identical VRAM ceiling for local AI purposes, differing mainly in clock speeds and power draw. It was widely regarded as the best price-to-performance gaming card of its generation, a reputation that doesn't fully carry over to local AI, where its VRAM ceiling is no different from cheaper siblings.
- ⚠Same 8GB ceiling as the 3060 Ti and 3070 Ti — if you already own one of those, an upgrade to the plain 3070 buys speed, not capacity.
Try a different configuration
Best fit: Gemma 4 E4B · Q4_0 (4-bit) · ~5 GB ✅ Comfortable
FAQ
Can a RTX 3070 (8GB VRAM) run the 31B flagship model?
No — the 31B model needs at least 17.4GB usable memory even at Q4_0, and this configuration only has 7GB usable. Gemma 4 E4B is the largest model that fits here.
What's the best Gemma 4 model for a RTX 3070 (8GB VRAM)?
Gemma 4 E4B at Q4_0 (4-bit) (~5GB) is the best fit — it's the largest model that runs comfortably within the 7GB of usable memory here.
What if I have more or less memory than 8GB VRAM?
With more (e.g. RTX 3070 Ti), you can run larger models or the same model more comfortably — see the RTX 3070 Ti page. With less (e.g. RTX 3060 Ti), the best-fitting model gets smaller or tighter — see the RTX 3060 Ti page.
Is the RTX 3070 a good value pick specifically for local Gemma 4 use?
Its gaming value reputation doesn't fully transfer — its 8GB VRAM ceiling is identical to the cheaper 3060 Ti, so for local AI capacity specifically, a used 3070 doesn't offer more headroom than a used 3060 Ti at a lower price.
Does the RTX 3070 support NVLink for multi-GPU memory pooling?
No — NVLink on the 30-series was reserved for the 3090 and 3090 Ti; the 3070 (like the 3060 Ti and 3080) has no way to pool VRAM across multiple cards.
Related
Gemma 4 on RTX 3070/3080
The full setup guide for this device family.
Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 3060 Ti (8GB VRAM)?
NVIDIA GPU — 8GB VRAM
Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 3070 Ti (8GB VRAM)?
NVIDIA GPU — 8GB VRAM
Gemma 4 Hardware Requirements
The full memory table this checker is built on.
Full Hardware Checker
Every device type, every model, one tool.