Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 4070 (12GB VRAM)?
Yes — best fit is Gemma 4 12B at Q4_0 (4-bit) (~6.7GB) ✅ Comfortable, using 11GB of usable memory on a 12GB RTX 4070.
Every Gemma 4 model on this configuration
| Model | Best quant | Size | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemma 4 E2B | BF16 (16-bit) | ~8 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 E4B | SFP8 (8-bit) | ~7.5 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 12B | Q4_0 (4-bit) | ~6.7 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 26B A4B | — | — | ❌ Won't fit |
| Gemma 4 31B | — | — | ❌ Won't fit |
How we got this verdict
12 - 1 = 11GB usable VRAM (the driver and OS reserve roughly 1 GB).
12B 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 12B at essentially the same ~7.2GB 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 4060 Ti (16GB VRAM) doesn't change the top recommendation — 12B 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 4070 pairs 12GB of GDDR6X with a 192-bit bus on the AD104 die — narrower than the previous-generation RTX 3080's 320-bit bus, though GDDR6X's higher per-pin speed and a larger L2 cache help close some of the gap. It sits at a comfortable middle spot for local AI: more VRAM than the 8GB cards in this lineup, less than the 16GB tier just above it.
- ⚠192-bit bus is narrower than the previous-gen RTX 3080 despite the newer architecture — memory-bandwidth-sensitive, long-context work may not scale as cleanly as the newer generation number would suggest.
Try a different configuration
Best fit: Gemma 4 12B · Q4_0 (4-bit) · ~6.7 GB ✅ Comfortable
FAQ
Can a RTX 4070 (12GB 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 11GB usable. Gemma 4 12B is the largest model that fits here.
What's the best Gemma 4 model for a RTX 4070 (12GB VRAM)?
Gemma 4 12B at Q4_0 (4-bit) (~6.7GB) is the best fit — it's the largest model that runs comfortably within the 11GB of usable memory here.
What if I have more or less memory than 12GB VRAM?
With more (e.g. RTX 4060 Ti), you can run larger models or the same model more comfortably — see the RTX 4060 Ti page. With less (e.g. RTX 3080 Ti), the best-fitting model gets smaller or tighter — see the RTX 3080 Ti page.
Is the RTX 4070's 12GB VRAM the same amount as the RTX 3060's?
Yes, both have 12GB, though the 4070 uses faster GDDR6X versus the 3060's GDDR6 on the same 192-bit bus width — capacity-wise they're tied, so the 4070's advantage for local AI is compute speed, not extra headroom.
Should I go for the RTX 4070 or the 16GB tier for local Gemma 4?
If your target model needs more than 12GB of usable VRAM, yes, the 16GB tier (4060 Ti 16GB, 4070 Ti SUPER, 4080) is worth it — that's a real capacity step, not just a speed increment.
Related
Gemma 4 on RTX 3070/3080
The full setup guide for this device family.
Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 3080 Ti (12GB VRAM)?
NVIDIA GPU — 12GB VRAM
Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 4060 Ti (16GB VRAM)?
NVIDIA GPU — 16GB VRAM
Gemma 4 Hardware Requirements
The full memory table this checker is built on.
Full Hardware Checker
Every device type, every model, one tool.