Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 4080 (16GB VRAM)?
Yes — best fit is Gemma 4 12B at Q4_0 (4-bit) (~6.7GB) ✅ Comfortable, using 15GB of usable memory on a 16GB RTX 4080.
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
16 - 1 = 15GB 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 5080 (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 4080 carries some lineup history worth knowing: NVIDIA originally announced a lower-spec "4080 12GB" alongside this 16GB card in 2022, then unlaunched it after backlash over using the same "4080" name for two meaningfully different chips — that lower card was eventually rebranded and released as the RTX 4070 Ti instead. The 16GB card sold today is the only 4080 that ever actually shipped under that name.
- ⚠If you ever see an old article or forum post referencing a "4080 12GB," it's referring to the card that got renamed to the 4070 Ti before release — not a real variant of the card sold today.
Try a different configuration
Best fit: Gemma 4 12B · Q4_0 (4-bit) · ~6.7 GB ✅ Comfortable
FAQ
Can a RTX 4080 (16GB 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 15GB usable. Gemma 4 12B is the largest model that fits here.
What's the best Gemma 4 model for a RTX 4080 (16GB 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 15GB of usable memory here.
What if I have more or less memory than 16GB VRAM?
With more (e.g. RTX 5080), you can run larger models or the same model more comfortably — see the RTX 5080 page. With less (e.g. RTX 4070 Ti SUPER), the best-fitting model gets smaller or tighter — see the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER page.
Was there ever a 12GB version of the RTX 4080?
NVIDIA announced one in 2022 but unlaunched it after backlash over using identical branding for two different chips; that card was eventually released instead as the RTX 4070 Ti. Only the 16GB 4080 ever actually shipped under the "4080" name.
How does the RTX 4080's 16GB compare to the 4070 Ti SUPER's 16GB?
Same capacity and same 256-bit bus — the 4080 has more CUDA cores and higher compute throughput, which speeds up generation on models that fit either card, but doesn't change what fits.
Related
Gemma 4 on RTX 3070/3080
The full setup guide for this device family.
Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 4070 Ti SUPER (16GB VRAM)?
NVIDIA GPU — 16GB VRAM
Can You Run Gemma 4 on an RTX 5080 (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.