Gemma 4 12B VRAM Requirements
Developed by Google
Find out exactly how much VRAM you need to run Gemma 4 12B locally. Calculate the memory footprint of different GGUF quantization variants (like Q4_K_M or Q8_0), estimate your context length KV cache VRAM footprint, and determine if your hardware supports a full GPU VRAM offload or if you will need to rely on slow partial CPU offloading to avoid a CUDA Out of Memory (OOM) error.
Hardware Configuration
Adjust settings to check compatibility with your system in real time.
Available: 14.50 GB
Available: 29.00 GB
This model's configuration fits fully in your VRAM. You will experience peak speed and performance.
Requires 8.43 GB total memory (weights: 7.37 GB, context overhead: 0.44 GB, activation overhead: 0.62 GB).
Gemma 4 12B Quantization Formats & VRAM Compatibility
Select a format to set it as active and calculate your system fit dynamically.
| Quant | Weights | KV Cache | Overhead | Total VRAM | Status | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base (Unquantized) | 22.28 GB | 0.44 GB | 1.82 GB | 24.53 GB | CPU Offload | HF weights |
| UD-Q4_K_XL | 7.37 GB | 0.44 GB | 0.62 GB | 8.43 GB | Fits in VRAM | GGUF |
| UD-Q8_K_XL | 13.60 GB | 0.44 GB | 1.12 GB | 15.16 GB | CPU Offload | GGUF |
Gemma 4 12B KV Cache Memory Breakdown
How to Setup and Run Gemma 4 12B Locally
Method A: Ollama (Recommended)
Ollama is the easiest way to run models in the background. First, download it from ollama.com, then execute this terminal command:
ollama run <model-name>Method B: LM Studio (GUI)
If you prefer a full graphical interface with chat UI and local server hosting:
- Download and install LM Studio.
- Search for Gemma 4 12B in the home page search tab.
- Select a quantization level (like Q4_K_M) that fits your VRAM, click download, and load it to chat.
Model Specs
- DeveloperGoogle
- Parameter Count11.95B
- Base File Size22.3 GB
- AvailabilityLocal-Only
- Input ModalitiesTextImageAudioVideo
Standard Benchmark Scores
Commercial API Pricing
This model is self-hosted only or official API pricing is not available.
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