Gemma 3 27B hardware requirements

Custom license · Gemma — check terms before commercial useChatVision

About the model

Parameters: 27.4B
Attention: Sliding-window attention
Max context: 131,072 tokens
Released: 2025-03-12
Model card: Gemma 3 27B on Hugging Face

GGUF files

Tracked quantizations of Gemma 3 27B, smallest first
Quant	File size	Quality	Published by
Q2_K	10.50 GB	Heavy loss	Community GGUF · bartowski
IQ4_XS	14.77 GB	Good balance	Community GGUF · bartowski
Q4_K_Mbaseline	16.55 GB	Good balance	Community GGUF · bartowski
Q8_0	28.71 GB	Near-lossless	Community GGUF · bartowski

File sizes do not include the vision projector (mmproj) that image input needs.

Memory needed by quant and context

Weights + f16 KV cache + compute buffer, in GB. Add about 0.6 GB if the GPU also drives your display on Windows.
Quant	4k	8k	16k	32k	64k	128k
Q2_K	11.4	11.7	12.5	14.0	17.0	22.9
IQ4_XS	15.6	16.0	16.8	18.3	21.2	27.2
Q4_K_M	17.4	17.8	18.5	20.0	23.0	29.0
Q8_0	29.6	30.0	30.7	32.2	35.2	41.1

Which GPUs can run Gemma 3 27B?

How to read the verdicts

Runs great: Fully on the GPU at 20 tok/s or more
Runs well: Fully on the GPU at 8–20 tok/s; MoE experts in system RAM at 20 tok/s or more; or at least 90% on the GPU at 8 tok/s or more
Runs slowly: 2–8 tok/s; CPU-only; less than 90% on the GPU; or MoE experts in system RAM below 20 tok/s
Won't run: Does not fit, or under 2 tok/s

Dense models split between GPU and CPU slow down sharply — the CPU side sets the pace. MoE models that keep only their experts in system RAM degrade far more gently.

Sort

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54 GPUs, Macs and CPU setups at Q4_K_M with 8k context, sorted by verdict and speed
Hardware	Verdict	Speed	Quant	Memory	Runs as	Context	Notes	Price
GeForce RTX 5090	Runs great	est. 72.8 tok/s64.1–81.6calibrated estimate ±12%	Q4_K_M	18.4 / 32.0 GB	Full GPU	up to 128k	—	$4,200 street (as of 2026-08-09)
Radeon RX 7900 XTX	Runs great	est. 43.5 tok/s38.3–48.7calibrated estimate ±12%	Q4_K_M	18.4 / 24.0 GB	Full GPU	up to 64k	—	$999 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 3090 Ti	Runs great	est. 41.0 tok/s36.1–45.9calibrated estimate ±12%	Q4_K_M	18.4 / 24.0 GB	Full GPU	up to 64k	—	$1,999 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 4090	Runs great	est. 41.0 tok/s36.1–45.9calibrated estimate ±12%	Q4_K_M	18.4 / 24.0 GB	Full GPU	up to 64k	—	$2,755 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 3090	Runs great	est. 38.0 tok/s33.5–42.6calibrated estimate ±12%	Q4_K_M	18.4 / 24.0 GB	Full GPU	up to 64k	—	$1,050 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop	Runs great	est. 36.4 tok/s32.1–40.8calibrated estimate ±12%	Q4_K_M	18.4 / 24.0 GB	Full GPU	up to 64k	—	—
Radeon RX 7900 XT	Runs great	est. 36.2 tok/s31.9–40.6calibrated estimate ±12%	Q4_K_M	18.4 / 20.0 GB	Full GPU	up to 16k	—	$899 launch MSRP
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU) · 48 GB	Runs great	est. 21.4 tok/s17.1–25.7calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 33.6 GB	Unified memory	up to 16k	—	—
Apple M3 Ultra · 96 GB	Runs great	est. 20.9 tok/s16.7–25.1calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 67.2 GB	Unified memory	up to 16k	—	—
Apple M2 Ultra · 64 GB	Runs great	est. 20.4 tok/s16.4–24.5calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 44.8 GB	Unified memory	up to 8k	—	—
Apple M4 Max (40-core GPU) · 48 GB	Runs well	est. 19.0 tok/s15.2–22.8calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 33.6 GB	Unified memory	up to 128k	Try IQ4_XS: Runs great	—
Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU) · 36 GB	Runs well	est. 16.0 tok/s12.8–19.2calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 25.2 GB	Unified memory	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	—
Apple M4 Max (32-core GPU) · 36 GB	Runs well	est. 14.3 tok/s11.4–17.1calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 25.2 GB	Unified memory	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	—
Apple M5 Pro · 48 GB	Runs well	est. 10.7 tok/s8.6–12.8calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 33.6 GB	Unified memory	up to 64k	—	—
Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (Strix Halo) · 32 GB	Runs well	est. 9.7 tok/s7.7–11.6calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 22.4 GB	Unified memory	up to 32k	—	$1,999 launch MSRP
Apple M4 Pro · 48 GB	Runs well	est. 9.5 tok/s7.6–11.4calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 33.6 GB	Unified memory	up to 32k	—	—
GeForce RTX 5080	Runs slowly	est. 12.9 tok/s10.3–15.5calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$1,256 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti	Runs slowly	est. 12.6 tok/s10.1–15.2calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$949 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop	Runs slowly	est. 12.6 tok/s10.1–15.2calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	—
GeForce RTX 4080 Super	Runs slowly	est. 11.9 tok/s9.5–14.2calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$999 launch MSRP
Radeon RX 9070	Runs slowly	est. 11.8 tok/s9.4–14.1calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$639 street (as of 2026-08-09)
Radeon RX 9070 XT	Runs slowly	est. 11.8 tok/s9.4–14.1calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$689 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 4080	Runs slowly	est. 11.8 tok/s9.4–14.1calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$1,199 launch MSRP
Radeon RX 7800 XT	Runs slowly	est. 11.6 tok/s9.3–14.0calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$499 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super	Runs slowly	est. 11.5 tok/s9.2–13.8calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$799 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop	Runs slowly	est. 10.8 tok/s8.7–13.0calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	—
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB	Runs slowly	est. 9.7 tok/s7.8–11.7calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$569 street (as of 2026-08-09)
Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB	Runs slowly	est. 8.7 tok/s7.0–10.5calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Less than 90% on the GPU — a GPU/CPU split is capped at Runs slowly Try IQ4_XS: Runs well Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs great	$449 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB	Runs slowly	est. 7.8 tok/s6.2–9.3calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	16.0 / 16.0 GB + 2.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Try IQ4_XS: Runs well	$499 launch MSRP
NVIDIA DGX Spark · 128 GB	Runs slowly	est. 6.3 tok/s5.1–7.6calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.8 / 89.6 GB	Unified memory	up to 128k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	$3,999 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 3080 12GB	Runs slowly	est. 6.1 tok/s4.8–7.3calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	$799 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 5070	Runs slowly	est. 5.8 tok/s4.7–7.0calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	$629 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop	Runs slowly	est. 5.8 tok/s4.7–7.0calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	—
GeForce RTX 4070	Runs slowly	est. 5.6 tok/s4.5–6.7calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	$599 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 4070 Super	Runs slowly	est. 5.6 tok/s4.5–6.7calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	$599 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop	Runs slowly	est. 5.4 tok/s4.4–6.5calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	—
Intel Arc B580	Runs slowly	est. 5.3 tok/s4.3–6.4calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	$290 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	Runs slowly	est. 5.2 tok/s4.2–6.3calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	12.0 / 12.0 GB + 6.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	$250 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti	Runs slowly	est. 5.2 tok/s4.1–6.2calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	11.0 / 11.0 GB + 7.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$999 launch MSRP
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti	Runs slowly	est. 5.0 tok/s3.5–6.5theoretical estimate ±30%	Q4_K_M	11.0 / 11.0 GB + 7.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$699 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 3080 10GB	Runs slowly	est. 4.7 tok/s3.8–5.7calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	10.0 / 10.0 GB + 8.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$699 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 3070	Runs slowly	est. 3.8 tok/s3.1–4.6calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$499 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 5060	Runs slowly	est. 3.8 tok/s3.1–4.6calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$339 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB	Runs slowly	est. 3.8 tok/s3.1–4.6calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$429 street (as of 2026-08-09)
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB	Runs slowly	est. 3.7 tok/s2.9–4.4calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$399 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 4060	Runs slowly	est. 3.6 tok/s2.9–4.4calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$299 launch MSRP
GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop	Runs slowly	est. 3.6 tok/s2.9–4.3calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	—
GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop	Runs slowly	est. 3.6 tok/s2.9–4.3calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	—
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	Runs slowly	est. 3.5 tok/s2.8–4.3calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	8.0 / 8.0 GB + 10.4 GB RAM	Partial offload	up to 64k	—	$249 launch MSRP
Apple M5 · 24 GB	Runs slowly	est. 3.1 tok/s2.2–4.0theoretical estimate ±30%	Q4_K_M	17.2 GB RAM	CPU only	up to 32k	Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs well	—
DDR5-6000 dual-channel CPU · 32 GB	Runs slowly	est. 2.8 tok/s2.2–3.3calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.2 GB RAM	CPU only	up to 64k	—	—
DDR5-5600 dual-channel CPU · 32 GB	Runs slowly	est. 2.6 tok/s2.1–3.1calibrated estimate ±20%	Q4_K_M	17.2 GB RAM	CPU only	up to 64k	—	—
Apple M4 · 24 GB	Runs slowly	est. 2.4 tok/s1.7–3.2theoretical estimate ±30%	Q4_K_M	17.2 GB RAM	CPU only	up to 32k	—	—
DDR4-3200 dual-channel CPU · 64 GB	Won't runTry Q2_K (heavy quality loss): Runs slowly	est. 2.3 tok/s1.8–2.7calibrated estimate ±20%	Q2_K	11.2 GB RAM	CPU only	up to 16k	—	—

Cheapest GPUs that run it

Runs greatGeForce RTX 3090$1,050 street (as of 2026-08-09), est. 38.0 tok/s (33.5–42.6, calibrated estimate ±12%).

Measured results for Gemma 3 27B

No public measurements for this model yet.

Frequently asked questions

How much VRAM does Gemma 3 27B need?

At Q4_K_M the weights are 16.55 GB; with 8k context the total is about 17.8 GB (KV cache 0.7 GB, compute buffer 0.6 GB). The smallest tracked file (Q2_K (heavy quality loss)) needs about 11.7 GB.

What is the cheapest GPU that runs Gemma 3 27B well?

Cheapest that runs it great: GeForce RTX 3090 at $1,050 (street price as of 2026-08-09), est. 38.0 tok/s (33.5–42.6, calibrated estimate ±12%).

Can Gemma 3 27B run on an 8 GB, 16 GB or 24 GB GPU?

At Q4_K_M with 8k context: GeForce RTX 4060 — Runs slowly, est. 3.6 tok/s (2.9–4.4, calibrated estimate ±20%); GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB — Runs slowly, est. 9.7 tok/s (7.8–11.7, calibrated estimate ±20%); GeForce RTX 3090 — Runs great, est. 38.0 tok/s (33.5–42.6, calibrated estimate ±12%).

Speeds are estimates from memory bandwidth, calibrated against public benchmarks, and each one comes with an error band and a confidence label. Real results vary with drivers, backend, context length and thermals.