How much VRAM does gemma 2b need?

gemma 2b (2B parameters) requires approximately 17.3 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for gemma 2b?

The recommended quantization for gemma 2b is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

Can it run?

Yes, NVIDIA H200 PCIe 141GB can run gemma 2b with a C grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 2832.8 tok/s.

CUsable

Runs well

Using Q4_K_M in Ollama

Capabilities:

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

2832.8 tok/s

TTFT

350 ms

Safe context

130K

Memory

17.3 GB / 141.0 GB

Weights1.2 GB

KV Cache0.8 GB

Runtime1.2 GB

Headroom14.1 GB

Workload	Grade	Fit	Decode	TTFT	Context
Agentic Coding	C	Runs well	3304.9 tok/s	350 ms	261K
Chat	C	Runs well	3304.9 tok/s	350 ms	65K
Coding	C	Runs well	2832.8 tok/s	350 ms	130K
RAG	C	Runs well	3304.9 tok/s	350 ms	261K
Reasoning	C	Runs well	3304.9 tok/s	350 ms	130K

How gemma 2b (2B params) fits at each quantization level on NVIDIA H200 PCIe 141GB (141.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	0.8 GB	Low	D30
Q3_K_S	3	1.0 GB	Low	D30
NVFP4	4

Upgrade options

Mac Studio M3 Ultra 256GBBudget pick

C456.5 tok/s decode