How much VRAM does gemma 3 4b it need?

gemma 3 4b it (4B parameters) requires approximately 11.4 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for gemma 3 4b it?

The recommended quantization for gemma 3 4b it is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

Can it run?

Yes, Mac mini M4 64GB can run gemma 3 4b it with a C grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 32.0 tok/s.

CUsable

Runs well

Using Q4_K_M in Ollama

Capabilities:

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

32.0 tok/s

TTFT

6056 ms

Safe context

65K

Memory

11.4 GB / 46.1 GB

Weights2.4 GB

KV Cache0.8 GB

Runtime1.2 GB

Headroom6.9 GB

Workload	Grade	Fit	Decode	TTFT	Context
Agentic Coding	C	Runs well	32.0 tok/s	8809 ms	125K
Chat	C	Runs well	32.0 tok/s	3303 ms	32K
Coding	C	Runs well	32.0 tok/s	6056 ms	65K
RAG	C	Runs well	32.0 tok/s	11011 ms	125K
Reasoning	C	Runs well	32.0 tok/s	7157 ms	65K

How gemma 3 4b it (4B params) fits at each quantization level on Mac mini M4 64GB (46.1 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	1.6 GB	Low	D30
Q3_K_S	3	2.0 GB	Low	D30
NVFP4	4

Upgrade options

MacBook Pro M4 Max 96GBBudget pick

C141 tok/s decode

~$2,499 MSRP

MacBook Pro M3 Max 128GBBest value

C98.4 tok/s decode

~$2,499 MSRP