gemma-4-26B-A4B-it requirements — can you run it?
~25.3B parameters · 20 quantizations measured · updated 2026-07-17 · source: unsloth/gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-GGUF
# llama.cpp (auto-downloads the GGUF) llama-cli -hf unsloth/gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-GGUF:UD-IQ2_XXS # Ollama (pulls straight from Hugging Face) ollama run hf.co/unsloth/gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-GGUF:UD-IQ2_XXS # LM Studio: search "unsloth/gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-GGUF" in the model browser
Commands load the exact quant measured on this page.
Every quantization: real file size vs what you actually need
| Quant | File (measured) | VRAM/RAM needed (8K ctx) | Runs on (first fit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD-IQ2_XXS | 9.9 GB | 12.9 GB | RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
| UD-IQ2_M | 10.0 GB | 13.0 GB | RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
| UD-Q2_K_XL | 10.5 GB | 13.6 GB | RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
| UD-IQ3_S | 11.3 GB | 14.3 GB | RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
| UD-IQ3_XXS | 11.4 GB | 14.4 GB | RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
| UD-Q3_K_M | 12.7 GB | 15.8 GB | RTX 3090 24GB |
| UD-Q3_K_XL | 12.9 GB | 16.0 GB | RTX 3090 24GB |
| UD-IQ4_XS | 13.6 GB | 16.7 GB | RTX 3090 24GB |
| UD-IQ4_NL | 13.6 GB | 16.7 GB | RTX 3090 24GB |
| UD-Q4_K_S | 16.5 GB | 19.8 GB | RTX 3090 24GB |
| UD-Q4_K_M | 16.9 GB | 20.3 GB | RTX 3090 24GB |
| UD-Q4_K_XL | 17.0 GB | 20.4 GB | RTX 3090 24GB |
| UD-Q5_K_S | 18.9 GB | 22.4 GB | RTX 5090 32GB |
| UD-Q5_K_M | 21.2 GB | 24.9 GB | RTX 5090 32GB |
| UD-Q5_K_XL | 21.2 GB | 24.9 GB | RTX 5090 32GB |
| UD-Q6_K | 23.2 GB | 27.0 GB | RTX 5090 32GB |
| UD-Q6_K_XL | 23.3 GB | 27.2 GB | RTX 5090 32GB |
| Q8_0 | 26.9 GB | 31.0 GB | RTX PRO 6000 96GB |
| UD-Q8_K_XL | 27.6 GB | 31.9 GB | RTX PRO 6000 96GB |
| BF16 | 50.5 GB | 56.6 GB | RTX PRO 6000 96GB |
KV cache computed exactly from the model config (GQA formula, 8K context). MoE models keep all experts in memory — total size counts, not just active params. Longer context grows the KV cache — use the selector above.
Can I run gemma-4-26B-A4B-it on my GPU? (UD-IQ2_XXS recommended quant)
| Hardware | Memory | Verdict | Est. speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 12GB | 12 GB | no | |
| RTX 4060 Ti 16GB | 16 GB | RUNS | ~22 tok/s |
| RTX 3090 24GB | 24 GB | RUNS | ~71 tok/s |
| RTX 4090 24GB | 24 GB | RUNS | ~76 tok/s |
| RTX 5090 32GB | 32 GB | RUNS | ~135 tok/s |
| RTX PRO 6000 96GB | 96 GB | RUNS | ~135 tok/s |
| Mac 16GB unified | 16 GB | RUNS | ~8 tok/s |
| Mac 32GB unified | 32 GB | RUNS | ~11 tok/s |
| Mac 64GB unified | 64 GB | RUNS | ~21 tok/s |
| Mac 128GB unified | 128 GB | RUNS | ~30 tok/s |
| Mac 256GB unified | 256 GB | RUNS | ~41 tok/s |
| Mac 512GB unified | 512 GB | RUNS | ~62 tok/s |
| 32GB system RAM (CPU) | 32 GB | RUNS | ~4 tok/s |
| 64GB system RAM (CPU) | 64 GB | RUNS | ~4 tok/s |
| 128GB system RAM (CPU) | 128 GB | RUNS | ~6 tok/s |
| 256GB system RAM (CPU) | 256 GB | RUNS | ~6 tok/s |
| 1TB server RAM (CPU) | 1024 GB | RUNS | ~15 tok/s |
| 2TB server RAM (CPU) | 2048 GB | RUNS | ~15 tok/s |
Speed = decode tok/s estimated from memory bandwidth ÷ measured file size (× MoE active share). Real numbers vary ±30% by runtime and settings.
How much VRAM does gemma-4-26B-A4B-it need?
The honest answer: 12.9 GB at the UD-IQ2_XXS quant with 8K context — that is the measured
file size (9.9 GB) plus KV cache and runtime overhead. The smallest published build needs
12.9 GB; the lossless one needs 56.6 GB.
Cheapest hardware that runs it: New RTX 4060 Ti 16GB (~$420, used market) — see which GPU to buy.
Can I run it with CPU offload?
Yes, if combined RAM+VRAM ≥ file size — but generation speed is limited by memory bandwidth. Expect roughly: DDR5 dual channel ~10-30 tok/s for small MoE actives, single digits for big ones, 0.1-1 tok/s when experts page from disk. CPU-only is fine for batch jobs, painful for chat.
Why do other sites show different numbers?
Most pages compute weights from a formula (params × bits/8). We use the actual file sizes published in GGUF repos, which include the embedding table, unquantized tensors, and container overhead — that is why our numbers can differ from a naive calculation.
FAQ
How much VRAM does gemma-4-26B-A4B-it need?
The measured answer: 12.9 GB at the UD-IQ2_XXS quant with 8K context. The smallest published build needs 12.9 GB; the lossless (F16/BF16) build needs 56.6 GB. These are real GGUF file sizes from Hugging Face, not formula estimates.
Can I run gemma-4-26B-A4B-it on a 24GB GPU (RTX 3090/4090)?
Yes — at UD-IQ2_XXS (12.9 GB). Quants that fit 24GB: UD-IQ2_XXS, UD-IQ2_M, UD-Q2_K_XL, UD-IQ3_S, UD-IQ3_XXS, UD-Q3_K_M, UD-Q3_K_XL, UD-IQ4_XS, UD-IQ4_NL, UD-Q4_K_S, UD-Q4_K_M, UD-Q4_K_XL, UD-Q5_K_S.
How fast will gemma-4-26B-A4B-it run?
Decode speed is memory-bandwidth-bound. At UD-IQ2_XXS: roughly 76 tok/s on an RTX 4090, 71 tok/s on an RTX 3090, 30 tok/s on an M-series Mac with 128GB, and 3.8 tok/s on CPU with dual-channel DDR4 — estimates from measured file size, MoE active-parameter share and memory bandwidth.
Can I run gemma-4-26B-A4B-it on CPU with system RAM?
Yes, if your usable RAM is at least the file size. At UD-IQ2_XXS you need ~12.9 GB of RAM. CPU generation is memory-bandwidth-bound: expect single-digit tok/s for large MoE models, 10-30 tok/s for small active params, and below 1 tok/s when experts page from disk.
Why do VRAM numbers for gemma-4-26B-A4B-it differ between sites?
Most sites compute weights from a formula (params x bits/8). ModelFit uses the actual GGUF file sizes published on Hugging Face, which include the embedding table, unquantized tensors, and container overhead — so our numbers reflect what you really download and load.