Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct requirements — can you run it?
~4.0B parameters · 26 quantizations measured · updated 2025-10-31 · source: unsloth/Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct-GGUF
# llama.cpp (auto-downloads the GGUF) llama-cli -hf unsloth/Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct-GGUF:UD-IQ2_XXS # Ollama (pulls straight from Hugging Face) ollama run hf.co/unsloth/Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct-GGUF:UD-IQ2_XXS # LM Studio: search "unsloth/Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct-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-IQ1_S | 1.1 GB | 2.8 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-IQ1_M | 1.1 GB | 2.9 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-IQ2_XXS | 1.3 GB | 3.0 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-IQ2_M | 1.5 GB | 3.3 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q2_K | 1.7 GB | 3.5 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q2_K_L | 1.7 GB | 3.5 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-IQ3_XXS | 1.7 GB | 3.5 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-Q2_K_XL | 1.7 GB | 3.5 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q3_K_S | 1.9 GB | 3.8 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q3_K_M | 2.1 GB | 4.0 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-Q3_K_XL | 2.1 GB | 4.1 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| IQ4_XS | 2.3 GB | 4.2 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q4_0 | 2.4 GB | 4.4 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| IQ4_NL | 2.4 GB | 4.4 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q4_K_S | 2.4 GB | 4.4 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q4_K_M | 2.5 GB | 4.5 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-Q4_K_XL | 2.5 GB | 4.6 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q4_1 | 2.6 GB | 4.6 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q5_K_S | 2.8 GB | 4.9 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q5_K_M | 2.9 GB | 5.0 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-Q5_K_XL | 2.9 GB | 5.0 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q6_K | 3.3 GB | 5.5 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-Q6_K_XL | 3.7 GB | 5.9 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| Q8_0 | 4.3 GB | 6.6 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| UD-Q8_K_XL | 5.1 GB | 7.6 GB | RTX 3060 12GB |
| BF16 | 8.1 GB | 11.2 GB | RTX 4060 Ti 16GB |
KV cache uses a flat +20% context/overhead rule because this repo does not publish its config; exact numbers may differ for long contexts. 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 Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct on my GPU? (UD-IQ2_XXS recommended quant)
| Hardware | Memory | Verdict | Est. speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 12GB | 12 GB | RUNS | ~215 tok/s |
| RTX 4060 Ti 16GB | 16 GB | RUNS | ~172 tok/s |
| RTX 3090 24GB | 24 GB | RUNS | ~559 tok/s |
| RTX 4090 24GB | 24 GB | RUNS | ~602 tok/s |
| RTX 5090 32GB | 32 GB | RUNS | ~1071 tok/s |
| RTX PRO 6000 96GB | 96 GB | RUNS | ~1071 tok/s |
| Mac 16GB unified | 16 GB | RUNS | ~60 tok/s |
| Mac 32GB unified | 32 GB | RUNS | ~90 tok/s |
| Mac 64GB unified | 64 GB | RUNS | ~163 tok/s |
| Mac 128GB unified | 128 GB | RUNS | ~239 tok/s |
| Mac 256GB unified | 256 GB | RUNS | ~326 tok/s |
| Mac 512GB unified | 512 GB | RUNS | ~489 tok/s |
| 32GB system RAM (CPU) | 32 GB | RUNS | ~30 tok/s |
| 64GB system RAM (CPU) | 64 GB | RUNS | ~30 tok/s |
| 128GB system RAM (CPU) | 128 GB | RUNS | ~48 tok/s |
| 256GB system RAM (CPU) | 256 GB | RUNS | ~48 tok/s |
| 1TB server RAM (CPU) | 1024 GB | RUNS | ~119 tok/s |
| 2TB server RAM (CPU) | 2048 GB | RUNS | ~119 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 Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct need?
The honest answer: 3.0 GB at the UD-IQ2_XXS quant with 8K context — that is the measured
file size (1.3 GB) plus KV cache and runtime overhead. The smallest published build needs
2.8 GB; the lossless one needs 11.2 GB.
Cheapest hardware that runs it: Used RTX 3070 8GB (~$220, 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 Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct need?
The measured answer: 3.0 GB at the UD-IQ2_XXS quant with 8K context. The smallest published build needs 2.8 GB; the lossless (F16/BF16) build needs 11.2 GB. These are real GGUF file sizes from Hugging Face, not formula estimates.
Can I run Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct on a 24GB GPU (RTX 3090/4090)?
Yes — at UD-IQ2_XXS (3.0 GB). Quants that fit 24GB: UD-IQ1_S, UD-IQ1_M, UD-IQ2_XXS, UD-IQ2_M, Q2_K, Q2_K_L, UD-IQ3_XXS, UD-Q2_K_XL, Q3_K_S, Q3_K_M, UD-Q3_K_XL, IQ4_XS, Q4_0, IQ4_NL, Q4_K_S, Q4_K_M, UD-Q4_K_XL, Q4_1, Q5_K_S, Q5_K_M, UD-Q5_K_XL, Q6_K, UD-Q6_K_XL, Q8_0, UD-Q8_K_XL, BF16.
How fast will Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct run?
Decode speed is memory-bandwidth-bound. At UD-IQ2_XXS: roughly 602 tok/s on an RTX 4090, 559 tok/s on an RTX 3090, 239 tok/s on an M-series Mac with 128GB, and 29.9 tok/s on CPU with dual-channel DDR4 — estimates from measured file size, MoE active-parameter share and memory bandwidth.
Can I run Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct on CPU with system RAM?
Yes, if your usable RAM is at least the file size. At UD-IQ2_XXS you need ~3.0 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 Qwen3-VL-4B-Instruct 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.