← Can It Run? — GPU compatibility matrix · Local LLMs guide
Gemma 2 27B needs 16 GB VRAM at Q4. The RTX 4070 12GB has 12 GB.
💎 Gemma 2 27B (Google) is a 27B-parameter model for high-quality chat, reasoning, analysis. Best quality under 24GB at Q4 — punches above its weight. The question is whether the RTX 4070 12GB’s 12 GB of VRAM can hold it — here’s the exact math.
VRAM requirements
| Quantization | VRAM needed | RTX 4070 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Q4_K_M (recommended) | 16 GB | ❌ |
| Q8_0 (near-lossless) | 28 GB | ❌ |
Why it won’t fit (and what to do)
Gemma 2 27B needs 16 GB at Q4 but the RTX 4070 12GB has only 12 GB — you’re 4 GB short. You can offload layers to system RAM, but expect single-digit tokens/sec (painfully slow for chat).
About the RTX 4070 12GB
Architecture: Ada · VRAM: 12 GB · Price: ~$550.
Good: Efficient, quiet, good speed for 7-14B models
Watch out: 12GB ceiling — no headroom for 27B+ at usable quant
Check current RTX 4070 12GB price on Amazon →
Related checks
Other models on the RTX 4070 12GB
🎯 LLM Hardware Checker
Enter your exact GPU + RAM, see every model you can run.
💾 VRAM Requirements
Exact VRAM per model at Q4/Q5/Q8/FP16 with context scaling.
Frequently asked questions
Can the RTX 4070 12GB run Gemma 2 27B?
No — not enough VRAM without CPU offloading. Gemma 2 27B needs 16 GB VRAM at Q4_K_M; the RTX 4070 12GB has 12 GB.
How much VRAM does Gemma 2 27B need?
Gemma 2 27B needs about 16 GB at Q4_K_M (recommended) and 28 GB at Q8_0.
How many tokens per second will the RTX 4070 12GB get on Gemma 2 27B?
It won't fit in VRAM; with CPU offloading expect very slow single-digit tokens/sec.