VRAMfit guide · updated 2026-06-28
What GPU runs nemotron3?
In short: nemotron3 ships in several sizes, and VRAM scales with the size you pick. At Q4_K_M the small distills run on a single 8-16 GB card, while the full 33B build needs about 20 GB - workstation or multi-GPU territory. Pick the largest size that fits your card comfortably.
How much VRAM does nemotron3 need?
Per size at a 8,192-token context. The last column is the smallest RETAIL card that runs that size comfortably at Q4_K_M (datacenter and Mac options excluded):
| Model | Params | Q4_K_M VRAM | Q8_0 VRAM | Smallest comfortable retail GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nemotron3:33b | 33B | 20.4 GB | 34.9 GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 |
Which size should you run?
The distilled small sizes are the practical local picks - they fit common cards and stay fast. Larger sizes raise quality but quickly exceed a single consumer card, so match the size to your VRAM rather than always reaching for the biggest.
The card to run it on
For a strong, all-in-VRAM experience the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 runs nemotron3:33b comfortably at about 53 tok/s (estimated) at Q4_K_M. Check any other size on the fit board.
Frequently asked questions
How much VRAM does nemotron3 need?
It depends on the size. The small distills fit 8-16 GB cards at Q4_K_M; the full 33B build needs about 20 GB - see the per-size table above.
Can I run nemotron3 on a 24 GB GPU?
Yes for the small and mid sizes at Q4_K_M; the largest size overflows 24 GB and needs offloading or a bigger card.
Does a higher quant need a bigger card?
Yes - Q8_0 roughly doubles the weight memory versus Q4_K_M, so it can push a size up into the next card tier.