Run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF locally
Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF is a mid-size language model with 4.02 billion parameters, built on the qwen3 architecture. It is released under the apache-2.0 license and has been downloaded 397,110 times.
To run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF locally at a 4,096-token context, its quantized versions need between 3.48 GB (Q4_K_M, lowest quality) and 5.14 GB (Q8_0, highest quality) of memory, weights plus KV cache and a system margin included.
For most users the best balance is Q8_0, needing about 5.14 GB. That means Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF fits entirely in the VRAM of a 6 GB GPU or larger, running fully on the GPU.
All quantizations
| Quant. | Bits | Quality | Weights | KV | Total | Speed~ | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4_K_M | 4.97 | Good | 2.33 GB | 0.35 GB | 3.48 GB | 172.0 t/s | Fits in VRAM |
| Q5_0 | 5.62 | Very good | 2.63 GB | 0.35 GB | 3.78 GB | 152.1 t/s | Fits in VRAM |
| Q5_K_M | 5.75 | Very good | 2.69 GB | 0.35 GB | 3.84 GB | 148.6 t/s | Fits in VRAM |
| Q6_K | 6.58 | Excellent | 3.08 GB | 0.35 GB | 4.23 GB | 129.9 t/s | Fits in VRAM |
| Q8_0 | 8.51 | Excellent | 3.99 GB | 0.35 GB | 5.14 GB | 100.3 t/s | Fits in VRAM |
KV cache computed from the model's exact architecture. Speed is a rough estimate bounded by memory bandwidth.
Frequently asked questions
How much VRAM do you need to run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF?
You need about 5.14 GB of VRAM to run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF entirely on the GPU using the Q8_0 quantization (at a 4,096-token context). Smaller quantizations lower the requirement at the cost of quality.
Can I run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF on an 8 GB GPU?
Yes. With 8 GB of VRAM you can run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF fully on the GPU using Q8_0 (about 5.14 GB).
Can I run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF on a 16 GB GPU?
Yes. With 16 GB of VRAM you can run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF fully on the GPU using Q8_0 (about 5.14 GB).
Can I run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF on a 24 GB GPU?
Yes. With 24 GB of VRAM you can run Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF fully on the GPU using Q8_0 (about 5.14 GB).
What is the best quantization for Qwen/Qwen3-4B-GGUF?
If memory allows, higher bits-per-weight means better quality. A common sweet spot is a Q4_K_M or Q5_K_M quantization, which keeps most of the quality while roughly halving the memory versus 8-bit. Pick the highest quantization that still fits in your VRAM.