Gemma 3 12B IT vs Gemma 3 270M IT
Side-by-side comparison of VRAM requirements, quantization, context length, and hardware compatibility.
Specifications
| Gemma 3 12B IT | Gemma 3 270M IT | |
|---|---|---|
| Parameters | 12.2B | 268M |
| Context | 33K | — |
| Architecture | — | — |
| License | Gemma Terms | Gemma Terms |
| Downloads | 3.0M | 138.2K |
| Released | — | — |
VRAM by Quantization: Gemma 3 12B IT vs Gemma 3 270M IT
| Quantization | Bits | Gemma 3 12B IT VRAM | Gemma 3 270M IT VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.40 | 5.7 GB | 0.1 GB |
| Q3_K_M | 3.90 | 6.5 GB | 0.1 GB |
| Q3_K_S | 3.50 | 5.9 GB | 0.1 GB |
| Q4_0 | 4.00 | 6.7 GB | 0.1 GB |
| Q4_K_M | 4.80 | 8.0 GB | 0.2 GB |
| Q5_K_M | 5.70 | 9.6 GB | 0.2 GB |
| Q6_K | 6.60 | 11.1 GB | 0.2 GB |
| Q8_0 | 8.00 | — | 0.3 GB |
Verdict
Gemma 3 270M IT needs less VRAM at Q4_K_M (0.2 GB vs 8.0 GB), so it fits on smaller GPUs. Gemma 3 12B IT is the more widely downloaded of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which needs less VRAM, Gemma 3 12B IT or Gemma 3 270M IT?
At Q4_K_M, Gemma 3 12B IT needs 8.0 GB and Gemma 3 270M IT needs 0.2 GB, so Gemma 3 270M IT is the lighter option to run locally.
- What is the difference between Gemma 3 12B IT and Gemma 3 270M IT?
Gemma 3 12B IT is a 12.2B model from Google (Gemma family), while Gemma 3 270M IT is a 268M model from Google (Gemma family). Compare their VRAM requirements above to see which fits your GPU or Mac.