Gemma 3 1B IT vs Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic
Side-by-side comparison of VRAM requirements, quantization, context length, and hardware compatibility.
Specifications
| Gemma 3 1B IT | Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic | |
|---|---|---|
| Parameters | 1000M | 12.0B |
| Context | 33K | 131K |
| Architecture | — | Gemma4UnifiedForConditionalGeneration |
| License | Gemma Terms | Gemma Terms |
| Downloads | 1.8M | 269 |
| Released | Apr 2025 | Jun 2026 |
VRAM by Quantization: Gemma 3 1B IT vs Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic
| Quantization | Bits | Gemma 3 1B IT VRAM | Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.40 | 0.5 GB | 6.1 GB |
| Q3_K_M | 3.90 | 0.5 GB | 6.9 GB |
| Q3_K_S | 3.50 | 0.5 GB | — |
| Q4_0 | 4.00 | 0.6 GB | — |
| Q4_K_M | 4.80 | 0.7 GB | 8.2 GB |
| Q5_K_M | 5.70 | 0.8 GB | 9.6 GB |
| Q6_K | 6.60 | 0.9 GB | 10.9 GB |
| Q8_0 | 8.00 | 1.1 GB | 13.0 GB |
Verdict
Gemma 3 1B IT needs less VRAM at Q4_K_M (0.7 GB vs 8.2 GB), so it fits on smaller GPUs. Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic supports a longer context window (131K tokens). Gemma 3 1B IT is the more widely downloaded of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which needs less VRAM, Gemma 3 1B IT or Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic?
At Q4_K_M, Gemma 3 1B IT needs 0.7 GB and Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic needs 8.2 GB, so Gemma 3 1B IT is the lighter option to run locally.
- Which has a longer context window, Gemma 3 1B IT or Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic?
Gemma 3 1B IT supports 32,768 tokens and Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic supports 131,072 tokens.
- What is the difference between Gemma 3 1B IT and Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic?
Gemma 3 1B IT is a 1000M model from Google (Gemma family), while Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic is a 12.0B model from igorls (Gemma family). Compare their VRAM requirements above to see which fits your GPU or Mac.