Gemma 4 12B IT vs Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic
Side-by-side comparison of VRAM requirements, quantization, context length, and hardware compatibility.
Specifications
| Gemma 4 12B IT | Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic | |
|---|---|---|
| Parameters | 12.0B | 12.0B |
| Context | 262K | 131K |
| Architecture | Gemma4UnifiedForConditionalGeneration | Gemma4UnifiedForConditionalGeneration |
| License | Apache 2.0 | Gemma Terms |
| Downloads | 554.2K | 269 |
| Released | — | Jun 2026 |
VRAM by Quantization: Gemma 4 12B IT vs Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic
| Quantization | Bits | Gemma 4 12B IT VRAM | Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.40 | 6.1 GB | — |
| Q4_K_M | 4.80 | 8.2 GB | 8.2 GB |
| Q6_K | 6.60 | 10.9 GB | — |
| Q8_0 | 8.00 | 13.0 GB | 13.0 GB |
Verdict
Gemma 4 12B IT supports a longer context window (262K tokens). Gemma 4 12B IT is the more widely downloaded of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which needs less VRAM, Gemma 4 12B IT or Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic?
At Q4_K_M, Gemma 4 12B IT needs 8.2 GB and Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic needs 8.2 GB, so Gemma 4 12B IT is the lighter option to run locally.
- Which has a longer context window, Gemma 4 12B IT or Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic?
Gemma 4 12B IT supports 262,144 tokens and Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic supports 131,072 tokens.
- What is the difference between Gemma 4 12B IT and Gemma 4 12B IT Heretic?
Gemma 4 12B IT is a 12.0B 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.