Q4_K_M
1.5 GBMin VRAM: 1.7 GB
Recommended VRAM: 2 GB
Min RAM: 3 GB
Context: 8K / 8K
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Share SmolLM3 3B with someone who is deciding what to run locally.
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79% of 981 scanned PCs run SmolLM3 3B fully on GPU.
775 keep at least some work on GPU. Based on anonymous compatibility checks.
General-purpose local model brief
Best for
Consider alternatives if
Quantization tip: Benchmark at least two quantizations and validate with a task-specific eval set before production use.
New to local models? Smaller quantization variants are easier to run, while larger ones can improve quality at the cost of more memory.
Q4_K_M
1.5 GBMin VRAM: 1.7 GB
Recommended VRAM: 2 GB
Min RAM: 3 GB
Context: 8K / 8K
Q5_K_M
1.9 GBMin VRAM: 2.2 GB
Recommended VRAM: 2.5 GB
Min RAM: 3 GB
Context: 8K / 8K
Q8_0
3 GBMin VRAM: 3.5 GB
Recommended VRAM: 3.9 GB
Min RAM: 5 GB
Context: 8K / 8K
FP16
6 GBMin VRAM: 6.9 GB
Recommended VRAM: 7.8 GB
Min RAM: 9 GB
Context: 8K / 8K
| Quantization | File Size | Min VRAM | Recommended VRAM | Min RAM | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4_K_M | 1.5 GB | 1.7 GB | 2 GB | 3 GB | 8K / 8K |
| Q5_K_M | 1.9 GB | 2.2 GB | 2.5 GB | 3 GB | 8K / 8K |
| Q8_0 | 3 GB | 3.5 GB | 3.9 GB | 5 GB | 8K / 8K |
| FP16 | 6 GB | 6.9 GB | 7.8 GB | 9 GB | 8K / 8K |
These GPUs meet the recommended 2 GB VRAM for the Q4_K_M quantization. Estimated speeds are approximate and assume full GPU offloading.
Budget Pick
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB3 GB VRAM · ~102.4 tok/s
Lowest cost that meets recommended VRAM
Check price on AmazonFastest Pick
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 509032 GB VRAM · ~955.7 tok/s
Highest estimated throughput
Check price on AmazonBest Value
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti8 GB VRAM · ~324.3 tok/s
Best speed per dollar of VRAM
Check price on AmazonNeed a detailed comparison? See all GPU rankings for SmolLM3 3B.