Best hardware for Gemma 4 26B-A4B
What runs Gemma 4 26B-A4B well, from the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT up: every tracked GPU and five current Macs graded with engine-estimated speeds and one clear answer per memory size.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B on every tracked GPU
Speeds are engine estimates. Smallest tracked card that fits: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20 GB).
Gemma 4 26B-A4B on current Macs (M5/M6)
| Mac | Memory | Verdict | Est. speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Mini M6 16GB | 16 GB unified memory | No | ~14 tok/s | |
| MacBook Air M5 24GB | 24 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~19 tok/s | |
| MacBook Pro M5 Pro 48GB | 48 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~39 tok/s | |
| MacBook Pro M5 Max 128GB | 128 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~67 tok/s | |
| Mac Studio M5 Ultra 256GB | 256 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~97 tok/s |
Unified memory: the RAM budget (~70-85%) is the limit, not a VRAM wall. Current-gen configs only.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest GPU that runs Gemma 4 26B-A4B well?
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20 GB) is the smallest tracked card where Gemma 4 26B-A4B (Q4_K_M) runs comfortably, with ~60 tok/s estimated.
Does Gemma 4 26B-A4B run on a Mac?
Yes. Gemma 4 26B-A4B runs from the MacBook Air M5 24GB (~19 tok/s est.) up; unified memory means the RAM budget, not a VRAM wall, is the limit. Apple Silicon is often the cheapest path to large models.
What is the fastest way to run Gemma 4 26B-A4B?
The fastest tracked machine for Gemma 4 26B-A4B is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 at ~118 tok/s estimated. Speed is memory-bandwidth-bound, so high-bandwidth cards win.
Cite this page
ModelFit: Best hardware for Gemma 4 26B-A4B (26B, Q4_K_M). https://modelfit.io/best-hardware-for/gemma4-26b-a4b/ (dataset updated 2026-10-13, CC BY 4.0).