Best hardware for Gemma 4 26B-A4B
26B params, 4B active at Q4_K_M — every tracked GPU and current Mac, graded. Engine estimates, dataset updated 2026-09-03.
Gemma 4 26B-A4B on every tracked GPU
| GPU | Memory | Verdict | Est. speed | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 | 32 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~118 tok/s | 25 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell | 96 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~118 tok/s | 9 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 | 24 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~85 tok/s | 24 / $1k | |
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 24 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~72 tok/s | 103 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 | 24 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~71 tok/s | 79 / $1k | |
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT | 20 GB VRAM | Runs well | ~60 tok/s | 109 / $1k | |
| AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (Strix Halo) | 110 GB unified memory | Runs well | ~24 tok/s | 6 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | 16 GB VRAM | Tight | ~57 tok/s | 37 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 16 GB VRAM | Tight | ~53 tok/s | 46 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER | 16 GB VRAM | Tight | ~48 tok/s | 30 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER | 16 GB VRAM | Tight | ~44 tok/s | 30 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | 12 GB VRAM | Tight | ~36 tok/s | 46 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER | 12 GB VRAM | Tight | ~34 tok/s | 31 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | 12 GB VRAM | Tight | ~32 tok/s | 34 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti | 16 GB VRAM | Tight | ~31 tok/s | 45 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | 12 GB VRAM | Tight | ~26 tok/s | 43 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti | 16 GB VRAM | Tight | ~21 tok/s | 35 / $1k | |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 | 8 GB VRAM | No | ~9 tok/s | — |
Value = est. tok/s per $1,000 at the dated median listing price. Cheapest: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (~$550 used).
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest GPU that runs Gemma 4 26B-A4B well?
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the cheapest tracked card where Gemma 4 26B-A4B (Q4_K_M) runs comfortably — ~60 tok/s estimated, at ~$550 used.
What is the best value GPU for Gemma 4 26B-A4B?
On estimated tokens per dollar, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT leads for Gemma 4 26B-A4B at ~109 tok/s per $1,000 (~$550 used). Prices are dated listing medians.
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 2026-09-03, CC BY 4.0).