Would CUDA be a better path than Intel Arc A770 16GB for Gemma 3 4B?

Often yes, if your goal is the easiest setup and the widest runtime support. Intel can offer attractive memory capacity, but CUDA still tends to win on tooling maturity, guides, kernels, and model coverage for local AI.

Can Gemma 3 4B run on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

Q: What should I upgrade first if Gemma 3 4B feels slow on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

Prefer CUDA if you want the path of least resistance. If your goal is maximum runtime coverage, easier troubleshooting, and better support for new local AI releases, CUDA is usually still the safer upgrade path.

YES — Runs Great

A71Great

Estimated from fit model

Gemma 3 4B needs ~7.0 GB VRAM. Intel Arc A770 16GB has 16.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~56 tok/s.

Runtime: llama.cppCapacity: RoomyBandwidth: MediumStack: StandardBottleneck: Balanced

Operating mode

Choose the run profile you care about

Interactive favors responsiveness, while light API and scale-out lean harder on serving readiness. The fit stays the same, but the recommendation lens changes.

Current mode

Balanced

Balanced for general local use. Keeps the ranking neutral across personal and serving workflows.

Capabilities:

Select quantization to explore

Q4_K_M (Medium quality) — 7.0 GB, 56.0 tok/s, Runs well

7.0 GB required16.0 GB available

44% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

56.0 tok/s

TTFT

3457 ms

Safe context

85K

Memory

7.0 GB / 16.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights2.4 GB

KV Cache2.1 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom1.6 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsGemma 3 4B on Intel Arc A770 16GB
1st promptCold start — includes initialization
>Solve: If a train travels at 60 mph for 2.5 hours, how far does it go?
Let me work through this step by step.

Given information:
  - Speed = 60 mph (miles per hour)
  - Time  = 2.5 hours

Formula: Distance = Speed x Time

Calculation:
  Distance = 60 mph x 2.5 h
           = 150 miles

The train travels 150 miles.

Double-check: at 60 mph the train covers 60 miles each hour. In half an hour it covers 30 miles. So in 2.5 hours: 60 + 60 + 30 = 150 miles. Confirmed.
2nd promptWarm — model ready, no init overhead
>What if the train stops for 20 minutes halfway?
The stop doesn't change the total distance covered while moving, but it affects total trip time.

Breakdown:
  - First half: 1.25 hours at 60 mph = 75 miles
  - Stop: 20 minutes (no distance)
  - Second half: 1.25 hours at 60 mph = 75 miles

Total distance: 150 miles (same)
Total time: 2.5 h + 0.33 h = 2.83 hours
Average speed: 150 / 2.83 = 53 mph

The distance stays the same but average speed drops to 53 mph because of the stop.
Estimated: 56.0 tok/s decode · 3.5s TTFT (warm) · 140 tok/s prefill

What limits this setup

The raw memory story may look fine, but the software ecosystem is still a constraint here.

Runtime ecosystem is narrower than CUDA

Intel GPUs can look attractive on memory per dollar, but local AI tooling, kernels, and model coverage are still broader and easier on CUDA today.

Best improvement path

Prefer CUDA if you want the path of least resistance

If your goal is maximum runtime coverage, easier troubleshooting, and better support for new local AI releases, CUDA is usually still the safer upgrade path.

Performance by workload

Workload	Grade	Fit	Decode	TTFT	Context
Chat	B	Runs well	56.0 tok/s	1886 ms	85K
Coding	A	Runs well	56.0 tok/s	3457 ms	85K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs well	56.0 tok/s	5029 ms	85K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	56.0 tok/s	4086 ms	85K
RAG	A	Runs well	56.0 tok/s	6286 ms	85K

Quantization options

How Gemma 3 4B (4B params) fits at each quantization level on Intel Arc A770 16GB (16.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	1.6 GB	Low	B67
Q3_K_S	3	2.0 GB	Low	B67
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Gemma 3 4B on your machine.

Run

ollama run gemma3:4b

Your hardware

More models your Intel Arc A770 16GB can run

Model	Params	Grade	Decode	Capabilities
Qwen 3.5 9B	9B	S	49.3 tok/s
Qwen 3 14B	14B	S	31.9 tok/s

Frequently asked questions

Can Intel Arc A770 16GB run Gemma 3 4B?

Yes, Intel Arc A770 16GB can run Gemma 3 4B with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 56.0 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Gemma 3 4B need?

Gemma 3 4B (4B parameters) requires approximately 7.0 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Gemma 3 4B?

The recommended quantization for Gemma 3 4B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Gemma 3 4B run at on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

On Intel Arc A770 16GB, Gemma 3 4B achieves approximately 56.0 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 3457ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Intel Arc A770 16GB run Gemma 3 4B for coding?

For coding workloads, Gemma 3 4B on Intel Arc A770 16GB receives a A grade with 56.0 tok/s and 85K context.

What context window can Gemma 3 4B use on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

On Intel Arc A770 16GB, Gemma 3 4B can safely use up to 85K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 128K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if Gemma 3 4B feels slow on Intel Arc A770 16GB?

See all results for Intel Arc A770 16GB See all hardware for Gemma 3 4B

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