Would CUDA be a better path than Gaudi 3 128GB for Gemma 4 26B A4B?

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 4 26B A4B run on Gaudi 3 128GB?

Q: What should I upgrade first if Gemma 4 26B A4B feels slow on Gaudi 3 128GB?

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

A82Great

Estimated from fit model

Gemma 4 26B A4B needs ~32.7 GB VRAM. Gaudi 3 128GB has 128.0 GB. With Q4_K_M quantization, expect ~401 tok/s.

Runtime: llama.cppCapacity: RoomyBandwidth: HighStack: 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) — 32.7 GB, 420.6 tok/s, Runs well

32.7 GB required128.0 GB available

26% VRAM used

Fit status

Runs well

Decode

420.6 tok/s

TTFT

460 ms

Safe context

256K

Memory

32.7 GB / 128.0 GB

Memory breakdown

Weights15.4 GB

KV Cache3.7 GB

Runtime0.9 GB

Headroom12.8 GB

See how fast it feels

See how fast it feelsGemma 4 26B A4B on Gaudi 3 128GB
1st promptCold start — includes initialization
>Write a Python function to sort a list
Here's a Python function that sorts a list using quicksort:

def quicksort(arr):
    if len(arr) <= 1:
        return arr
    pivot = arr[len(arr) // 2]
    left   = [x for x in arr if x < pivot]
    middle = [x for x in arr if x == pivot]
    right  = [x for x in arr if x > pivot]
    return quicksort(left) + middle + quicksort(right)

# Example usage
numbers = [3, 6, 8, 10, 1, 2, 1]
print(quicksort(numbers))  # [1, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10]

The algorithm picks a pivot, partitions the list into smaller, equal, and larger elements, then recursively sorts each partition and concatenates the results.
2nd promptWarm — model ready, no init overhead
>Now add type hints and a docstring
def quicksort(arr: list[int]) -> list[int]:
    """Sort a list using the quicksort algorithm.

    Args:
        arr: List of integers to sort.

    Returns:
        A new sorted list.
    """
    if len(arr) <= 1:
        return arr
    pivot = arr[len(arr) // 2]
    left   = [x for x in arr if x < pivot]
    middle = [x for x in arr if x == pivot]
    right  = [x for x in arr if x > pivot]
    return quicksort(left) + middle + quicksort(right)

Added type hints for the input and return type, plus a Google-style docstring.
Estimated: 420.6 tok/s decode · 460ms TTFT (warm) · 1052 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	A	Runs well	420.6 tok/s	350 ms	256K
Coding	A	Runs well	400.6 tok/s	483 ms	256K
Agentic Coding	A	Runs well	420.6 tok/s	670 ms	256K
Reasoning	A	Runs well	420.6 tok/s	544 ms	256K
RAG	A	Runs well	420.6 tok/s	837 ms	256K

Quantization options

How Gemma 4 26B A4B (25.200000762939453B params) fits at each quantization level on Gaudi 3 128GB (128.0 GB usable).

Quant	Bits	VRAM	Quality	Fit
Q2_K	2	9.8 GB	Low	A73
Q3_K_S	3	12.3 GB	Low	A74
NVFP4	4

Get started

Copy-paste commands to run Gemma 4 26B A4B on your machine.

Run

ollama run gemma4:26b

Your hardware

More models your Gaudi 3 128GB can run

Model	Params	Grade	Decode	Capabilities
Devstral 2 123B Instruct	123B	S	37.5 tok/s
Qwen3-Coder 30B A3B Instruct	30.5B	S

Frequently asked questions

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Gemma 4 26B A4B?

Yes, Gaudi 3 128GB can run Gemma 4 26B A4B with a A grade (Runs well). Expected decode speed: 400.6 tok/s.

How much VRAM does Gemma 4 26B A4B need?

Gemma 4 26B A4B (25.200000762939453B parameters) requires approximately 32.7 GB of memory with Q4_K_M quantization.

What is the best quantization for Gemma 4 26B A4B?

The recommended quantization for Gemma 4 26B A4B is Q4_K_M, which balances quality and memory efficiency.

What speed will Gemma 4 26B A4B run at on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Gemma 4 26B A4B achieves approximately 400.6 tokens per second decode speed with a time-to-first-token of 483ms using Q4_K_M quantization.

Can Gaudi 3 128GB run Gemma 4 26B A4B for coding?

For coding workloads, Gemma 4 26B A4B on Gaudi 3 128GB receives a A grade with 400.6 tok/s and 256K context.

What context window can Gemma 4 26B A4B use on Gaudi 3 128GB?

On Gaudi 3 128GB, Gemma 4 26B A4B can safely use up to 256K tokens of context. The model's official context limit is 256K, but available memory constrains the safe maximum.

What should I upgrade first if Gemma 4 26B A4B feels slow on Gaudi 3 128GB?

See all results for Gaudi 3 128GB See all hardware for Gemma 4 26B A4B

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