Hardware → models
RTX 4060 8 GB
Start with Qwen3 8B at Q4_K_M for general chat. For a coding-focused option, try Qwen2.5-Coder 7B.
Models to start with
Planning estimates8 GB dedicated VRAM · 4,000 tokens · 32 GB system RAM · full GPU residency
| Model / starting file | Why consider it | GPU memory estimate | Memory left¹ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qwen3 8BQ4_K_M | General chat and mixed tasksA middle-sized option with more memory headroom than the 14B models. | 6.2 GB | 1.6 GB |
| Qwen2.5-Coder 7BQ4_K_M | Coding with a smaller memory budgetA coding-focused model. Run and review generated code before using it. | 5.8 GB | 2.0 GB |
| Llama 3.2 3B InstructQ4_K_M | Small text assistantA smaller weight footprint. Check the exact Llama checkpoint and licence. | 3.7 GB | 4.1 GB |
From the published model guides here; the Finder covers the full catalogue. ¹ Memory left after the Finder’s reserve. Other applications can use this space. Larger models and higher precision do not guarantee better answers.
Keep context modest on this card. The 14B models above this tier do not fit the selected full-GPU profile. CPU offloading changes the memory allocation and may slow generation.
Setup and common questions
Which RTX 4060 does this page cover?
The desktop RTX 4060 has 8 GB of GDDR6. Laptop models and the 4060 Ti are separate products. Select your exact card in the Finder.
What should I check on my first run?
Use a working NVIDIA backend, one model and 4K context. Confirm GPU offload and watch memory during generation. Keep the file, prompt and thinking mode fixed when comparing runs.
What if I need more memory?
Close other GPU workloads or lower context first. CPU offload changes the fit and speed. Compare the 12 GB RTX 3060 or 16 GB RTX 4060 Ti for capacity; gaming results do not measure LLM throughput.
How are these recommendations chosen?
We use the main Finder’s balanced task selection and memory calculation, limited to models with published guides here. Task scores and speed proxies are planning inputs, not measured quality rankings.
GPU memory includes weights, context cache and a 0.9 GB runtime allowance, plus a 3% reserve (0.15–1.5 GB). Cache format and runtime buffers can change the fit. See the calculation assumptions.
Sources and related guides
Specification sources checked 2 October 2026.
These comparisons are planning estimates. No reviewed or independently reproduced measurements are available yet. About test evidence.