32 GB VRAM · Q4 native Amazon
RTX 5090
Pros
- Runs Phi-3 Medium at Q4 natively
- 32 GB VRAM — adequate headroom
Local Engine Ready
Phi-3 Medium
39 consumer GPUs can run Phi-3 Medium at Q4 natively. Precise VRAM thresholds and benchmarks below.
39 Compatible GPUs
1 with offloading
14B params
128K context
Top pick
RTX 5090 · 32 GB VRAM runs Q4 natively
Prices and availability may change · affiliate link
Javier Morales AI hardware specialist — 8 years of experience
GitHub: github.com/javier-morales-ia
llama.cpp 0.2.x · CUDA 12 · ROCm 6 · updated monthly · methodology →
Execution Context
ARCHITECTURE TRANSFORMER
CONTEXT 128K TOKENS
QUANTIZATION 4-BIT GGUF
PROVIDER Microsoft
LICENSE MIT
VRAM REQUIREMENT
8 GB
4GB 8GB 12GB 16GB 24GB+
Hardware Decision
This model requires aEntry GPU (8 GB VRAM)
Compatible GPUs for Phi-3 Medium
Best picks by compatibility, VRAM headroom, and value — prices and availability may change.
24 GB VRAM · Q4 native Amazon
RTX 4090
Pros
- Runs Phi-3 Medium at Q4 natively
- 24 GB VRAM — adequate headroom
128 GB VRAM · Q4 native Amazon
M4 Ultra
Pros
- Runs Phi-3 Medium at Q4 natively
- 128 GB VRAM — adequate headroom
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How to run this model
Check if your GPU can run Phi-3 Medium →
VRAM Calculator — instant compatibility check
RTX 5090
32 GB · Runs Q4 natively · Check availability
*Prices and availability may change. Some links are affiliate links.
System Requirements
GPU VRAM 8 GB Entry GPU
System RAM 16 GB
DDR4/DDR5
Storage 8 GB Q4 · SSD recommended
CPU Any modern CPU GPU required
VRAM by Quantization
| Quantization | VRAM needed | Disk space | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP16 (max quality) | 28 GB | 28 GB | Maximum |
| Q8 (high quality) | 14 GB | 14 GB | Near-lossless |
| Q4 (recommended) Best balance | 8 GB | 8 GB | Recommended |
| Q2 (minimum) | 4.5 GB | 4.3 GB | Quality loss |
Model Details
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Parameters | 14B |
| Context window | 128,000 tokens |
| License | MIT |
| Use cases | chat, coding, reasoning, analysis |
| Released | 2024-04 |
Install with Ollama
ollama run phi3:medium Hugging Face
microsoft/Phi-3-medium-128k-instruct Technical Requirements
Can your GPU run Phi-3 Medium?
Phi-3 Medium requires <strong class="text-primary-container">8 GB VRAM</strong> at Q4. 39 consumer GPUs meet this threshold. Below 8 GB or 6 GB you'll hit significant offload latency.
4.5GB Critical min
8GB Optimal Q4
14GB High Quality Q8
28GB Max FP16
Hardware Performance Matrix
39 Q4 native · 1 offload
Recommended GPUs for Phi-3 Medium
Real Benchmarks
No Paid Reviews
Editorial Pick
Data-driven
Best picks by compatibility, VRAM headroom, and value — prices and availability may change.
RTX 5090
32 GB VRAM
Q4 native
Check availability →
RTX 4090
24 GB VRAM
Q4 native
Check availability →
M4 Ultra
128 GB VRAM
Q4 native
Check availability →
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Phi-3 Medium — Compatibility guide
Phi-3 Medium needs intermediate hardware or Q4 quantization to run on consumer GPUs. With 8 GB VRAM you get the best quality. Use the VRAM calculator to see which quantization your GPU supports.
Compare GPUs for Phi-3 Medium
Which GPU is worth it? Real specs and benchmarks side by side.
Compatible Hardware
GPUs that run Phi-3 Medium at Q4 — sorted by AI performance score.
Real Benchmarks
No Paid Reviews
Data-driven
Some links are Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon cookies may last up to 24 hours after your click.
More Practical Alternatives
Similar models in the chat category with comparable VRAM footprints.
Not sure which GPU you need for Phi-3 Medium?
The VRAM Calculator tells you exactly which quantization your hardware can handle.
RTX 5090
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