IBM · granite
Can I run granite3-dense?
The IBM Granite 2B and 8B models are designed to support tool-based use cases and support for retrieval augmented generation (RAG), streamlining code generation, translation and bug fixing.
2.6B parameters4K contexttextApache License12 builds
granite3-dense system requirements
Memory needed at 4K context, counting model weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead. Download sizes come from the official Ollama registry.
| Build | Quantization | Download | Memory needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| granite3-dense:2b-instruct-q4_0 | Q4_0 | 1.4 GB | ~2.4 GB(est.) |
| granite3-dense:2b | Q4_K_M | 1.5 GB | ~2.5 GB(est.) |
| granite3-dense:2b-instruct-q5_K_M | Q5_K_M | 1.7 GB | ~2.9 GB(est.) |
| granite3-dense:2b-instruct-q6_K | Q6_K | 2.0 GB | ~3.3 GB(est.) |
| granite3-dense:2b-instruct-q8_0 | Q8_0 | 2.6 GB | ~4.1 GB(est.) |
| granite3-dense:8b-instruct-q4_0 | Q4_0 | 4.3 GB | ~6.6 GB(est.) |
| granite3-dense:8b | Q4_K_M | 4.6 GB | ~7.0 GB(est.) |
| granite3-dense:2b-instruct-fp16 | F16 | 4.9 GB | ~7.4 GB(est.) |
Figures marked (est.) approximate the KV cache because this model's architecture details are not published. They are indicative rather than exact.
How to run granite3-dense locally
- 1.Install Ollama for Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 2.Run this in a terminal:
ollama run granite3-dense:2b-instruct-q4_0 - 3.The weights download on first run, then an interactive prompt opens.
Frequently asked questions about granite3-dense
- How much VRAM do I need to run granite3-dense?
- At 4K context, the smallest published build of granite3-dense (Q4_0) needs roughly 2.4 GB of GPU memory once weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead are counted. Bigger quantizations and longer context windows need more. It can also run partly or entirely on the CPU using system RAM, more slowly.
- Can I run granite3-dense without a dedicated GPU?
- Yes, but slowly. Without a GPU the model runs on the CPU using system RAM, which usually means a few tokens per second rather than dozens. You would need at least 2.4 GB of free RAM for the smallest build.
- How big is the granite3-dense download?
- The smallest published build is 1.4 GB. There are 12 builds in total, the largest being 15.2 GB. Leave some extra free disk space beyond the download itself.
- How do I run granite3-dense locally?
- Install Ollama, then run "ollama run granite3-dense:2b-instruct-q4_0" in a terminal. The weights download on first use and an interactive session opens.
Will granite3-dense run on your PC?
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Model data from the official Ollama registry · verified 13/09/2026