Transcription1.55B
Whisper Large V3
Whisper · MIT
OpenAI's best open speech-to-text model. Supports 99 languages. Near-human accuracy for English. Low VRAM requirements — runs on any GPU. Useful for builders who need voice-to-code or meeting transcription.
- Parameters
- 1.55B
- Context
- 448 tokens
- Released
- 2023-11-06
- Engines
- whisper.cpp, faster-whisper
Whisper Large V3 (1.55B) requires 1.5 GB VRAM at recommended quality (Q5_K_M). At efficient quality (Q4_K_M), it fits in 1.3 GB VRAM, making it compatible with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. For the best experience, Starter AI Desktop ($582) is recommended.
— OwnRig methodology, data updated 2026-03-01
VRAM Requirements
| Quality | Quantization | VRAM | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| full | FP16 | 3.1 GB | 3.1 GB |
| recommended | Q5_K_M | 1.5 GB | 0.93 GB |
| efficient | Q4_K_M | 1.3 GB | 0.78 GB |
Compatible GPUs
Performance data for Whisper Large V3 across different hardware.
| Device | Quantization | Speed | Rating | Fits in VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | FP16 | — | Excellent | ✓ |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 | FP16 | — | Excellent | ✓ |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB | Q5_K_M | — | Excellent | ✓ |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB | FP16 | — | Excellent | ✓ |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB | Q5_K_M | — | Excellent | ✓ |
| Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified) | Q5_K_M | — | Good | ✓ |
Recommended Builds
Complete PC builds that can run Whisper Large V3.
Mid-Range
High-EndBudget
Budget
High-End
Mid-RangeMid-RangeBudget
Mid-RangeFull AI Builder
AI Builder Workstation
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 · 64GB DDR5-5600 (2x32GB)
$2,90224 GB VRAM
Runs 10 models
High-EndFull AI Builder
AMD AI Powerhouse
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB · 32GB DDR5-5600 (2x16GB)
$1,81824 GB VRAM
Runs 7 models
BudgetBasic AI Coding
Budget AI Desktop
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB · 32GB DDR4-3200 (2x16GB)
$75312 GB VRAM
Runs 7 models
BudgetHome AI Server
Budget Home AI Server
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB · 32GB DDR5-5200 (2x16GB)
$1,16216 GB VRAM
Runs 7 models
High-EndHome AI Server
High-End Home AI Server
2x NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB (Used) + NVLink Bridge · 128GB DDR5-5600 (4x32GB)
$3,84248 GB VRAM
Runs 12 models
Mid-RangeHome AI Server
Mid-Range Home AI Server
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB (Used) · 64GB DDR5-5600 (2x32GB)
$1,89224 GB VRAM
Runs 9 models
Mid-RangeHome AI Server
Silent Mini-ITX AI Box
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB · 32GB DDR5-5600 (2x16GB)
$1,25316 GB VRAM
Runs 8 models
Budget
Starter AI Desktop
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB · 16GB DDR4-3200 (2x8GB)
$58212 GB VRAM
Runs 6 models
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much VRAM does Whisper Large V3 need?
- Whisper Large V3 requires 1.5 GB VRAM at recommended quality (Q5_K_M). At lower quality settings, it can fit in as little as 1.3 GB.
- What quantization should I use for Whisper Large V3?
- For the best quality, use Q5_K_M (1.5 GB VRAM). If your GPU has limited VRAM, Q4_K_M (1.3 GB) is the most efficient option with acceptable quality.
Data confidence: verified. Last updated: 2026-03-01. Source