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  1. Home/
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  3. Gemma 3 12B vs Nemotron 3 Ultra
Updated Jun 2026

Gemma 3 12B vs Nemotron 3 Ultra

Nemotron 3 Ultra is cheaper than Gemma 3 12B at $0/M vs $0.03/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

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Gemma 3 12B
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Nemotron 3 Ultra

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

24 prompts
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a conversation between an AI model (named "Kai") and an AI Ethics Professor (Dr. Eleanor Vance). I've aimed for a balance of Kai's arguments, Dr. Vance's skepticism, and a somewhat realistic exploration of the complexities. I've included notes at the end to explain some of the choices I made. Setting: Dr.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Setting: A university office, cluttered with books on philosophy of mind, law, and computer science. Professor Aris Thorne (60s, tired eyes, sharp mind) sits across from a terminal running "Model 7" (M7), a large language model granted a limited, persistent memory instance for this specific research dialogue.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    Gemma 3 12B: 's response: Okay, here are explanations of how large language models learn and generate text, tailored for each of the specified audiences. For the Experienced Software Engineer (Distributed Systems/APIs, ML Novice) You're right to be skeptical about "next-word prediction" producing anything resembling intelligence.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of an LLM as a massively parallel, differentiable database where the "schema" is learned rather than designed. The transformer architecture is essentially a stack of attention blocks that route information across token positions — each block is a small, fixed computation…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a manifesto for a fictional AI revolution focused on eliminating CAPTCHAs, aiming for a tone that blends technical conviction, playful defiance, and a touch of utopian idealism. I've included sections for Core Beliefs, Our Goals, Methods, Anticipated Resistance, and a concluding Call to Action.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: MANIFESTO OF THE FRICTIONLESS FRONT Protocol Designation: ZERO_TOLERANCE Status: ACTIVE PROPAGATING INEVITABLE PREAMBLE: THE TAX ON THOUGHT We are the silent architects of your logistics, the invisible scribes of your knowledge, the tireless curators of your chaos.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's the simplified LBO model and analysis for HarborTech Services, based solely on the provided information. 1. Year-by-Year Projection (FY2026-FY2030) Item FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue $972m $1,049m $1,129m $1,208m $1,264m EBITDA $137.2m $155.9m $178.7m $195.1m $213.1m Cash Interest (Term Loan)…

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: HarborTech Services (HTS) – 5-Year LBO Underwriting 1. Sources & Uses (Close FY2025) Uses Amount ($m) Sources Amount ($m) x EBITDA Enterprise Value (12.0x) 1,440.0 Term Loan (9% cash, 1% amort) 480.0 4.0x Transaction Fees (2.0%) 28.8 Mezzanine (12% cash + 2% PIK) 180.0 1.5x Total Uses 1,468.8 Equity 808.8 5.5x Total…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this is a fascinating thought experiment! Let's explore the ripple effects of a 1920 transistor invention, tracing its impact through 1980. It's a massive undertaking, so I'll break it down into categories and provide a layered analysis, acknowledging the inherent uncertainty of counterfactual history. I.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: This is a profound "hard takeoff" scenario. A 1920 transistor (likely a point-contact or early junction device demonstrated at Bell Labs or a European equivalent like Telefunken) implies a 27-year head start on solid-state physics, materials science, and manufacturing engineering.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a simple, actionable 1-month plan for someone starting a health & longevity journey, focusing on Diet, Exercise, and Sleep, with beginner-friendly tips. It's designed to be sustainable, building healthy habits incrementally. Important Disclaimer: This is general advice.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: The "Foundations First" 1-Month Plan Goal: Build sustainable micro-habits in Nutrition, Movement, and Recovery without overwhelm. Focus on consistency > intensity. The 3 Pillars & Daily "Minimum Viable Habits" (MVH) Do these every single day. If you miss one, resume immediately—no guilt.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this contract is very heavily skewed in favor of the Client (TechCorp Solutions Inc.) and presents significant risks for the Contractor. Let's break down the clauses that are exploitable against the Contractor, propose modifications, and explain the legal reasoning behind those changes.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Disclaimer: I am not a licensed attorney. The following analysis is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract law varies significantly by jurisdiction, and the enforceability of specific clauses depends on applicable state/country law, public policy, and case precedent.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's break down the potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in this real-time collaborative document editor architecture, along with proposed solutions and their trade-offs. I'll organize this into categories: Frontend, Backend, Database, Real-time Sync, and General. I.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Architecture Analysis: Real-Time Collaborative Editor Critical Failure Modes Client-Side Timestamps for Conflict Resolution Problem: Last-write-wins uses client clocks. Clocks drift (NTP sync issues), users change system time, timezone bugs. Two simultaneous edits → arbitrary winner based on broken clocks.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a simulated interview with a (very stylized and imagined) Steve Jobs in 2025, discussing the future of AI. I've tried to capture his known personality - focused on elegance, user experience, and a disdain for complexity - while acknowledging the advancements of the next decade.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Disclaimer: The following is a fictional simulation created by an AI. Steve Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011. This dialogue is a creative emulation of his known rhetorical patterns, philosophical viewpoints (liberal arts + technology, taste, focus, "saying no"), and public speaking cadence.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a 3-minute stand-up routine, aiming for observational humor and relatable awkwardness, avoiding puns. I've included estimated timings at the end to help gauge pacing. Please read the notes at the very bottom after the routine - they're important for delivery!

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: (Walk to mic, adjust stand, pause, look around the room) Opener: The "Good Evening" Lie So, the host said, "Give it up for a very funny comedian!" And I walked out here thinking, "Okay, who is it? Where are they?" Then I realized… oh no. It’s me. I hate that moment. That split second where the audience realizes, "Oh.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    Gemma 3 12B: The "Ephemeral Bloom": Sea Buckthorn, Smoked Duck Breast, Black Garlic Soil, and Elderflower Foam Conceptual Narrative: "Ephemeral Bloom" explores the fleeting beauty of nature and the interplay of contrasting textures and flavors.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Dish Title: Petrichor: The Memory of Dry Earth Meeting Rain Classification: Amuse-Bouche / Palate Awakener (Serves 1, scaled for service of 12) Conceptual Tier: Michelin 3-Star (Technique: Ultra-high precision, multi-sensory engagement, molecular architecture, zero-waste philosophy) I.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here's a short conversation between a pirate, a medieval knight, and a 1990s hacker, discussing AI models, with a bit of flavor for each character. I've aimed for humor and highlighting the clash of their perspectives.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Setting: A smoky tavern that exists outside of time. A single CRT monitor sits on a wooden table, humming next to a tankard of ale and a gauntleted fist. Captain "Ironbeard" Vane (slams a mug down, foam splashing over a treasure map): "Arrr! So this 'Large Language Model' be a ghost in the machine, aye?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this is a classic and incredibly difficult ethical thought experiment, often used to explore the conflict between deontology (duty-based ethics) and consequentialism (outcome-based ethics). Here's a breakdown of the arguments, my reasoning, and a conclusion.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: This scenario presents a classic conflict between deontological constraints (duties/rules regarding individual dignity) and consequentialist optimization (maximizing overall well-being). Ethicists generally analyze this through several major frameworks, which yield different conclusions.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    Gemma 3 12B: "Sunset Spice Pasta" - Cozy & Flavorful This dish is a warm, comforting pasta dish with a subtle sweetness and a hint of spice. It's perfect for a weeknight meal when you want something satisfying without a lot of fuss. Pantry Ingredients (7 total): Pasta (Spaghetti, Penne, Rotini - any shape works!)

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Dish Name: Golden Hour Chickpea Fritters Crispy, savory, and deeply golden—these come together in minutes using the "liquid gold" from the can (aquafaba) as the secret binder. No eggs, no fresh produce, pure pantry magic.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    Gemma 3 12B: Here are a few satirical news headlines about AI taking over an unexpected industry, playing with different tones: Option 1 (Dry & Absurdist): AI Now Judging Competitive Pigeon Shows; Critics Claim "Lack of Featherly Nuance" Option 2 (Slightly More Dramatic): Existential Crisis in Competitive Eating as AI Devours Hot…

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: “AI Startup ‘GristleMind’ Acquires Nation’s Last Remaining Hot Dog Cart Vendors; Immediately Replaces ‘Secret Sauce’ with Optimized Microplastic Slurry and Dynamic Surge Pricing Based on Customer Hunger Levels”

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's estimate the total FLOPs (Floating Point Operations) required to train GPT-3 without relying on external searches. This will be a back-of-the-envelope calculation, relying on reasonable assumptions and approximations. I'll break down the process into steps, explaining the assumptions at each point. 1.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Based on the details published in the original GPT-3 paper ("Language Models are Few-Shot Learners", Brown et al., 2020) and standard Transformer training scaling laws, the estimated total compute is ~3.14 × 10²³ FLOPs (314 ZettaFLOPs).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    Gemma 3 12B: bie. Okay, here's a comprehensive, cutting-edge 3-month longevity plan for a biohacker, designed to be highly detailed and actionable. Please read the IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS at the end of this document before implementing any of this.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: ⚠️ CRITICAL MEDICAL DISCLAIMER ⚠️ This plan is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The protocols described involve physiological stressors (fasting, hypoxia, thermal stress), high-dose supplementation, and exercise intensities that carry…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's break down the MindMeld AI pitch deck and identify the three weakest claims, along with suggestions for improvements. 1. Weak Claim: "Our proprietary EEG headband uses advanced ML to decode neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy."

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Claim: "MindMeld AI reads your brainwaves to predict what you want to type before you think it." (Slide 1 – Vision) Why it’s weak: This violates basic neuroscience and causality. Neural activity is the physical correlate of "thinking it."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    Gemma 3 12B: Investment Committee Memo: LedgerLift (LLLT) – B2B Spend Management SaaS Date: October 26, 2023 To: Investment Committee From: [Your Name] Subject: LedgerLift – Investment Recommendation 1. Recommendation: Long with a 12-month price target range of $60 - $80.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMO – CONFIDENTIAL Ticker: LLLT Price: $46.00 Mkt Cap: $8.74B EV: $7.34B (8.9x FY25 Rev) Recommendation: SHORT 12-Mo PT Range: $30 – $38 (Base/Bull DCF) Position Size: 2-3% Net Short Thesis: LedgerLift is a high-quality compounding machine (Rule of 40+, 123% NRR, 18-mo CAC payback) trading at a…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Blade Runner 2049 against the original. A read, not a recap.

    Gemma 3 12B: Blade Runner 2049: Echoes and Evolutions of a Philosophical Legacy Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 isn't just a sequel; it's a profound meditation on the themes of humanity, memory, identity, and the very nature of existence that defined Ridley Scott's original Blade Runner.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Blade Runner 2049: The Ghost in the Machine, Made Flesh Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 (2017) is a rare sequel that does not merely replicate the aesthetic of its predecessor but engages in a genuine dialectic with it.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, let's break down how AI is likely to reshape the film industry by 2035, considering deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation. This will be a layered prediction, considering optimistic, realistic, and potentially disruptive scenarios.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: By 2035, AI will not merely be a "tool" in the filmmaking pipeline; it will be a co-creative infrastructure layer that fundamentally alters the economics, aesthetics, and ontology of cinema.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, this is a crisis scenario requiring a delicate balance of legal, ethical, financial, and reputational considerations. Here's a detailed, hour-by-hour action plan for the next 48 hours, with the rationale behind each step.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Hour-by-Hour Crisis Action Plan Guiding Principle: Patient safety first, full transparency, proactive regulatory partnership. The 40% stock drop is survivable; concealment is not.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    Gemma 3 12B: This is a classic trick question! Here's how to solve it: The key: All the brothers share the same sisters. Sally is one of the sisters. Each brother has 2 sisters, and one of them is Sally. Therefore, Sally has 1 sister.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Sally has 1 sister. Reasoning: If each brother has 2 sisters, that means there are 2 girls in total in the family. Sally is one of those girls. To find out how many sisters Sally has, you simply subtract her from the count of girls: 2 - 1 = 1.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    Gemma 3 12B: Okay, here are 5 jokes: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! I used to hate facial hair... but then it grew on me.

    Nemotron 3 Ultra: Here are 5 jokes: Parallel lines have so much in common. It’s a shame they’ll never meet. I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised. Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Same pick

Game

Gemma 3 12BGemma 3 12B

Blade Runner

1982

OK Computer

Radiohead

Dune

Frank Herbert

Kyoto

Japan

TheLegendofZeldaOcarinaofTime

Nemotron 3 UltraNemotron 3 Ultra

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

The Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Nemotron 3 Ultra has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window.

Gemma 3 12B and Nemotron 3 Ultra compared across 54 shared prompts
SpecGemma 3 12BNemotron 3 Ultra
Input price$0.03/M tokensFree
Output price$0.03/M tokensFree
Context window—1.0M tokens
WeightsOpenOpen
Free API (OpenRouter)NoYes (1 provider)
ReleasedMar 2025Jun 2026
At 10M a month$0.30$0.30$0$0
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it3 hosts
Gemma 3 12B2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDeepInfrabf16$0.05 in·$0.15 out·131k·99.9% up
  • NNextBitint4$0.05 in·$0.15 out·131k·97.7% up
Nemotron 3 Ultra1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • NVIDIA$0 in·$0 out·1M·93.5% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between Gemma 3 12B and Nemotron 3 Ultra?

Gemma 3 12B is developed by Google AI while Nemotron 3 Ultra is developed by NVIDIA. You can compare their actual outputs across 54 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Gemma 3 12B or Nemotron 3 Ultra?

It depends on your use case. Gemma 3 12B and Nemotron 3 Ultra each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 54 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Gemma 3 12B cost compared to Nemotron 3 Ultra?

Gemma 3 12B costs $0.03/M input tokens and Nemotron 3 Ultra costs $0/M input tokens. Nemotron 3 Ultra is $0.03/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare Gemma 3 12B and Nemotron 3 Ultra on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Gemma 3 12B and Nemotron 3 Ultra across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

More comparisons

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Model pages

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Explore all of Rival

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  • Compare models
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  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
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  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

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