Head-to-head · Mistral
Magistral Small vs Mixtral 8x7B
Magistral Small needs ~16 GB at Q4_K_M; Mixtral 8x7B needs ~28.9 GB. That ~12.9 GB gap decides which hardware runs each; they differ on 1 of the 14 devices below.
Which devices run each
A representative spread across the memory range. Tap a verdict for the full breakdown.
Size at each quantization
* derived from bits-per-weight; unstarred sizes are measured GGUF files.
Bottom line
The larger Mixtral 8x7B needs ~28.9 GB; Magistral Small runs on lighter hardware at ~16 GB with more headroom and faster responses. Check each against your exact device: what runs Magistral Small · what runs Mixtral 8x7B.
More Mistral comparisons
FAQ
What is the difference in memory between Magistral Small and Mixtral 8x7B?
At Q4_K_M, Magistral Small needs about 16 GB and Mixtral 8x7B needs about 28.9 GB, a difference of ~12.9 GB.
Should I run Magistral Small or Mixtral 8x7B?
Run Mixtral 8x7B if your hardware has the ~28.9 GB it needs and you want maximum quality; run Magistral Small (~16 GB) for lighter hardware, faster responses, and more memory headroom.
Full breakdowns: Magistral Small · Mixtral 8x7B · all models × devices.
Sources
Memory figures are estimates at Q4_K_M, validated 2026-08-03. See methodology.