Head-to-head · Mistral
Ministral 3 3B vs Ministral 3 8B
Ministral 3 3B needs ~3.2 GB at Q4_K_M; Ministral 3 8B needs ~6.3 GB. That ~3.1 GB gap decides which hardware runs each; they differ on 2 of the 11 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 Ministral 3 8B needs ~6.3 GB; Ministral 3 3B runs on lighter hardware at ~3.2 GB with more headroom and faster responses. Check each against your exact device: what runs Ministral 3 3B · what runs Ministral 3 8B.
More Mistral comparisons
FAQ
What is the difference in memory between Ministral 3 3B and Ministral 3 8B?
At Q4_K_M, Ministral 3 3B needs about 3.2 GB and Ministral 3 8B needs about 6.3 GB, a difference of ~3.1 GB.
Should I run Ministral 3 3B or Ministral 3 8B?
Run Ministral 3 8B if your hardware has the ~6.3 GB it needs and you want maximum quality; run Ministral 3 3B (~3.2 GB) for lighter hardware, faster responses, and more memory headroom.
Full breakdowns: Ministral 3 3B · Ministral 3 8B · all models × devices.
Sources
Memory figures are estimates at Q4_K_M, validated 2026-09-07. See methodology.