Head-to-head · Mistral
Ministral 3 3B vs Mistral Small 3.1 24B
Ministral 3 3B needs ~3.2 GB at Q4_K_M; Mistral Small 3.1 24B needs ~15.4 GB. That ~12.2 GB gap decides which hardware runs each; they differ on 7 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 Mistral Small 3.1 24B needs ~15.4 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 Mistral Small 3.1 24B.
More Mistral comparisons
FAQ
What is the difference in memory between Ministral 3 3B and Mistral Small 3.1 24B?
At Q4_K_M, Ministral 3 3B needs about 3.2 GB and Mistral Small 3.1 24B needs about 15.4 GB, a difference of ~12.2 GB.
Should I run Ministral 3 3B or Mistral Small 3.1 24B?
Run Mistral Small 3.1 24B if your hardware has the ~15.4 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 · Mistral Small 3.1 24B · all models × devices.
Sources
Memory figures are estimates at Q4_K_M, validated 2026-09-07. See methodology.