Head-to-head · Mistral
Mistral 7B vs Mistral Small 3 24B
Mistral 7B needs ~5.8 GB at Q4_K_M; Mistral Small 3 24B needs ~16.3 GB. That ~10.5 GB gap decides which hardware runs each; they differ on 6 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
Mistral Small 3 24B scores higher on LMArena (1357 vs 1149). The larger Mistral Small 3 24B needs ~16.3 GB; Mistral 7B runs on lighter hardware at ~5.8 GB with more headroom and faster responses. Check each against your exact device: what runs Mistral 7B · what runs Mistral Small 3 24B.
More Mistral comparisons
FAQ
What is the difference in memory between Mistral 7B and Mistral Small 3 24B?
At Q4_K_M, Mistral 7B needs about 5.8 GB and Mistral Small 3 24B needs about 16.3 GB, a difference of ~10.5 GB.
Should I run Mistral 7B or Mistral Small 3 24B?
Run Mistral Small 3 24B if your hardware has the ~16.3 GB it needs and you want maximum quality; run Mistral 7B (~5.8 GB) for lighter hardware, faster responses, and more memory headroom. Mistral Small 3 24B scores higher on LMArena (1357 vs 1149).
Full breakdowns: Mistral 7B · Mistral Small 3 24B · all models × devices.
Sources
Memory figures are estimates at Q4_K_M, validated 2026-08-03. See methodology.