Head-to-head · Mistral
Mistral Nemo 12B vs Mistral Small 3 24B
Mistral Nemo 12B needs ~8.6 GB at Q4_K_M; Mistral Small 3 24B needs ~16.3 GB. That ~7.7 GB gap decides which hardware runs each; they differ on 4 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 24B needs ~16.3 GB; Mistral Nemo 12B runs on lighter hardware at ~8.6 GB with more headroom and faster responses. Check each against your exact device: what runs Mistral Nemo 12B · what runs Mistral Small 3 24B.
More Mistral comparisons
FAQ
What is the difference in memory between Mistral Nemo 12B and Mistral Small 3 24B?
At Q4_K_M, Mistral Nemo 12B needs about 8.6 GB and Mistral Small 3 24B needs about 16.3 GB, a difference of ~7.7 GB.
Should I run Mistral Nemo 12B 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 Nemo 12B (~8.6 GB) for lighter hardware, faster responses, and more memory headroom.
Full breakdowns: Mistral Nemo 12B · Mistral Small 3 24B · all models × devices.
Sources
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docs.mistral.ai · 1 source
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lmarena.ai · 1 source
Memory figures are estimates at Q4_K_M. Catalog updated 2026-10-05. See methodology.