Text model · llama
Llama 3.1 8B requirements
llama family · 8B params · released Jul 2024 · 111M Ollama pulls · LMArena Elo 1211. Minimum to run at Q4_K_M: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB).
Quantization sizes
| Quantization | Size on disk |
|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.4 GB est |
| Q3_K_M | 3.9 GB est |
| Q4_K_M (default) | 4.92 GB |
| Q5_K_M | 5.7 GB est |
| Q6_K | 6.6 GB est |
| Q8_0 | 8.54 GB |
| FP16 | 16 GB est |
Lower quant = smaller and faster, slightly lower quality. Q4_K_M is the common default.
Run it
ollama run llama3.1:8b llama-cli -hf bartowski/Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct-GGUF:Q4_K_M lms get bartowski/Meta-Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct-GGUF Which devices can run Llama 3.1 8B?
Apple Silicon Macs
RAM-only laptops
iPhone & iPad
Android
NVIDIA GPUs
AMD GPUs
FAQ
How much VRAM or RAM does Llama 3.1 8B need?
At Q4_K_M, Llama 3.1 8B needs about 6.4 GB (weights ~4.92 GB + KV cache + overhead) at a 4k context. At Q8_0 budget ~10 GB.
Can Llama 3.1 8B run on a laptop?
Yes, Llama 3.1 8B fits on a 16 GB machine at Q4_K_M and runs on Apple Silicon or a 12 GB+ GPU comfortably.
Can I use Llama 3.1 8B commercially?
Conditionally. Llama 3.1 Community License: free under 700M MAU.
Q4_K_M and Q8_0 sizes from bartowski HF repo. Default ollama tag pulls 4.9GB Q4_K_M. Min RAM estimate includes model + small KV cache overhead.
Sources
Memory figures are estimates. See methodology.