Smaller alternatives
Models that need less memory than MiniMax M3 and score about as well or better.
MiniMax M3
MoEVision
MiniMax · 427B (23B active) · Mixture of experts
MiniMax M3 is a 427B model from MiniMax with a 1M-token context. At Q4_K_M with an 8K context it needs about 244.6 GB; 307 GB leaves room for longer chats.
Mixture of experts
Parameters: 427B · Active: 23B
All 427B parameters load into memory, but only 23B work on each token, so it runs at the speed of a much smaller model.
Quantization options
| Quant | Bits | Memory | Quality | On your hardware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.16 | — | Noticeably worse | … |
| Q3_K_M | 4 | — | Some loss | … |
| Q4_K_M | 4.89 | — | Good | … |
| Q5_K_M | 5.7 | — | Good | … |
| Q6_K | 6.56 | — | Near original | … |
| Q8_0 | 8.5 | — | Near original | … |
| F16 | 16 | — | Original | … |
Memory by context length
At Q4_K_M. The context cache grows with every token the model keeps in mind.
| Context | Context cache | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 4K | 0.5 GB | 244.1 GB |
| 8K | 0.9 GB | 244.6 GB |
| 32K | 3.8 GB | 247.4 GB |
| 128K | 15 GB | 258.6 GB |
| 256K | 30 GB | 273.6 GB |
Next steps
Compare it with
Scored models of a similar size, side by side on your device.
Least hardware that runs it well
Desktop devices with the least memory that give MiniMax M3 grade A or S at Q4_K_M.
Can I run MiniMax M3 locally?
Can I run MiniMax M3 locally?
Yes, if your GPU or Mac has about 244.6 GB free for it at Q4_K_M. Open this page on that computer to see the grade for your exact hardware, then start it with llama.cpp, Ollama or LM Studio.
How much memory does MiniMax M3 need?
About 244.6 GB at Q4_K_M with an 8K context and 422.9 GB at Q8_0. Lower quantizations fit smaller cards with some loss in quality; longer contexts add to the total.