Mistral Models: Efficient Local AI
Mistral AI from Paris builds some of the most efficient open models available. Their 7B model punches well above its weight, and Codestral is purpose-built for coding tasks. If you want maximum quality from limited RAM, Mistral models are a top pick.
Mistral AI5 local models
DEVELOPER
Mistral AI
MODELS
5
SIZE RANGE
7B–46.7B
RAM RANGE
10–36 GB
Key Features
Excellent performance-per-parameter ratio
Sliding window attention for efficiency
Strong instruction following
Codestral specialized for coding
All Mistral Models
| Model | Size | Quant | VRAM | Min RAM | Best For | Quality | Ollama |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mistral 7B Instruct | 7B | Q4_K_M | 5.5 GB | 10 GB | Chat, Coding | 78 | |
| Mistral Nemo 12B | 12B | Q4_K_M | 9.5 GB | 18 GB | Chat, Translation | 88 | |
| Mistral Small 22B | 22B | Q4_K_M | 17 GB | 26 GB | Coding, Quality | 92 | |
| Mistral Small 3.1 | 24B | Q4_K_M | 15 GB | 24 GB | Chat, Coding | 88 | |
| Mixtral 8x7B Instruct | 46.7B | Q4_K_M | 30 GB | 36 GB | Coding, Quality | 95 |
Device Compatibility
Which Mistral models can run on each device class, based on minimum RAM requirements.
| Model | iPhone | Air | Pro | Studio | Mini |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mistral 7B Instruct (7B) | Possible | Possible | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Mistral Nemo 12B (12B) | No | Possible | Possible | Excellent | Possible |
| Mistral Small 22B (22B) | No | Possible | Possible | Possible | Possible |
| Mistral Small 3.1 (24B) | No | Possible | Possible | Possible | Possible |
| Mixtral 8x7B Instruct (46.7B) | No | No | Possible | Possible | Possible |
RAM Requirements
5.5 GB · min 10 GB
9.5 GB · min 18 GB
17 GB · min 26 GB
15 GB · min 24 GB
30 GB · min 36 GB
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Mistral model for 16GB RAM?
Mistral Nemo 12B Q4 is the best fit, using about 8.5GB. If you want something lighter, Mistral 7B Q4 uses 5.5GB and still delivers strong results.
Is Codestral worth using for coding?
Yes. Codestral 22B is specifically trained for code generation and performs better than general models of similar size. It needs 20GB RAM (Q4).
How does Mistral compare to Llama at 7B?
Very close in benchmarks. Mistral 7B uses sliding window attention for better efficiency with long contexts. Llama 3.1 8B has a slight edge on reasoning tasks. Both are excellent choices.