Understanding Model Sizes: Which Local LLM is Right for You?

May 13, 2024

When getting started with local AI, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right model size. Bigger isn’t always better - it’s about finding the sweet spot between performance and practicality for your specific needs.

Understanding Model Sizes

Local LLMs commonly come in these sizes:

  • 1B models: Perfect for mobile devices
  • 3B models: Great balance for phones and tablets
  • 7B models: The most popular size for personal use
  • 13B models: A step up in capability
  • 33B+ models: For specialized needs and powerful hardware

The number (7B, 13B, etc.) represents billions of parameters - think of it as the model’s “brain size.” More parameters can mean better understanding and responses, but they also require more resources.

Small Models for Mobile

1B and 3B models are revolutionizing mobile AI:

  • Incredibly efficient on phones and tablets
  • Quick response times (under 1 second)
  • Minimal battery impact
  • Small storage footprint (~500MB-1.5GB)
  • Perfect for everyday tasks

These smaller models prove that effective AI doesn’t need to be huge - they’re remarkably capable for:

  • Quick questions and answers
  • Basic writing assistance
  • Simple creative tasks
  • Day-to-day chat

The 7B Sweet Spot

7B models like Mistral 7B and Llama 2 7B are popular for good reasons:

  • Run smoothly on most modern devices
  • Require about 8GB of RAM
  • Provide quick responses
  • Handle most everyday tasks well
  • Take up ~4GB of storage

For most users, 7B models offer the best balance of performance and accessibility.

When to Consider 13B Models

13B models might be worth considering if you:

  • Have 16GB+ RAM available
  • Need more nuanced responses
  • Work with complex topics
  • Don’t mind slightly slower responses
  • Have ~8GB storage to spare

Real-World Performance Comparison

Here’s what you can expect in practice:

7B Models:

  • Chat response time: 1-2 seconds
  • Memory usage: ~8GB RAM
  • Storage needed: ~4GB
  • Best for: General use, writing, basic coding

13B Models:

  • Chat response time: 2-3 seconds
  • Memory usage: ~16GB RAM
  • Storage needed: ~8GB
  • Best for: Complex analysis, detailed coding, creative writing

Choosing Based on Your Device

For Mac Users:

  • M1/M2 with 8GB RAM: Stick to 7B models
  • M1/M2 with 16GB+ RAM: Can comfortably run 13B models
  • M1/M2 Pro/Max: Can handle any size

For iPhone/iPad Users:

  • 1B models: Perfect for all modern iOS devices
  • 3B models: Great for newer phones and tablets
  • Optimized 7B models: Only for iPad Pro or specific tasks
  • Larger models aren’t practical on mobile yet

Task-Specific Recommendations

  1. Writing Assistance
    • 7B is sufficient for most writing tasks
    • 13B if you need more creative or sophisticated output
  2. Coding Help
    • 7B handles basic programming well
    • 13B for more complex code analysis
  3. General Chat
    • 7B provides great conversational ability
    • Larger models won’t significantly improve basic chat
  4. Analysis Tasks
    • 7B for basic analysis
    • 13B if you need deeper insights

Making the Choice

Consider these factors:

  1. Your Device’s Capabilities
    • Available RAM
    • Processing power
    • Storage space
  2. Your Needs
    • Type of tasks
    • Response speed requirements
    • Accuracy needs
  3. Practical Limitations
    • Storage constraints
    • Battery life considerations
    • Temperature management

Our Recommendation

For most users, we recommend starting with a 7B model:

  • Great performance-to-resource ratio
  • Works on most devices
  • Handles common tasks well
  • Faster responses
  • More stable experience

You can always experiment with larger models later as your needs grow.

Conclusion

The best model size is the one that fits your device and meets your needs. For most users, 7B models provide an excellent balance of capability and efficiency. Remember, it’s better to have a responsive 7B model than a sluggish 13B model!

Start with a 7B model on Enclave AI and experience the perfect balance of performance and privacy. As your needs evolve, you can explore larger models knowing exactly what to expect.