Starcoder vs Starcoder2 3B
Side-by-side comparison of VRAM requirements, quantization, context length, and hardware compatibility.
Specifications
| Starcoder | Starcoder2 3B | |
|---|---|---|
| Parameters | 15.8B | 3.0B |
| Context | — | 16K |
| Architecture | — | Starcoder2ForCausalLM |
| License | bigcode-openrail-m | bigcode-openrail-m |
| Downloads | 25.4K | 130.9K |
| Released | Oct 2024 | — |
VRAM by Quantization: Starcoder vs Starcoder2 3B
| Quantization | Bits | Starcoder VRAM | Starcoder2 3B VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.40 | 7.4 GB | 1.6 GB |
| Q3_K_M | 3.90 | 8.5 GB | 1.8 GB |
| Q3_K_S | 3.50 | 7.6 GB | 1.7 GB |
| Q4_0 | 4.00 | 8.7 GB | 1.9 GB |
| Q4_K_M | 4.80 | 10.4 GB | 2.2 GB |
| Q5_K_M | 5.70 | 12.4 GB | 2.5 GB |
| Q6_K | 6.60 | 14.4 GB | 2.9 GB |
| Q8_0 | 8.00 | 17.4 GB | 3.4 GB |
Verdict
Starcoder2 3B needs less VRAM at Q4_K_M (2.2 GB vs 10.4 GB), so it fits on smaller GPUs. Starcoder2 3B is the more widely downloaded of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which needs less VRAM, Starcoder or Starcoder2 3B?
At Q4_K_M, Starcoder needs 10.4 GB and Starcoder2 3B needs 2.2 GB, so Starcoder2 3B is the lighter option to run locally.
- What is the difference between Starcoder and Starcoder2 3B?
Starcoder is a 15.8B model from BigCode (StarCoder family), while Starcoder2 3B is a 3.0B model from BigCode (StarCoder family). Compare their VRAM requirements above to see which fits your GPU or Mac.