Meta Llama 3 70B vs Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct
Side-by-side comparison of VRAM requirements, quantization, context length, and hardware compatibility.
Specifications
| Meta Llama 3 70B | Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct | |
|---|---|---|
| Parameters | 70.6B | 70.6B |
| Context | — | — |
| Architecture | — | — |
| License | Llama 3 Community | Llama 3 Community |
| Downloads | 197.4K | 56.4K |
| Released | Sep 2024 | Jun 2025 |
VRAM by Quantization: Meta Llama 3 70B vs Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct
| Quantization | Bits | Meta Llama 3 70B VRAM | Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.40 | 33.0 GB | 33.0 GB |
| Q3_K_M | 3.90 | 37.8 GB | 37.8 GB |
| Q3_K_S | 3.50 | 34.0 GB | 34.0 GB |
| Q4_0 | 4.00 | 38.8 GB | 38.8 GB |
| Q4_K_M | 4.80 | 46.6 GB | 46.6 GB |
| Q5_K_M | 5.70 | 55.3 GB | 55.3 GB |
| Q6_K | 6.60 | 64.0 GB | 64.0 GB |
| Q8_0 | 8.00 | 77.6 GB | 77.6 GB |
Verdict
Meta Llama 3 70B is the more widely downloaded of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which needs less VRAM, Meta Llama 3 70B or Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct?
At Q4_K_M, Meta Llama 3 70B needs 46.6 GB and Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct needs 46.6 GB, so Meta Llama 3 70B is the lighter option to run locally.
- What is the difference between Meta Llama 3 70B and Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct?
Meta Llama 3 70B is a 70.6B model from Meta (Llama 3 family), while Meta Llama 3 70B Instruct is a 70.6B model from Meta (Llama 3 family). Compare their VRAM requirements above to see which fits your GPU or Mac.