Stability AI · stablelm
Can I run stablelm-zephyr?
A lightweight chat model allowing accurate, and responsive output without requiring high-end hardware.
3B parameters4K contexttextSTABILITY AI NON-COMMERCIAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY LICENSE AGREEMENT6 builds
stablelm-zephyr system requirements
Memory needed at 4K context, counting model weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead. Download sizes come from the official Ollama registry.
| Build | Quantization | Download | Memory needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| stablelm-zephyr:3b | Q4_0 | 1.5 GB | ~2.5 GB(est.) |
| stablelm-zephyr:3b-q4_K_M | Q4_K_M | 1.6 GB | ~2.7 GB(est.) |
| stablelm-zephyr:3b-q5_K_M | Q5_K_M | 1.9 GB | ~3.0 GB(est.) |
| stablelm-zephyr:3b-q6_K | Q6_K | 2.1 GB | ~3.4 GB(est.) |
| stablelm-zephyr:3b-q8_0 | Q8_0 | 2.8 GB | ~4.3 GB(est.) |
| stablelm-zephyr:3b-fp16 | unknown | 5.2 GB | ~7.8 GB(est.) |
Figures marked (est.) approximate the KV cache because this model's architecture details are not published. They are indicative rather than exact.
How to run stablelm-zephyr locally
- 1.Install Ollama for Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 2.Run this in a terminal:
ollama run stablelm-zephyr:3b - 3.The weights download on first run, then an interactive prompt opens.
Frequently asked questions about stablelm-zephyr
- How much VRAM do I need to run stablelm-zephyr?
- At 4K context, the smallest published build of stablelm-zephyr (Q4_0) needs roughly 2.5 GB of GPU memory once weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead are counted. Bigger quantizations and longer context windows need more. It can also run partly or entirely on the CPU using system RAM, more slowly.
- Can I run stablelm-zephyr without a dedicated GPU?
- Yes, but slowly. Without a GPU the model runs on the CPU using system RAM, which usually means a few tokens per second rather than dozens. You would need at least 2.5 GB of free RAM for the smallest build.
- How big is the stablelm-zephyr download?
- The smallest published build is 1.5 GB. There are 6 builds in total, the largest being 5.2 GB. Leave some extra free disk space beyond the download itself.
- How do I run stablelm-zephyr locally?
- Install Ollama, then run "ollama run stablelm-zephyr:3b" in a terminal. The weights download on first use and an interactive session opens.
Will stablelm-zephyr run on your PC?
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Model data from the official Ollama registry · verified 13/09/2026