Hugging Face · starcoder
Can I run starcoder?
StarCoder is a code generation model trained on 80+ programming languages.
3B parameters8K contexttext36 builds
starcoder 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| starcoder:1b | Q4_0 | 0.7 GB | ~1.4 GB(est.) |
| starcoder:1b-base-q4_K_M | Q4_K_M | 0.7 GB | ~1.5 GB(est.) |
| starcoder:1b-base-q5_K_M | Q5_K_M | 0.8 GB | ~1.7 GB(est.) |
| starcoder:1b-base-q6_K | Q6_K | 0.9 GB | ~1.8 GB(est.) |
| starcoder:1b-base-q8_0 | Q8_0 | 1.2 GB | ~2.2 GB(est.) |
| starcoder:3b | Q4_0 | 1.7 GB | ~2.8 GB(est.) |
| starcoder:3b-base-q4_K_M | Q4_K_M | 1.9 GB | ~3.1 GB(est.) |
| starcoder:3b-base-q5_K_M | Q5_K_M | 2.2 GB | ~3.5 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 starcoder locally
- 1.Install Ollama for Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 2.Run this in a terminal:
ollama run starcoder:1b - 3.The weights download on first run, then an interactive prompt opens.
Frequently asked questions about starcoder
- How much VRAM do I need to run starcoder?
- At 4K context, the smallest published build of starcoder (Q4_0) needs roughly 1.4 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 starcoder 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 1.4 GB of free RAM for the smallest build.
- How big is the starcoder download?
- The smallest published build is 0.7 GB. There are 36 builds in total, the largest being 29.5 GB. Leave some extra free disk space beyond the download itself.
- How do I run starcoder locally?
- Install Ollama, then run "ollama run starcoder:1b" in a terminal. The weights download on first use and an interactive session opens.
Will starcoder run on your PC?
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Model data from the official Ollama registry · verified 13/09/2026