Can I Run Mistral Small 3.1 on AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 29, 2026
Only with offload — Mistral Small 3.1 24B at Q4_K_M needs 16.4 GB at 8K context (14.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead) against the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT's 16 GB, so part of it spills onto CPU/system RAM and speed drops sharply.
Get a personalized upgrade path →
or compare on Vast.ai from $0.35/hr (typical low · varies)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Cloud GPU links are referral links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT Specs
| VRAM | 16 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 624 GB/s |
Mistral Small 3.1 24B on the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 16 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 49.3 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 27.2 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q6_K | 21.5 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q5_K_M | 18.9 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q4_K_M | 16.4 GB | ✗ No | — | Build for this |
| Q3_K_M | 12.2 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q2_K | 9.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
Assumes an 8K-token context with an f16 KV cache. A longer window needs more; a quantized KV cache needs less. “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 16 GB. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.
Context costs VRAM too. At Q4_K_M on the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT: 8K 16.4 GB ✗ · 32K 20.4 GB ✗ · 125K 36 GB ✗. Past 8K it no longer fits 16 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
No compatible GPU? Mistral Small 3.1 24B on 16 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Why It Does Not Fit
Every Mistral Small 3.1 variant requires more VRAM than the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT provides (16 GB).
Nearest GPU That Fits
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20 GB VRAM).
Mistral Small 3.1 needs ~16 GB but this GPU has 16 GB. Rent a RTX 4090 (24 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.
FAQ
Is the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT enough to run Mistral Small 3.1 locally?
Only with offload — Mistral Small 3.1 24B at Q4_K_M needs 16.4 GB at 8K context (14.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead) against the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT's 16 GB, so part of it spills onto CPU/system RAM and speed drops sharply.
What's the cheapest GPU that runs Mistral Small 3.1?
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20 GB VRAM) is the cheapest upgrade that fits it.
Mistral Small 3.1 on Other GPUs
- Mistral Small 3.1 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
- Mistral Small 3.1 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
- Mistral Small 3.1 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
- Mistral Small 3.1 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super
- Mistral Small 3.1 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
Popular Models on the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- DeepSeek R1 on AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- Qwen 3 on AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- Qwen 2.5 Family on AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
VRAM Tier
Troubleshooting
- Ollama: "model requires more system memory than is available"
- Out of memory at long context (the KV cache, not the weights)
Buying Guide
← Can I Run It? | Mistral Small 3.1 Model Page | AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT GPU Page | VRAM calculator | Check Your Hardware