How much memory does Kimi K3 need in FP8?
Kimi K3 has 2800 billion parameters. The FP8 format decides how much memory is needed to load them.
How is this footprint calculated?
Kimi K3 totals 2800 billion parameters. The FP8 format takes 1.0 byte per parameter. The product gives the weights, to which a 15% runtime margin is added for activations and buffers. The attention cache is not included: it grows with context and concurrency.
What does the format change?
FP8 brings negligible loss on most tasks.
| Format | Weights in memory | Compatible platforms |
|---|---|---|
| FP16 | 6,440 GB | 1 |
| FP8 | 3,220 GB | 1 |
| NVFP4 | 1,610 GB | 2 |
| Q4 | 1,610 GB | 2 |
Which platforms qualify?
See the Kimi K3 fact sheet.
How much memory for Kimi K3 in FP8?
About 3,220 GB for the weights, excluding the attention cache.
Which format should I choose for Kimi K3?
FP8 brings negligible loss on most tasks. The most precise format that fits the target machine remains the best choice.
Method
Parameter counts and memory figures come from the site fact sheets. Memory footprints are calculated, not measured: a reading on real hardware may differ depending on the engine and the exact weight format. Prices are indicative and not contractual.