How much memory does MiniMax M3 need in FP16?
MiniMax M3 has 428 billion parameters. The FP16 format decides how much memory is needed to load them.
How is this footprint calculated?
MiniMax M3 totals 428 billion parameters. The FP16 format takes 2.0 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?
FP16 brings full precision, the quality reference.
| Format | Weights in memory | Compatible platforms |
|---|---|---|
| FP16 | 984 GB | 4 |
| FP8 | 492 GB | 7 |
| NVFP4 | 246 GB | 7 |
| Q4 | 246 GB | 7 |
Which platforms qualify?
See the MiniMax M3 fact sheet.
How much memory for MiniMax M3 in FP16?
About 984 GB for the weights, excluding the attention cache.
Which format should I choose for MiniMax M3?
FP16 brings full precision, the quality reference. 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.