Best local LLM for coding with 8GB VRAM
The models people report running for coding on setups with up to 8 GB of memory, such as CMP 170HX, M1 8GB, M2 8GB or RX 5700 XT 8GB. Each row shows the fastest coding run reported for that model in this band.
Ranked from 3 coding reports on llamaperf.
Ranked by community reports
| # | Model | Fastest run | Median t/s | Fastest t/s | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ornith1.5 | 35B · 3B active · Q4_K_M | 24 | 24 | 1 |
| 2 | Qwen3.8Alibaba | 35B · 6B active · Q5_K_M on RTX 4060 Ti 16GB | 19 | 19 | 1 |
| 3 | Qwen3.6Alibaba | 27B · Q4_K_M on RX 5700 XT 8GB | 2.7 | 2.7 | 1 |
Frequently asked
What is the best local LLM for coding with 8GB of VRAM?
Ranked from community reports on setups with up to 8 GB of memory, Ornith1.5 has the strongest record, followed by Qwen3.8 and Qwen3.6. The table shows the quant and GPU of each model's fastest coding run so you can copy a setup that is known to work.
What counts as a coding report?
A community performance report whose poster described using the model for coding: an editor assistant, an agent, or code generation. The memory band is the poster's reported VRAM, or the card's VRAM times the number of cards.
Which quant should I use for coding on 8GB?
Start from the quant in the fastest run column, which is one that is known to fit with room for a coding context. If you want a bigger model in the same memory, step down one quant rung; the VRAM calculator shows the exact memory at each rung for your card.
How we rank
Families are scored on report count, the fastest generation speed within this memory band, recency, and how complete the best report is. Reports come from r/LocalLLaMA and direct submissions. Nothing is sponsored.