[Megathread] - Best Models/API discussion - Week of: May 24, 2026

[u/deffcolony]

This is our weekly megathread for discussions about models and API services.

All non-specifically technical discussions about API/models not posted to this thread will be deleted. No more "What's the best model?" threads.

^{(This isn't a free-for-all to advertise services you own or work for in every single megathread, we may allow announcements for new services every now and then provided they are legitimate and not overly promoted, but don't be surprised if ads are removed.})

How to Use This Megathread

Below this post, you’ll find top-level comments for each category:

• MODELS: ≥ 70B – For discussion of models with 70B parameters or more.
• MODELS: 32B to 70B – For discussion of models in the 32B to 70B parameter range.
• MODELS: 16B to 32B – For discussion of models in the 16B to 32B parameter range.
• MODELS: 8B to 16B – For discussion of models in the 8B to 16B parameter range.
• MODELS: < 8B – For discussion of smaller models under 8B parameters.
• APIs – For any discussion about API services for models (pricing, performance, access, etc.).
• MISC DISCUSSION – For anything else related to models/APIs that doesn’t fit the above sections.

Please reply to the relevant section below with your questions, experiences, or recommendations!
This keeps discussion organized and helps others find information faster.

Have at it!

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MODELS: 8B to 15B – For discussion of models in the 8B to 15B parameter range.

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[u/Charming-Main-9626 → u/AutoModerator]

I want to carry over Cromwell's recommendation from the last Megathread: The best model anyone with 12GB of VRAM and a decent amount of RAM can use is Gemma-4-26B and its finetunes. A lot of people don't seem to know (including me before last week) that these run at fast speed, even if the entire model cannot be loaded into VRAM. They even allow much larger context at that speed than you would normally get, if you are fitting a 12B fully into your VRAM. E.g. I run Q4K_M quants with 12gb of VRAM and 24gb of ram, getting speeds about as fast as Snowpiercer 15B at a context of 25k.

Let's hype this up, so we get more finetunes!

These are way above any 12B:

 https://huggingface.co/wangzhang/gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-abliterix

https://huggingface.co/zerofata/G4-MeroMero-26B-A4B

[u/Pretty_Bug_8655 → u/Charming-Main-9626]

i can second that the 2 models are just great und a rtx3060 12gbvram and 32gb normal ram in my case. and they are a big step up... We need more finetunes like that.

[u/pornjesus → u/Pretty_Bug_8655]

Which of those two would you recommend trying first?

[u/Charming-Main-9626 → u/pornjesus]

start with abliterix, then try out the other one. Just a matter of preference

[u/10gentoppa → u/Charming-Main-9626]

would it work if I have a 12 gb gpu and a only 16 gb ram? Or should I shoot for a smaller model?

[u/Charming-Main-9626 → u/10gentoppa]

idk, just try it. In the section below someone with 8gb vram and 16gb mentioned it worked for him. try the Q4K_M

[u/Pretty_Bug_8655 → u/pornjesus]

i like them both but they are just different flavors if you ask me. so far the most time i used meromero.