What is the Best Open Source LLM Right Now?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, large language models (LLMs) have become pivotal in driving innovative applications. Among the various options available, Meta’s Llama 3.1 405B has emerged as a frontrunner in the open-source LLM space. This article explores why Llama 3.1 405B is widely considered the best open-source LLM currently available and addresses several key aspects of LLM performance and utility.

Unprecedented Scale and Performance

Llama 3.1 405B, with its massive 405 billion parameters, represents a significant leap in model scale. This extensive parameter count allows the model to capture intricate patterns and nuances in language, resulting in state-of-the-art performance across a wide range of tasks. According to Meta’s benchmarks, Llama 3.1 405B outperforms many competing models, including some closed-source alternatives, on key metrics.

Benchmark Performance

When evaluating “what is the best open source llm right now,” benchmark performance is crucial. Llama 3.1 405B excels in various benchmark tests:

  • MMLU (5-shot): 87.3%
  • MMLU (0-shot, CoT): 88.6%
  • HumanEval (0-shot): 89.0%
  • GSM8K (8-shot, CoT): 96.8%

These scores demonstrate Llama 3.1 405B’s superior performance in general knowledge, reasoning, and coding tasks.

Open Source Advantage

Unlike many top-performing LLMs, Llama 3.1 405B is open-source, released under the Llama 3.1 Community License. This openness allows researchers and developers to study, modify, and build upon the model, fostering innovation and democratizing access to cutting-edge AI technology.

GPU Requirements for Inference, Training, and Fine-Tuning

Free Tool for LLM Hardware Requirements

For those looking to explore hardware requirements for various LLMs, including Llama 3.1 405B, there’s a helpful free tool available at https://aifusion.company/gpu-llm 

This tool allows users to select different LLMs and view the GPU requirements for inference, training, and fine-tuning across various precision levels. It’s an excellent resource for planning hardware needs when working with large language models.

 

Understanding the hardware requirements for running, training, and fine-tuning large language models is crucial for researchers and developers. Llama 3.1 405B, being one of the largest open-source models available, has significant computational demands. Let’s break down the GPU requirements for different operations and precision levels using the NVIDIA H100 PCIe 80 GB as a reference:

Quantization: FLOAT32 (FP32)

FP32 offers full precision but requires the most memory and computational resources. It’s often used in training and when maximum accuracy is required.

NVIDIA H100 PCIe 80 GB 

  • Inference: 22 GPUs Required
  • Training: 72 GPUs Required
  • LoRA 2% Fine-tuning: 24 GPUs Required

Quantization: FLOAT16 (FP16)

FP16 provides a good balance between precision and efficiency. It’s commonly used in training and inference, especially on GPUs that support it natively.

NVIDIA H100 PCIe 80 GB 

  • Inference: 11 GPUs Required
  • Training: 36 GPUs Required
  • LoRA 2% Fine-tuning: 13 GPUs Required

Quantization: INT8

INT8 quantization uses 8-bit integers, balancing good compression with minimal accuracy loss. It’s widely used for efficient inference on edge devices and mobile platforms.

NVIDIA H100 PCIe 80 GB 

  • Inference: 6 GPUs Required
  • Training: 18 GPUs Required
  • LoRA 2% Fine-tuning: 8 GPUs Required

Quantization: INT4

INT4 quantization reduces precision to 4-bit integers, offering extreme model compression at the cost of some accuracy. It’s suitable for inference on very resource-constrained devices.

NVIDIA H100 PCIe 80 GB 

  • Inference: 3 GPUs Required
  • Training: 9 GPUs Required
  • LoRA 2% Fine-tuning: 5 GPUs Required
 

These requirements highlight the substantial computational resources needed to work with Llama 3.1 405B, especially at higher precision levels. However, techniques like quantization can significantly reduce the hardware demands, making the model more accessible for inference and fine-tuning on more modest setups.

Multilingual Capabilities

Llama 3.1 405B supports multiple languages out-of-the-box, including English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi, Spanish, and Thai. This multilingual proficiency makes it a versatile choice for global applications and research.

Longest Token Length LLM

One of Llama 3.1 405B’s standout features is its extensive context window of 128,000 tokens, making it a strong contender for the “longest token length llm” title. This extended context allows for more coherent and contextually relevant outputs in complex, long-form tasks, surpassing many other models in this aspect.

Specialized Capabilities

Coding Excellence

Llama 3.1 405B demonstrates exceptional performance on coding benchmarks, making it a powerful tool for software development assistance. Its ability to understand and generate complex code snippets positions it as a top choice for coding-related tasks.

Math and Reasoning: “Best LLM for Word Math Problems”

When considering the “best llm for word math problems,” Llama 3.1 405B stands out. Its performance on the GSM8K benchmark (96.8% accuracy) showcases its strong capabilities in mathematical problem-solving and logical reasoning tasks.

Tool Use and API Integration

Llama 3.1 405B can effectively use external tools and APIs, expanding its practical applications and enhancing its “perceived utility llm” factor. This capability allows it to interact with various systems and perform complex, multi-step tasks.

AI LLM Test Prompts

To evaluate Llama 3.1 405B’s capabilities, researchers and developers can use a variety of “ai llm test prompts.” These prompts can range from general knowledge questions to complex reasoning tasks, coding challenges, and multilingual exercises. The model’s performance on these diverse prompts demonstrates its versatility and robustness.

Best Local LLM to Talk About Personal Things

While Llama 3.1 405B is primarily designed for general-purpose use, its open-source nature allows for fine-tuning on specific datasets. This adaptability makes it a strong candidate for the “best local llm to talk about personal things” when properly tuned and deployed with appropriate privacy safeguards. However, users should always exercise caution when discussing sensitive personal information with any AI model.

Responsible AI Development

Meta has placed a strong emphasis on responsible AI development with Llama 3.1 405B. The model incorporates safety measures and has undergone extensive testing to mitigate potential risks and biases. This includes:

  • Multi-faceted approach to data collection
  • Emphasis on model refusals to benign prompts
  • Deployment of system safeguards like Llama Guard 3, Prompt Guard, and Code Shield
  • Evaluation of critical risk areas such as CBRNE helpfulness, child safety, and cyber attack enablement

Training and Environmental Considerations

The development of Llama 3.1 405B involved significant computational resources:

  • Training utilized 30.84M GPU hours on H100-80GB hardware
  • Estimated total location-based greenhouse gas emissions were 8,930 tons CO2eq
  • Meta’s commitment to renewable energy resulted in 0 tons CO2eq market-based emissions

Community and Ecosystem

The open-source nature of Llama 3.1 405B has fostered a growing ecosystem of tools, fine-tuned versions, and applications. This community-driven development accelerates innovation and improves the model’s versatility. Meta’s involvement in open consortiums and initiatives like the AI Alliance and Partnership on AI further contributes to the model’s ecosystem.


While the field of AI is rapidly evolving and new models are constantly emerging, Llama 3.1 405B currently stands out as one of the best open-source LLMs available. Its combination of scale, performance, multilingual capabilities, and open-source accessibility makes it a compelling choice for researchers, developers, and organizations looking to leverage state-of-the-art language AI technology.

Its strengths in areas such as long context processing, math problem-solving, and coding, coupled with its adaptability for personal conversations when properly tuned, position it as a versatile and powerful tool in the LLM landscape.

However, it’s important to note that the “best” model can vary depending on specific use cases and requirements. As with any technology, potential users should carefully evaluate Llama 3.1 405B against their particular needs and consider factors such as computational resources, specific task performance, and ethical considerations when choosing an LLM for their projects.