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Model architecture

Parameter count

What is parameter count?

Parameter count is the number of learned weights in a model, usually quoted in billions. It is a rough proxy for capability and a good proxy for memory requirement, but a poor predictor of performance on any specific task.

Training data quality, architecture and post-training all move the relationship substantially. Models that outperform others twice their size are common enough that size alone is a weak argument.

For a task-specific fine-tune, the right size is the smallest one that clears your accuracy bar. Everything above that is a recurring cost with no return.

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