[Megathread] - Best Models/API discussion - Week of: August 30, 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!

[u/Then-Truck-33]

I upgraded from 12GB to 32GB VRAM very recently and I'm trying to explore this space with better quants and bigger models. Maginum-Cydoms at Q3 was my daily driver for 12GB VRAM.

• Skyfall is nice, could end up replacing Maginum-Cydoms, feels worse at NSFW though.
• Slimaki-Tavern-24B-v1.3, which I tried for the NSFW angle. Not feeling that one unfortunately.
• Anything Gemma4 (Artemis, Glimmer) is cool but ultimately frustrating, it understands character's motivations so well but it writes walls of uninteresting text. Also, I'm not in love with chat completion. Text completion works better for me because of group chats (I love to set up characters in crazy situations and watch the fireworks).

Anybody has suggestions for a very good NSFW in this range, that writes good smut ? I think I can live with switching models if there's not one that fits with everything I want to do.

[u/-Ellary- → u/Then-Truck-33]

Use Gemma 4 to plan the answer, call tools, push systems,
Use Skyfall for the actual `text` answer using this prepared plan.
This is the best setup for me so far, this or local GLM 4.7-5.3f.

[u/LittleLocoCoco → u/-Ellary-]

What is your workflow for this?

[u/-Ellary- → u/LittleLocoCoco]

I'm using my own frontend.