Nomic Embed Text v1.5
Nomic AI · Embedding · 137M · 8k context · Released 14 February 2024
A small, fast English-focused embedding model with an 8192-token input, and one of the most common defaults for local RAG. Apache 2.0 and light enough to run comfortably on a CPU.
Strengths
- Very small and fast, runs easily on CPU
- Long 8192-token input for a model this size
- Apache 2.0, and open about its training data and code
Weaknesses
- English-focused, so weaker on multilingual content than BGE-M3
- A general model, so domain-tuned embedders may retrieve better
- Smaller and older than the current top of the retrieval leaderboards
Hardware requirements
| Quantisation | Approx. VRAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FP16 | ~0.3GB | Full precision, trivial to run on CPU or any GPU |
Also runs on CPU (slower). Optimised builds available for Apple Silicon.
What you'd need to run this
Roughly what a machine to run this would need, at up to three levels of quality. Memory is the deciding factor.
Minimum to run it
FP16 · ~0.3GB needed
One 12GB GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GBor a Mac or mini-PC with unified memory, if you prefer no discrete GPU, Mac mini M5 Pro .
At least 32GB of system RAM alongside the card.
around £700–£1,100
What else 12GB runs →Licence
Apache 2.0 — read the licence
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Score | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTEB (English) | 62.28 | nomic-embed-text-v1.5 model card (768-dim) | February 2024 |
Nomic Embed Text v1.5: common questions
- What hardware do I need to run Nomic Embed Text v1.5?
- At its most compressed (FP16) it needs roughly 0.3GB of VRAM, and about 0.3GB for good quality. VRAM figures are approximate and depend on context length and settings.
- Is Nomic Embed Text v1.5 free for commercial use?
- Yes. Nomic Embed Text v1.5 is licensed under Apache 2.0, which permits commercial use with no meaningful conditions.
- Can I run Nomic Embed Text v1.5 on Apple Silicon?
- Yes. Nomic Embed Text v1.5 has builds optimised for Apple Silicon, through MLX or GGUF on a Mac.
- Does Nomic Embed Text v1.5 run on CPU?
- Yes, Nomic Embed Text v1.5 can run on the CPU, though generation is slower than on a GPU.
- What is Nomic Embed Text v1.5's context window?
- Nomic Embed Text v1.5 has a context window of 8,192 tokens, about 8k.
Availability
- Official page
- Hugging Face
- ollama run nomic-embed-text
Recommended for
- A lightweight default embedder for English RAG
- CPU-only or memory-constrained setups
- Getting a retrieval system working quickly
Run it with
Catalogue entry last verified 30 July 2026. Specifications change; verify anything you are about to spend money on.