Author: @jamescallander
Source model: meta-llama/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct · Hugging Face
Target: Rockchip RK3588 NPU via RKNN-LLM Runtime

This repository hosts a conversion of Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct for use on Rockchip RK3588 single-board computers (Orange Pi 5 plus, Radxa Rock 5b+, Banana Pi M7, etc.). Conversion was performed using the RKNN-LLM toolkit

Conversion details

RKLLM-Toolkit version: v1.2.1
NPU driver: v0.9.8
Python: 3.12
Quantization: w8a8_g128
Output: single-file .rkllm artifact
Modifications: quantization (w8a8_g128), export to .rkllm format for RK3588 SBCs
Tokenizer: not required at runtime (UI handles prompt I/O)

Intended use

On-device chat and instruction following on RK3588 SBCs.
Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct is tuned for general conversational tasks, Q&A, and reasoning, making it suitable for edge inference deployments where low power and privacy matter.

Limitations

Requires 9GB free memory
Quantized build (w8a8_g128) may show small quality differences vs. full-precision upstream.
Tested on a Radxa Rock 5B+, Orange Pi 5 plus; other devices may require different drivers/toolkit versions.

Quick start (RK3588)

1) Install runtime

The RKNN-LLM toolkit and instructions can be found on the specific development board's manufacturer website or from airockchip's github page.

Download and install the required packages as per the toolkit's instructions.

2) Simple Flask server deployment

The simplest way the deploy the .rkllm converted model is using an example script provided in the toolkit in this directory: rknn-llm/examples/rkllm_server_demo

bash

python3 <TOOLKIT_PATH>/rknn-llm/examples/rkllm_server_demo/flask_server.py \
  --rkllm_model_path <MODEL_PATH>/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct_w8a8_g128_rk3588.rkllm \
  --target_platform rk3588

3) Sending a request

A basic format for message request is:

json

{
    "model":"Llama-3.1-8B",
    "messages":[{
        "role":"user",
        "content":"<YOUR_PROMPT_HERE>"}],
    "stream":false
}

Example request using curl:

bash

curl -s -X POST <SERVER_IP_ADDRESS>:8080/rkllm_chat \
    -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
    -d '{"model":"Llama-3.1-8B","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Explain who Napoleon Bonaparte is in two or three sentences."}],"stream":false}'

The response is formated in the following way:

json

{
    "choices":[{
        "finish_reason":"stop",
        "index":0,
        "logprobs":null,
        "message":{
            "content":"<MODEL_REPLY_HERE">,
            "role":"assistant"}}],
        "created":null,
        "id":"rkllm_chat",
        "object":"rkllm_chat",
        "usage":{
            "completion_tokens":null,
            "prompt_tokens":null,
            "total_tokens":null}
}

Example response:

{"choices":[{"finish_reason":"stop","index":0,"logprobs":null,"message":{"content":"Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution, seizing power in a coup d'\u00e9tat in 1799 and becoming Emperor of France in 1804. He implemented various reforms and expanded the French Empire through a series of conquests across Europe, but his ambitions ultimately led to his downfall at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Napoleon's legacy is complex, with some viewing him as a brilliant military strategist and visionary leader, while others see him as a power-hungry autocrat responsible for devastating wars and loss of life.","role":"assistant"}}],"created":null,"id":"rkllm_chat","object":"rkllm_chat","usage":{"completion_tokens":null,"prompt_tokens":null,"total_tokens":null}}

4) UI compatibility

This server exposes an OpenAI-compatible Chat Completions API.

You can connect it to any OpenAI-compatible client or UI (for example: Open WebUI)

Configure your client with the API base: http://<SERVER_IP_ADDRESS>:8080 and use the endpoint: /rkllm_chat
Make sure the model field matches the converted model’s name, for example:

json

{
 "model": "llama-3.1-8b-instruct",
 "messages": [{"role":"user","content":"Hello!"}],
 "stream": false
}

License

This conversion follows the license of the source model: LICENSE · meta-llama/Llama-3.1 Community License at main

-Required notice: see NOTICE

You must also comply with:

Responsible Use Guide

jamescallander/Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct_w8a8_g128_rk3588.rkllm

Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct — RKLLM build for RK3588 boards

Built with Llama 3.1 (Meta Platforms, Inc.)

Conversion details

Intended use

Limitations

Quick start (RK3588)

1) Install runtime

2) Simple Flask server deployment

3) Sending a request

4) UI compatibility

License

jamescallander/
Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct_w8a8_g128_rk3588.rkllm