DATASHEET // COGVIDEOX
CogVideoX 5B
Open-source text-to-video diffusion from THUDM.
OPEN SOURCE12–24 GB VRAMRuns locally
Actually FreeNo SignupOpen SourceWatermark-FreeHobbyist-OKPlugin
Requires: ComfyUI
Visit CogVideoX 5BUPDATED 2026-04-19 · DIRECT LINK
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS //
Runs locally · High-end GPU (16–24 GB)
Min VRAM
12 GB
Rec. VRAM
24 GB
Min RAM
32 GB
Rec. RAM
64 GB
Disk
40 GB
GPU class
High-end GPU
CUDA 12.xNo Apple SiliconGPU RequiredQuant: FP16, FP8
2B variant runs on 12 GB. 5B fits 24 GB comfortably.
[ EDITORIAL PICK ]
Why we recommend CogVideoX 5B
- Open source
Source is public — you can audit it, fork it, and you'll never lose access to your workflows if CogVideoX 5B the company changes direction.
- Runs on 12 GB
Comfortable on a mid-range consumer card — no need to remortgage for an A100.
- 2 quant formats
Supports FP16, FP8 — you can dial VRAM use up or down to match your card.
- Beginner-friendly
You don't need to read a paper before getting your first result — sensible defaults and a quick install.
[ EVIDENCE NOTE ]
Documentation-led datasheet
This page summarizes upstream documentation, release information, and editorially reviewed catalogue fields. It is not presented as a hands-on benchmark. Verify changing requirements at the official project; report stale data through our corrections channel.
AT-A-GLANCE SIGNALS //
DERIVED FROM THIS PAGE'S DATA- Install difficultyPlugin
Drops into comfyui — assuming the host is already set up.
- Hardware comfortMainstream
Needs 12 GB minimum — RTX 3060 12GB or 4070 territory.
- EcosystemActive community
Open source plus 3 community resources we've vetted — there are people to ask.
- VerificationRecent
Catalogue entry last updated 88 days ago — re-verification due soon.
[ COMMUNITY GUIDES & WORKFLOWS ]
Tutorials & deep-dives for CogVideoX 5B
Hand-picked from YouTube, Reddit, GitHub, and the wider web. Each link goes straight to the source — we don't intercept or rewrite anything.
[ MORE IN THIS NICHE ]
Other heavy video generation tools we rate
Three picks across different tradeoffs — so you don't end up with three near-clones of CogVideoX 5B.
What is CogVideoX 5B?
CogVideoX is a 5B parameter T2V model with strong prompt following and a relatively friendly VRAM profile. The 5B variant runs on 24 GB; the 2B variant fits in 12 GB.
Pros & cons
✓ PROS
- Lower VRAM than Hunyuan/Wan
- I2V variants available
- Active in ComfyUI nodes
– CONS
- Shorter clips by default
- Behind Wan 2.2 in motion realism
What's actually free?
Open weights. Free to run locally.
✓ Actually FreeNo SignupOpen SourceWatermark-Free
Alternatives
LTX-Video
Real-time-ish open video diffusion from Lightricks.
OPEN SOURCE12–16 GB VRAM
VRAM fit12–16 GB