Ternary Bonsai 2 9B vs Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
Ternary Bonsai 2 9B took 7 min 4 s and $0.004 at list price, Nemotron 3.5 Lightning took 10 min 9 s and $0.012 at list price. Nemotron 3.5 Lightning took 1.4× as long and cost 2.6× as much.
Ternary Bonsai 2 9B
PrismML · $0.13/M out
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
NVIDIA · $0.20/M out · free route · 399 HN pts
Pelican
Generate an SVG of a pelican riding a bicycle
Watch
Draw a mechanical wristwatch that shows the current local time, with a sweeping seconds hand and a date window. Make it look expensive.
Landing
Build the landing page for Lumen Cycles, a Copenhagen workshop that builds custom cargo bikes to order. Make it look like a real brand you would trust with 4,000 euros.
Breakout
Make a Breakout game I can play right now with the keyboard or the mouse. Give it several levels, a score and some juice.
Logo
Design a logo for Night Heron, an independent bookshop that only opens after dark.
About
Write the opening of the About us page for Patchbay, a three-person studio in Rotterdam that repairs vintage synthesizers. About 150 words.
Welcome to Patchbay. A dedicated three-person studio in Rotterdam, where analog warmth meets modern precision. Our workshop is a sanctuary for vintage synthesizers, circuit boards, and forgotten sounds. We operate on the belief that vintage gear deserves respect and careful handling. Every unit we restore is given a new life, preserving its unique character while ensuring it functions reliably. We work meticulously on instruments that shaped electronic music history. This isn't just repair; it is resurrection. Our artisans take the time to solder every connection and clean every capacitor, understanding that imperfections hold stories worth keeping. We aim to keep the legacy of analog synthesis alive. Whether you need a fix or advice on your collection's condition, we support the analog revival. Trust in our expertise to get your dreams humming again. In a digital world, we choose to sound the truth. We believe in the tangible sound of history.
Patchbay is a three-person studio in Rotterdam devoted to the restoration and repair of vintage synthesizers. We believe analog gear holds a living voice, and our purpose is to safeguard that sound for musicians, collectors, and creators who value authenticity. With hands-on experience in circuitry, voltage calibration, and component preservation, we treat every console, drum machine, or modular voice with meticulous care. Rotterdam’s eclectic artistic community fuels our commitment to keeping analog heritage alive, bridging past technology with present music. Whether rescuing a neglected lab unit or reviving a cherished polysynth, we approach each instrument as a unique piece of musical history, ensuring it performs as intended for years ahead. We love helping artists reconnect with the warmth and character only vintage hardware can offer. Our workshop sits in the heart of the city, where dusty circuit boards meet fresh compositions, and every repaired synth becomes part of a new musical story.
Specs and numbers
| Ternary Bonsai 2 9B | Nemotron 3.5 Lightning | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | PrismML | NVIDIA |
| Made in | US | US |
| Released | 16 Oct 2026 | 11 Aug 2026 |
| Price in, per M tokens | $0.08 | free route (list $0.07/M) |
| Price out, per M tokens | $0.13 | free route (list $0.20/M) |
| Context | 262,144 tokens | 262,144 tokens |
| Weights | open | open |
| Hacker News points | — | 399 |
| Time for the six prompts | 7 min 4 s | 10 min 9 s |
| List price of the six prompts | $0.004 | $0.012 |
Ternary Bonsai 2 9B was cheaper: $0.007 less at list price, and less on each of the 6 prompts. Ternary Bonsai 2 9B was faster: 3 min 6 s less in total, and faster on 3 of the 6 prompts.
In the recording, Ternary Bonsai 2 9B's Breakout game stopped painting; Nemotron 3.5 Lightning's plays.