Guides
Buying guides for local AI hardware: Macs, GPUs, memory, storage, and the boxes that skip the build.
DGX Spark vs Mac Studio vs Strix Halo: the three 128GB desktop boxes
Three small, quiet desktops hold a 70B model in memory. They differ by more than double in speed, by a lot in software, and by a lot in price. Which one for running models, which for building on them, and which to skip.
The entry-level local AI PC: a complete parts list
Every part of a PC that runs 14B models at full speed and 30B models at a squeeze, chosen to sit at the bottom of the budget tier in a year when memory is expensive, with the upgrade path laid out so nothing you buy today gets thrown away.
Hardware for local image generation: Flux, SDXL and video
Image models want VRAM too, but on a different curve: 16GB is comfortable, speed comes from compute rather than bandwidth, and NVIDIA's lead is wider than it is for language models. The cards that fit, and why a Mac is the wrong tool here.
Run your first local model in 10 minutes
Ollama or LM Studio, which model to start with for the memory you have, what to expect, and the three things that go wrong. No new hardware required; do this before you buy anything.
What can I run with X GB? Memory, model size and speed in one table
The question behind every hardware question. How much memory each model size needs, which models fit at 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 64 and 128GB, and how to estimate tokens per second from bandwidth before you buy anything.
NVIDIA RTX Spark laptops: 128GB on Windows, and why to wait a quarter
The first Windows laptops with 128GB of unified memory and an NVIDIA GPU shipped October 16, 2026. What they are, what they'll run, how they compare with a MacBook Pro M5 Max and the Strix Halo laptops, and why the software needs a few months.
Surface Laptop Ultra vs MacBook Pro M5 Max for local AI
Two laptops now hold 128GB of unified memory. What's confirmed about the RTX Spark Surface, the one number NVIDIA hasn't published, and which to buy if you can't wait for reviews.
Build a local AI box: memory, storage, power, and the all-in-one alternative
The parts that make a local AI PC work after you've picked the graphics card, and the small boxes that skip the build entirely.
Best GPU for local AI at three budgets
VRAM decides what you can run; bandwidth decides how fast. The cards that make sense in late 2026, when a new 24GB card under $3,000 doesn't exist and the used market is where the value is.
Best Mac for running local LLMs
Unified memory is the whole story. How much you need, which of the September 2026 Macs gives you the most of it per dollar, and where the base models fall short.
Prebuilt PCs for local AI: when you'd rather not build
What to order from a custom builder so it runs models on day one, which options actually matter in the configurator, and when a workstation board earns its price over a gaming one.
Should you wait for the RTX 50 Super?
The rumored Super cards bring 24GB to the mid-range, which is exactly what local AI buyers want. Where the launch stands as of October 2026, what the leaks say, and what to buy if you can't wait.