Which computer can run AI, and how fast?
We run real models on real machines, publish every number, and recommend computers from the results.
- RTX 4060 8 GB
- Ryzen 9 7900X alone
* Model larger than the 8 GB card; part of it runs from system RAM.
| Model | RTX 4060 8 GB | Ryzen 9 7900X alone |
|---|---|---|
| Gemma 4 E4B | 67.7 | 17.8 |
| Llama 2 7B | 65.5 | 15.5 |
| Qwen3.5 9B | 45.5 | 10.4 |
| gpt-oss 20B | 39.5 | 21.8 |
What our tests show so far
- 45.5 tokens/s
- An 8 GB RTX 4060 writes with Qwen3.5 9B at several times reading speed. For models up to about 9 billion parameters, an entry-level graphics card is plenty.
- 21.8 tokens/s
- gpt-oss 20B on a Ryzen 9 7900X with no graphics card at all. Mixture-of-experts models read only a slice of their weights per word.
- 16x
- Less conversation memory per token for Qwen3.6 35B-A3B than for Llama 3.3 70B. Newer models handle long chats on far smaller machines.
Latest
- Best AI laptops (2026): for AI features and for running models locally The best AI laptops of 2026: a MacBook Air or Copilot+ PC for AI features, or 48 to 128 GB machines for running LLMs locally, with speed estimates and prices. Buying guides, updated Sep 26, 2026
- The best computer for running AI locally, at every budget (2026) What to buy to run AI models on your own computer in 2026, at six budgets from a $550 graphics card upgrade to a $5,400 Mac Studio, with speed estimates. Buying guides, updated Sep 26, 2026
- Best graphics cards for running AI models locally (2026) Which graphics card to buy for running LLMs locally in 2026, at today's inflated prices: 16, 24 and 32 GB picks from AMD, NVIDIA and Intel, with speed estimates. Buying guides, updated Sep 26, 2026
- Best mini PC for an always-on AI agent like OpenClaw (2026) What hardware an always-on AI agent like OpenClaw needs, why the Mac mini became the default, cheaper alternatives, and what to buy if the agent should use local models. Buying guides, updated Sep 26, 2026
- Black Friday 2026: AI PC and graphics card deals worth buying Black Friday 2026 deals on AI mini PCs, laptops and graphics cards, judged against list prices and the prices we recorded, not inflated 'was' prices. Deals, updated Sep 26, 2026
- What can an 8 GB graphics card run? We tested the RTX 4060 We ran four popular models on an 8 GB RTX 4060. Up to 9B parameters runs fast on the card alone; bigger mixture-of-experts models work by borrowing system RAM. Guides, updated Sep 26, 2026, tested by us
How we work
Products are marked Tested only when we ran them ourselves, with a test ID you can check. Everything else is Researched and cites its sources. We earn commissions from some store links; they never decide what we recommend, and we link to stores that pay us nothing.