Guides

Plain-English explanations: what an AI PC is, what NPU TOPS mean, how much memory local AI needs, and how to run models without a graphics card.

What are TOPS? AI PC numbers explained, and why they don't predict AI speed What 13, 40, 50 and 80 TOPS mean on AI PC spec sheets, with a table of common NPUs and laptop GPUs, what Copilot+ needs, and why TOPS don't set AI speed. updated Oct 22, 2026
Why AI PCs and graphics cards cost so much in 2026, and what to do about it Memory makers shifted to AI data centers and memory prices soared in 2026. What that did to AI PC and graphics card prices, and how to buy well anyway. 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. updated Sep 26, 2026, tested by us
Can you run AI without a graphics card? We tested a desktop and a $369 mini PC We ran four popular AI models with no graphics card, on a desktop processor and a budget mini PC. Memory speed decides the result; long prompts are slow. updated Sep 26, 2026, tested by us
How much memory do you need to run AI models locally? Memory needed for popular local AI models, 4B to 120B, calculated from the model files: graphics card, Mac and PC sizes, and why long chats need more. updated Sep 25, 2026
What is an AI PC? What the label means, and what it doesn't An AI PC is a computer with an NPU, a small AI chip. What that gets you, how Copilot+ PCs differ, and why running AI models locally depends on memory instead. updated Sep 25, 2026