Guides

Plain-English explanations: what an AI PC is, how much memory local AI needs, and what the specs mean.

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
What are TOPS? AI PC numbers explained, and why they don't predict AI speed What TOPS means on AI PC spec sheets, how many you need for Copilot+ features, and why memory bandwidth, not TOPS, decides how fast local AI models run. updated Sep 26, 2026
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 the weak spot. 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. Here is what that gets you, how Copilot+ PCs differ, and why running AI models locally depends on memory instead. updated Sep 25, 2026