Start here: watch the 5 minute overview
Free tool
Will AI run on my PC? Check in 1 minute.
Our free tool looks at your computer and tells you, in plain words, what AI it can run today and the one thing to add if it needs help. Nothing to download. Nothing leaves your PC.
Check my PC →Affiliate note: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Prices change constantly, so we do not list them. Click through for the current price.
New: cost check
Is local AI worth it?
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok cost $20 to $40 a month. See when a one-time GPU upgrade pays for itself, with a break-even calculator.
Run the numbers →Top picks
Best value parts for local AI
Prices change daily, so we link to the live Amazon price.
Blake's top picks
Start here
3 steps to AI on your own PC
No experience needed. Try it free before you buy anything.
- 1Check what your PC can runOur free Check My PC tool reads your RAM and graphics card and tells you what fits. Takes 1 minute.
- 2Install Ollama for freeTry a small model on the PC you already own before buying anything.
- 3Upgrade only what is holding you backUsually RAM first, then a 12GB+ GPU. Skip the $3,000 AI workstation.
Buying guide
What should you buy?
Find your situation, buy the one part that fixes it.
| Your situation | Buy this | What it runs | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have 16GB RAM, no GPU | 32GB RAM kit | 14B models (slow but works) | Check price |
| Have a desktop with a free PCIe slot | RTX 3060 12GB | Fast 8B to 14B | Check price |
| Want more headroom, new card | RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | Fast 14B to 20B | Check price |
| Want 30B models, have 750W PSU | Used RTX 3090 24GB | 30B to 32B on GPU | Check price |
| Laptop only, want a quiet box | Mini PC with 32GB | 7B to 14B, 24/7 | Check price |
Guides
The guides
Guide
How much RAM and VRAM for Ollama
How much RAM and VRAM you need for Ollama models from 4B to 70B, with a simple size chart, the 0.6GB per billion...
Read guide →Hardware
Best budget GPU for Ollama
Best budget GPU for Ollama on a Windows PC: RTX 3060 12GB, RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, RTX 4060 Ti 16GB and a used RTX 3090...
Read guide →Hardware
Best mini PC for local AI
Best mini PC for running Ollama and local AI at home: Beelink SER8, GMKtec EVO-X2 and Mac mini compared on memory,...
Read guide →Hardware
Mac mini M6 for Ollama: which config
Mac mini M6 for Ollama: which memory to buy, 16GB, 24GB or 32GB. What models each config runs, why 16GB is a trap,...
Read guide →Hardware
Budget AI PC under $1,000
Three ways to get a budget AI PC under $1,000 for local chat and coding help: buy a 32GB mini PC, upgrade the PC...
Read guide →Models
Best Ollama models for 16GB RAM
The best Ollama models for a Windows PC with 16GB RAM, what not to run, and the cheapest upgrades (32GB RAM, NVMe...
Read guide →Setup
Install Ollama + Open WebUI on Windows
Step by step: install Ollama and Open WebUI on Windows 10 or 11, plus fixes for port conflicts, firewall, GPU...
Read guide →Business
Private AI for small business
Run private AI for your whole office on one local server. No per-seat fees, data stays in the building. GPU VRAM...
Read guide →Who picks these: Blake, the guy behind AI Pick Vault. 47 years of hands-on fixing things and troubleshooting PCs. These picks come from what actually fits in memory and what is least likely to cause headaches on a normal Windows PC, not from lab benchmarks.
Watch
40 second explainers
Quick answers before you spend a dollar.
Best budget GPU for Ollama
40 second version: which GPU to buy for local AI, and the one mistake to avoid.
How much RAM and VRAM for Ollama
40 second version: how much memory your AI model really needs.
Best mini PC for local AI
40 second version: what to look for in a mini PC for local AI.
FAQ
Quick answers
Can I run AI on my own Windows PC?
Yes. Free tools like Ollama run open models such as Llama, Qwen and Mistral on Windows 10 and 11. 16GB of RAM handles 7B to 8B models. A GPU with 12GB or more of VRAM makes replies much faster.
What is the cheapest upgrade for local AI?
For most PCs with 16GB of RAM, a 32GB RAM kit is the cheapest upgrade. For speed, a 12GB graphics card like the RTX 3060 12GB is the best value.
Do I need an expensive AI PC?
No. For chat and coding help with 8B to 14B models, a normal PC with 32GB of RAM or a 12GB GPU is enough. Big 70B models are where costs jump.