8 GB vs 12 GB vs 16 GB for local AI
Compare the same builds at the same context across three memory budgets.
Local AI hardware guides
Choose a model for a real task, understand its memory estimate, and run it with settings you can check.
Local AI on a 16 GB Apple Silicon Mac
A specific M2 Mac mini example, unified memory and an Ollama setup walkthrough.
RTX 3060 vs RTX 4070 for local AI
Why equal 12 GB capacity can give equal fit results despite different bandwidth.
First time using a local model? Start with the Windows, Mac and Linux setup guide. For a specific build, use the VRAM calculator.
Maintained by Delcio Pedro. Guide reviewed 15 September 2026; catalog dates are shown with the builds. These are reference calculations, not inference benchmarks. Methodology.