Articles & news
Straight answers about local AI hardware
Explainers and buying advice, written from cited sources. Looking for “what runs model X?” Those are in Guides.
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Why do cloud AI limits and rules keep changing, and does local AI avoid that?
Cloud plans cap how much you can use and retire models on the provider’s schedule. A model on your own drive has no usage cap and stays the same until you change it.
New open models this month (October 2026), and the hardware they need
Four real releases, from a 1 GB edge model to an 816B giant. Here’s which ones fit a home machine.
Can a $600 mini PC really run local AI?
Yes, for small models, if you buy enough RAM. Here is what fits in a $607 Minisforum box, and what it can’t do.
The cheapest way to run gpt-oss 20B
OpenAI built it for 16 GB. Here are the three cheapest routes we priced, from a $607 mini PC to a complete RTX PC.
Can you use AI with no internet connection?
Yes, with a local model. You need the internet once to install the app and download a model; after that, chatting runs entirely on your computer.
Clustering two machines for bigger models: worth it?
Two boxes can hold a model neither could alone. But the tools are early, and the network is now part of your AI.
Running AI privately at home: what you give up and what you gain
Your prompts never leave the house. Here’s the honest trade: privacy and no subscriptions, in exchange for smaller models and a bigger upfront bill.
Is local AI cheaper than a ChatGPT or Claude subscription?
ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro and Google AI Pro cost about $20 a month. A $607 mini PC equals 30 months of that. Here is the math, and why it isn’t a like-for-like trade.
Unified memory vs a GPU: Strix Halo, Mac and RTX compared
Capacity or bandwidth? Three ways to hold a model, compared on the two numbers that matter, straight from the spec sheets.
Is 16 GB enough for local AI in 2026?
16 GB of VRAM is the new sweet spot. 16 GB of system RAM alone is the bare minimum. Here’s where the line falls.
Where do your AI chats go, and does a local model keep them private?
Cloud chatbots keep your chats for 72 hours to 5 years depending on the service and your settings. A local model keeps them on your own computer.
Why VRAM matters more than GPU speed for LLMs
A faster GPU that can’t hold the model loses to a slower one that can. Here’s the one spec to read first.
Why local AI series
Why run AI locally
What running AI models on your own computer gives you: privacy, no subscription, offline use and control, plus the honest downsides. 5 more parts planned, one a week.