Best PC for local LLMs
Last updated
The best PC for local LLMs has an NVIDIA GPU with the most VRAM you can afford. A used RTX 3090 is the low-cost 24 GB route and an RTX 5090 build gives 32 GB. Olares One is our pick for a ready shared PC.
Olares One → Computer for local LLMs → Ollama · vLLM · LM Studio → Local models without the cloud
How much VRAM does a local LLM PC need?
Enough to hold your largest model plus its context, because VRAM sets which models run at full speed. Plan on roughly 0.5-0.6 GB per billion parameters plus a few GB for context (approximate rule of thumb at 4-bit). A 24 GB card holds 32B models. No single consumer card in our data holds a 70B model.
| Model size | Memory needed (approximate, 4-bit) |
|---|---|
| 8B | about 5 GB |
| 14B | about 9 GB |
| 32B | about 19-20 GB |
| 70B | about 40 GB |
| 120B | about 65 GB |
What are the routes to the best PC for local LLMs?
You can build around a used RTX 3090, build around a new RTX 5090, or buy a finished machine like Olares One. All of them run CUDA, so Ollama, vLLM and LM Studio work. They differ in memory, in price and in how much of the PC you assemble and maintain yourself.
| Route | GPU memory | Price (read 12-13 Nov 2026) | Your work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used RTX 3090 tower | 24 GB GDDR6X | about 3,800 USD (SpecPicks estimate, no case) | Buy parts, build, install software |
| RTX 5090 desktop build | 32 GB GDDR7 | card 1,999 USD at NVIDIA, plus the rest of the PC | Build around a 575 W card; NVIDIA lists 1000 W system power |
| Olares One | 24 GB GDDR7 (RTX 5090 Mobile) | 4,999 USD at Olares | Plug in and activate |
For a PC that several people or devices will share, we recommend Olares One, because accounts, remote access and one-click Ollama come with it. Build around a used RTX 3090 if you work alone and price comes first, as the RTX 3090 guide explains. If 70B is your daily model, skip the PC and read Mac or PC.
Does system RAM matter once you have the GPU?
It matters once a model outgrows VRAM. The runtime can keep part of the model in system RAM and let the CPU work on it, which runs but runs slower. In Olares' own test, gpt-oss-120b on Olares One reached about 36 tokens per second with part of the model in its 96 GB of system memory.
The SpecPicks tower uses 64 GB of DDR5, which leaves less room for that kind of spill. For models that fit in VRAM, the CPU and RAM barely matter, so spend on the GPU first. The desktop guide covers machines with far more memory.
Questions & answers
What GPU should a local LLM PC have?
An NVIDIA card with at least 24 GB of VRAM if you want 32B models. A used RTX 3090 and the RTX 5090 Mobile in Olares One both have 24 GB; NVIDIA lists the desktop RTX 5090 with 32 GB.
Is a gaming PC good for local LLMs?
Often, yes. A gaming PC with a high-VRAM NVIDIA card runs Ollama and LM Studio well. The VRAM amount matters far more than the CPU.
Sources for this entry
- Used RTX 3090 tower build: maker's page (Maker-published)
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (desktop card): maker's page (Maker-published)
- Olares One: maker's page (Maker-published)
- Olares One FAQ (Olares docs) (Company-published)
Continue this reading path
How the related websites connect
Cite this entry
Best Computer for Local LLM. “Best PC for local LLMs.” Content reviewed 13 November 2026.
https://bestcomputerforlocalllm.com/best-pc-for-local-llm/