Don't choose a GPU. Choose what you want to run.
Turn a model and precision into a memory target, then compare only the hardware that clears it. No live-price theater—every cost on this page is labeled as a dated reference.
Smallest memory footprint. Includes the same 15% planning allowance used in model guides; 4 indexed single devices clear it.
Memory first. Performance second. Price in context.
GPU Hunter separates “will it load?” from “how fast will it run?” and “what will the whole system cost?” Those are different questions and should not be collapsed into one score.
Name the workload
Choose the actual model and precision. A card cannot be a good value if it cannot load the weights you need.
10 model profilesClear the memory floor
See the baseline VRAM requirement, then add an explicit buffer for the runtime and context you expect to use.
Q4 · Q8 · FP16Compare what fits
Only then weigh throughput, power, platform support, and dated reference cost across compatible devices.
600 comparisonsStart from a model profile.
Useful points on the memory curve.
These are orientation points from the current index, not live deal claims. The right answer still depends on your model, runtime, and complete system.
GeForce RTX 3090
A practical memory tier for quantized local models, backed by a broad CUDA software ecosystem.
GeForce RTX 5090
The indexed consumer option with 32GB for workloads that need more headroom than 24GB cards provide.
Apple M3 Ultra
Unified memory changes which very large quantized models can fit on one desktop-class system.
Go deeper before you buy.
Best GPUs for Running AI Models Locally in 2026: Ranked by tok/s per Dollar
GPU Hunter's community-sourced index compares 7 GPUs from $749 to $9,499 using representative Llama 8B Q4 throughput and dated reference costs. The RTX 3090 leads on value; the RTX 5090 is the overall consumer pick.
Read the analysis →budget-gpu28 minBest Budget GPU for AI Under $1,000 in 2026: Every Option Ranked
We ranked every GPU under $1,000 for local AI inference. The used RTX 3090 at $749 wins on VRAM. The RTX 5070 Ti at $749 wins on tok/s. Here is the full breakdown with benchmarks.
Read the analysis →amd23 minAMD vs NVIDIA for Local AI Inference in 2026: ROCm Has Finally Caught Up
ROCm 7.2 changed the game. The AMD RX 7900 XTX with 24GB at $849 now runs Ollama, llama.cpp, and vLLM out of the box. We compare the full AMD vs NVIDIA stack for local inference — hardware, software, and real-world experience.
Read the analysis →Find the memory floor before shopping the market.
Calculator results are planning estimates, not compatibility or availability guarantees. The methodology explains the data, caveats, and reference-date policy.