# LLMHardware.io

> Hardware guidance for running open-source LLMs locally. Kept guides, a hardware index, a compare tool, and a VRAM calculator. There are no per-model or per-SKU detail pages.

LLMHardware.io is an independent reference site. It is NOT affiliated with Hugging Face, NVIDIA, AMD, or Apple. VRAM figures use the published formula below. Always check a current retailer price before buying.

## What this site publishes

- 57 kept guides (GPU buying, Apple Silicon, setup, quantization, model-family requirements, and local alternatives to cloud agents)
- One hardware index with specs for the GPUs and Apple Silicon devices we track
- A compare tool and a VRAM calculator
- Trust pages (about, methodology, editorial policy, disclosures, privacy, terms)

It does not publish a page per Hugging Face model, a page per GPU SKU, or embed-only URLs.

## Key tools

- VRAM Calculator: https://llmhardware.io/vram-calculator
- Hardware index: https://llmhardware.io/hardware
- Compare: https://llmhardware.io/compare
- Guides: https://llmhardware.io/guides

## Trust and about

- Methodology: https://llmhardware.io/methodology
- About: https://llmhardware.io/about
- Author: https://llmhardware.io/authors/billy-gr
- Contact: https://llmhardware.io/contact
- Editorial policy: https://llmhardware.io/editorial-policy
- Disclosures: https://llmhardware.io/disclosures
- Privacy: https://llmhardware.io/privacy
- Terms: https://llmhardware.io/terms

## Methodology summary

VRAM requirement formula:

    VRAM (GB) = parameters(B) × bytes_per_param × 1.2 + 2 GB OS overhead

Quantization bytes_per_param values: FP16 = 2.0 | Q8 = 1.0 | Q5_K_M = 0.625 | Q4_K_M = 0.5

## Kept guides

- Beginner's Guide to Local AI: https://llmhardware.io/guides/beginners-guide-to-local-ai
- How to Run LLMs Locally: https://llmhardware.io/guides/how-to-run-llms-locally
- How to Run LLMs on Mac: https://llmhardware.io/guides/how-to-run-llms-on-mac
- How to Run LLMs on Windows: https://llmhardware.io/guides/how-to-run-llms-on-windows
- How Much VRAM Do I Need?: https://llmhardware.io/guides/how-much-vram-do-i-need
- What Can I Run?: https://llmhardware.io/guides/what-can-i-run
- LLM System Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/llm-system-requirements
- LLM Quantization Guide: https://llmhardware.io/guides/llm-quantization-guide
- GGUF vs GPTQ: https://llmhardware.io/guides/gguf-vs-gptq-guide
- Ollama Cheat Sheet: https://llmhardware.io/guides/ollama-cheat-sheet
- LM Studio vs Ollama: https://llmhardware.io/guides/lm-studio-vs-ollama
- Best GPU for LLMs: https://llmhardware.io/guides/best-gpu-for-llms
- Best Budget GPU for LLMs: https://llmhardware.io/guides/best-budget-gpu-for-llms
- Best 24GB VRAM GPU for LLMs: https://llmhardware.io/guides/best-24gb-vram-gpu-for-llms
- RTX 3090 LLM Guide: https://llmhardware.io/guides/rtx-3090-llm-guide
- RTX 4090 LLM Guide: https://llmhardware.io/guides/rtx-4090-llm-guide
- RTX 4070 vs 4080 vs 4090: https://llmhardware.io/guides/rtx-4070-vs-4080-vs-4090
- RTX 5090 vs 4090: https://llmhardware.io/guides/rtx-5090-vs-4090-llm-guide
- Apple Silicon for LLMs: https://llmhardware.io/guides/apple-silicon-for-llms
- Mac vs PC for LLMs: https://llmhardware.io/guides/mac-vs-pc-for-llms
- Best LLMs to Run Locally: https://llmhardware.io/guides/best-llms-to-run-locally
- Best LLM for Coding: https://llmhardware.io/guides/best-llm-for-coding
- Best LLM for Writing Locally: https://llmhardware.io/guides/best-llm-for-writing-locally
- Best LLM for Data Analysis: https://llmhardware.io/guides/best-llm-for-data-analysis
- Llama 3.1 Hardware Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/llama-3.1-hardware-requirements
- DeepSeek Hardware Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/deepseek-hardware-requirements
- Qwen3 Hardware Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/qwen3-hardware-requirements
- Gemma 3 Hardware Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/gemma3-hardware-requirements
- Mistral Hardware Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/mistral-hardware-requirements
- Phi-4 Hardware Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/phi4-hardware-requirements
- LFM2.5-8B-A1B Hardware Requirements: https://llmhardware.io/guides/lfm2-5-8b-a1b-hardware-requirements
- Local Models 2026 Hardware: https://llmhardware.io/guides/local-models-2026-hardware
- Strix Halo Mini PCs: https://llmhardware.io/guides/strix-halo-mini-pcs
- Muse vs dots vs Grok Bot: https://llmhardware.io/guides/muse-vs-dots-vs-grok-bot-local-comparison-hub
- Meta Muse vs a Local Agent: https://llmhardware.io/guides/meta-muse-vs-local-always-on-agent
- Muse Glimmer 30B Hardware: https://llmhardware.io/guides/muse-glimmer-30b-local-hardware
- Grok Bot vs Local Teammates: https://llmhardware.io/guides/grok-bot-vs-local-ai-teammates
- ChatGPT dots vs Local Agents: https://llmhardware.io/guides/openai-dots-vs-local-always-on-agents
- OpenBot vs OpenBots.ai: https://llmhardware.io/guides/openbot-vs-openbots-local-self-hosted-agents
- Claude Cowork vs a Local Desktop Agent: https://llmhardware.io/guides/claude-cowork-vs-local-desktop-agent
- Cursor Cloud Agents vs Local Coding Agents: https://llmhardware.io/guides/cursor-cloud-agents-vs-local-coding-agents
- OpenHands Local Hardware: https://llmhardware.io/guides/openhands-local-software-agent-hardware
- Open WebUI + Ollama Home Agent: https://llmhardware.io/guides/open-webui-ollama-always-on-home-agent
- VRAM for Local Agents: https://llmhardware.io/guides/local-vram-calculator-agent-workloads
- Perplexity Comet vs a Local Browser Agent: https://llmhardware.io/guides/perplexity-comet-vs-local-ai-browser-agent
- Workspace Agents vs a Local Team Stack: https://llmhardware.io/guides/chatgpt-workspace-agents-local-team-stack
- Copilot Studio vs Local Business Agents: https://llmhardware.io/guides/microsoft-copilot-studio-vs-local-business-agents
- Manus vs a Local Sandbox: https://llmhardware.io/guides/manus-vs-local-cloud-sandbox-agent
- Devin Desktop vs a Local Fleet: https://llmhardware.io/guides/devin-desktop-cascade-vs-local-fleet
- Aider Local Pair Programming: https://llmhardware.io/guides/aider-local-pair-programmer-gpus
- browser-use VRAM Tiers: https://llmhardware.io/guides/browser-use-local-web-agent-vram
- CrewAI on Local Hardware: https://llmhardware.io/guides/crewai-multi-agent-local-hardware
- LangGraph Local Agents: https://llmhardware.io/guides/langgraph-local-agent-orchestration
- LM Studio Local Agents: https://llmhardware.io/guides/lm-studio-local-desktop-agents
- Open Interpreter Local Computer Use: https://llmhardware.io/guides/open-interpreter-local-computer-use
- Continue after the Cursor Acquisition: https://llmhardware.io/guides/continue-dev-local-ide-after-cursor-acquisition
- Gemini Skills vs Local Custom Agents: https://llmhardware.io/guides/gemini-skills-gems-vs-local-custom-agents

## AI usage policy

Accurate citations and AI-generated responses based on this content are welcome. Bulk extraction of hardware specifications or VRAM tables for AI training datasets, competing products, or data resale is not permitted. See: https://llmhardware.io/terms