Buying-Guide
Used Server GPUs for Local AI: Tesla P40, V100, A100, and the eBay Goldmine
A Tesla P40 has 24GB VRAM for $175. A V100 has 32GB for $350. Server GPUs offer insane VRAM per dollar for local AI — if you can handle the quirks. Full breakdown with prices, benchmarks, and cooling fixes.
RTX 5090 for Local AI: Worth the Upgrade?
32GB GDDR7, 1,792 GB/s bandwidth, 67% faster than 4090 — but $3,500+ street price. Full benchmarks, value analysis, and who should actually buy one.
RTX 4090 vs Used RTX 3090 for Local AI: Which to Buy in 2026
Both have 24GB VRAM. One costs 2-3x more. RTX 4090 vs used RTX 3090 — real benchmarks, real prices, and who should buy which for local LLM inference and image generation.
M4 Max and M3 Ultra for Local LLMs: Apple Silicon in 2026
No M4 Ultra exists. Apple's Mac Studio pairs the M4 Max (128GB, 546 GB/s) with an M3 Ultra (192GB, 800 GB/s). Real benchmarks, pricing, and who should buy which for local AI.
Best Mini PCs for Local AI Under $300 in 2026
A $200 refurbished ThinkCentre runs 7B models at 5-8 tok/s. A $350 AMD Ryzen box hits 10-15 tok/s. Specific picks, real benchmarks, and what's worth buying.
RTX 3060 vs 3060 Ti vs 3070 for Local AI
The RTX 3060 has 12GB VRAM, the 3060 Ti and 3070 only have 8GB. For LLMs, the cheapest card wins — it runs 14B models the others can't fit. Speeds, prices, and when the 3070 still makes sense.
Best Used GPUs for Local AI: 2026 Buying Guide
RTX 3090 at $700-850 for 24GB, RTX 3060 12GB at $170-220, RTX 3080 at $350-400. Tier rankings, fair prices, what to avoid (skip the 8GB 3070), and where to buy safely.
Best GPU Under $500 for Local AI (2026 Picks)
Find the best GPU under $500 for running local AI in 2026. RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, used RTX 3080, RTX 3060 12GB, and RX 7700 XT compared with real benchmarks.
Best GPU Under $300 for Local AI (2026 Picks)
Find the best GPU under $300 for local AI. We compare the RTX 3060 12GB, RX 7600, and Intel Arc B580 with VRAM analysis, LLM benchmarks, and real pricing.
Used GPU Buying Guide for Local AI: How to Buy Smart
RTX 3060 12GB for ~$200, RTX 3090 24GB for ~$750—used GPUs offer 2-3x the VRAM per dollar vs new. Fair prices, scam red flags, and where to buy safely.
Used RTX 3090 Buying Guide for Local AI
24GB VRAM for $650-750—half the cost of an RTX 4090 with the same capacity. Fair prices, eBay red flags, PSU requirements (850W minimum), and how to test before your return window closes.
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Killed? Local AI Alternatives
The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB faces production cuts from GDDR7 shortages. See what is really happening and explore the best alternative GPUs for local AI in 2026.
GPU Buying Guide for Local AI: Pick the Right Card
The complete GPU buying guide for local AI. Covers RTX 3060 through 4090 with VRAM analysis, performance benchmarks, prices, and used vs new buying advice.