RTX 3060
MoE Offload on RTX 3090: The Curve Is Linear, Not a Cliff (2026)
Every offloaded layer on a 3090 costs about half a millisecond, with no knee anywhere in the curve. Firsthand sweep, the two rules it broke, and a new 26B MoE.
Gemma 4 26B in 2GB RAM: The MoE Memory Ladder Explained
One model, three places its experts can live: VRAM, RAM, SSD. We measured the first two on Gemma 4. TurboFieldfare just added the third.
Qwen 35B-A3B on RTX 3090: 157 tok/s With No Offload (2026)
The whole 35B sits on a 24GB card with 2.4 GiB spare, no expert offload. Firsthand numbers, the harness caveat, and why max offload loses to a 3060.
RTX 3060 vs 3060 Ti vs 3070 for Local AI
The RTX 3060 12GB now costs $90 MORE than the 3060 Ti and still wins for LLMs. Why the used market flipped, what $/GB reveals, and when the 3070 makes sense.
Best Used GPUs for Local AI: 2026 Buying Guide
RTX 3090 at ~$1,200-1,400 for 24GB, RTX 3060 12GB at $200-400, 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
Used RTX 3060 12GB at $200-400, RTX 3090 24GB at $1,000-1,400 as the 2026 memory shortage bites. Fair ranges, scam red flags, the Ti-badge trap, where to buy safely.
What Can You Actually Run on 12GB VRAM?
Qwen 3.5 9B at Q8_0 runs near-lossless on 12GB, Qwen 2.5 14B at Q4 hits 30 tok/s, and SDXL generates without workarounds. Every model that fits on an RTX 3060 12GB and the best upgrade path.
Used Optiplex + RTX 3060 = Local AI for Under $450 (Full Build)
Build a local AI PC for under $450: used Dell Optiplex + RTX 3060 12GB runs Qwen 3.5 9B at 35-45 tok/s. Full parts list, where to buy, 2026 pricing.