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What is an AI computer?
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In short: an AI computer is a normal desktop PC built around a powerful graphics card with a lot of its own memory. The AI model has to fit in that memory, so the memory is the first number to look at. Facts checked 12 November 2026; the sources are at the bottom of the page.
What is an AI computer?
An AI computer is an ordinary desktop PC built around one thing: a powerful graphics card with a lot of its own memory. That card does the heavy lifting when you run AI programs on your own machine instead of sending your work to a website.
What people use them for
- Chat and coding assistants that run privately on your own computer (for example open models such as Qwen or gpt-oss, run through programs like Ollama).
- Making pictures and video with programs such as ComfyUI.
- Always-on automation: a quiet machine that runs small models and tasks day and night.
The one number that matters most: graphics card memory (VRAM)
The model has to fit in the memory of the graphics card. If it does not fit, it runs far slower or will not run at all.
- 16 GB is fine for everyday work, smaller language models and normal picture making.
- 24 to 32 GB is where larger coding models fit (Qwen3-Coder-30B is about 19 GB at 4-bit) and heavier video models run comfortably.
- 48 GB and above holds bigger models and longer sessions.
An AI computer against a normal PC
This is how our AI builds differ from a PC that is chosen for games or everyday use. It describes what we do, not what every other PC maker does.
| A normal PC build | Our AI computer build | |
|---|---|---|
| What is chosen first | Chosen around the games or programs you want to run | The graphics card and its memory are chosen first, then everything else around them |
| Memory and storage | Sized to the job and the budget | A large memory kit and a big, fast NVMe drive, because AI models are big files |
| Case and cooling | A case that suits the parts | A case with fans fitted and room for the cooler and the card, checked against the makers' sizes |
| Power and noise | Power supply and cooler sized to the parts | A power supply with headroom and a quiet cooler, because these machines run for hours |
| Set-up and Windows | Often sold with Windows installed | Built and tested by us in Worcester; Windows is optional and not in the price; AI set-up is part of the build and test charge |
Which group, and which level?
We group our AI computers by what the machine is for. If you do one job, pick that job's group. If you do two or more, pick the all-rounder. If you are not sure, ask us.
| Group | Built around | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| AI for pictures | AI pictures | Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
| AI for video | Video editing and AI video | Levels 1, 2, 4 and 5 |
| AI for coding and assistants | Coding with AI and AI assistants | Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
| AI all-rounder | Coding, pictures and video on one computer | Levels 2, 4 and 5 |
| Always-on automation and data collection | A computer that stays on | Levels 1, 2 and 3 |
Within a group, the level is the step up. The graphics card and its memory are what change most from level to level.
| Level | Graphics card | Graphics card memory | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levels 1 to 3 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 16 GB cards (RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 classes) | 16 GB | Pictures, video (Levels 1 and 2), coding and assistants, all-rounder (Level 2). Always-on builds have no graphics card |
| Level 4 (workstation) | NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell | 32 GB | Pictures, video, coding and assistants, all-rounder |
| Level 5 (workstation) | NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell | 48 GB | Pictures, video, coding and assistants, all-rounder |
The memory sizes are the sizes of the cards. We do not give speed figures, because they depend on the program you run. Tell us what you run and we will say honestly which group and level suit you, even if that is the cheapest one.
See the builds: all AI computers
Want to know why we use workstation cards for Levels 4 and 5? Read Workstation graphics cards explained: RTX PRO against a normal RTX card.
Questions and answers
What is an AI computer?
An AI computer is an ordinary desktop PC built around one thing: a powerful graphics card with a lot of its own memory. That card does the heavy lifting when you run AI programs on your own machine instead of sending your work to a website.
What is graphics card memory (VRAM), and why does it matter most?
The AI model has to fit in the memory of the graphics card. If it does not fit, it runs far slower or will not run at all. So the amount of graphics card memory is the first number to look at.
How much graphics card memory is enough?
About 16 GB is fine for everyday work, smaller language models and normal picture making. 24 to 32 GB is where larger coding models fit (Qwen3-Coder-30B is about 19 GB at 4-bit) and heavier video models run comfortably. 48 GB and above holds bigger models and longer sessions.
What do people use an AI computer for?
Chat and coding assistants that run privately on their own computer (for example open models such as Qwen or gpt-oss, run through programs like Ollama), making pictures and video with programs such as ComfyUI, and always-on automation: a quiet machine that runs small models and tasks day and night.
Which of your AI computers should I choose?
We group them by what the machine is for: AI for pictures, AI for video, AI for coding and assistants, the AI all-rounder and always-on automation and data. If you do one job, pick that job's group. If you do two or more (for example coding and video), pick the all-rounder: it is specified for the most demanding of the jobs. Not sure? Ask us and we will say honestly which one fits, even if it is the cheapest.
Is Windows included in the price of your AI computers?
No. Windows is optional and not in the price. You can add a Windows 11 licence on the build's page, or have the computer built with no operating system.
Where the figures come from (read and checked on 12 November 2026): Wan 2.2 requirements guide (wan27.org); best local coding models by VRAM (zimaspace); RTX 5080 16 GB against RTX 5090 32 GB for AI art (evezone); RTX PRO 6000 against RTX 5090 for local AI (computingforgeeks). No prices and no speed figures are given on this page, because prices change and speed depends on the program you run.
Not sure which one? Tell us what you do
Tell us which programs you use and what you want to do, and we will say honestly which level suits you, or whether you need something different. Nothing is ordered and you pay nothing until you agree a price.