robotnurse.io

./gear — what I recommend, and why

Hardware I'd actually deploy — compared honestly.

No sponsored picks, no fake benchmarks — just the boxes I'd run for local AI, with the numbers that decide it. If you buy through a link here I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you; that's the deal, and it's disclosed.

Buyers' notes

Best Mac Studio config for local LLMs — 2026

M4/M2 Ultra vs Max, how much unified memory to actually buy, and which Mac Studio stays fast running 13B–30B models locally without the cloud bill.

Mac mini vs Mac Pro for local AI — which is worth it

Mac mini handles most local LLM work; Mac Pro only pays off for multi-model pro rigs. A straight-talking comparison with the numbers that matter.

How much RAM do you need for 7B, 13B, and 30B models?

Unified-memory budgets for 7B/13B/30B open-weight models at q4–q8: what fits in 32GB, 64GB, and why 96GB+ buys comfort, not just headroom.

amdgpu vs Mac for local inference — a fair fight

AMD Linux boxes vs Apple silicon for local LLM inference: bandwidth, tooling pain, power draw, and the honest verdict on which is easier to own.

Mac Studio vs GPU PC for local AI — an honest comparison

Perf per dollar, power draw, noise, and software ease, measured how ownership feels. When the Mac Studio wins, when the GPU PC wins, and when neither.

Best local AI setup under $3,000 — three builds that work

Three price tiers — under $800, under $2,000, and the full $3,000 — with the parts list, what each runs comfortably, and what to skip.

RAM vs VRAM: how much memory do local LLMs actually need?

The memory math for local models: weights per parameter at q4/q8, KV-cache and context costs, unified vs discrete VRAM, and why offloading to system RAM hurts.

Turn an old gaming PC into a local AI box

You already own most of the machine. Here's what your VRAM actually runs, why a used 24GB card is the classic move, and the walkthrough from bare tower to serving a model.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: some links on this page and its sub-pages are affiliate links — if you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend hardware I'd actually deploy. All claims field-tested, no vendor briefs.

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