Cloudzat GPU & Local AI Hardware Intelligence
How Much VRAM Do I Need for a Local LLM?
Model parameters are only the starting point. Quantized weights, context cache, runtime workspace, concurrent users and additional loaded models all consume GPU memory. This calculator turns those inputs into a planning range.
Calculate local LLM VRAM
Estimate model weights, context cache and runtime headroom.
Quantization changes the weight footprint
Lower-bit quantization reduces model size and can make larger models practical on consumer GPUs. The trade-off can include quality loss, runtime restrictions or reduced speed depending on the format.
Long context consumes additional memory
The key-value cache grows with context length and active sequences. A model that fits at 4K context may become tight at 32K or with several simultaneous users.
Minimum is not the same as comfortable
A model that barely fits can fail when the runtime reserves workspace or another application uses the GPU. Comfortable headroom helps prevent out-of-memory errors.
CPU offload changes the system requirement
Moving layers to system memory can reduce VRAM pressure, but it increases RAM needs and usually reduces speed. It should be planned deliberately rather than treated as free capacity.
Current GPU catalogue
Current Amazon offers identified by exact GPU model. Use the calculator above for workload-specific ranking.
| GPU offer | VRAM | Stack | Power | Condition | Price | Price/GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Intel Arc B580WEELIAO GUNNIR Intel Arc B580 Index 12GB GDDR6 2670MHz Dual Fan Graphics Card (192-bit, PCI-Express 4.0 x8, HDMI/DisplayPort, Supports 4k) |
12GB GDDR6 |
oneAPI / DirectML | 190W 600W PSU |
Used | $319.00 | $26.58 | View on Amazon |
 Intel Arc B580ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC & PRO-650G 650W 80+ Gold PSU | Efficient 1440p Gaming Bundle |
12GB GDDR6 |
oneAPI / DirectML | 190W 600W PSU |
New | $349.18 | $29.10 | View on Amazon |
 Intel Arc B580ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC & Challenger CL-650G 650W Gold PSU | Modern Gaming & Streaming Bundle |
12GB GDDR6 |
oneAPI / DirectML | 190W 600W PSU |
New | $358.88 | $29.91 | View on Amazon |
 Intel Arc A770 16GBWEELIAO GUNNIR Intel Arc A770 Photon 8GB OC GDDR6 2400MHz Triple Fan White Graphics Card (256-bit, PCIe 4.0, HDMI/DisplayPort, Supports 4k) |
16GB GDDR6 |
oneAPI / DirectML | 225W 600W PSU |
New | $369.00 | $23.06 | View on Amazon |
 Radeon RX 9070GIGABYTE Gaming Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB GDDR6 PCI Express 5.0 ATX Graphics Card GV-R907GREGAMING OC-12GD |
16GB GDDR6 |
ROCm / DirectML | 220W 650W PSU |
New | $534.99 | $33.44 | View on Amazon |
 Radeon RX 9070XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE Triple Fan Gaming Edition with 12GB GDDR6 HDMI 3xDP, AMD RDNA 4 RX-97GRE29B7 |
16GB GDDR6 |
ROCm / DirectML | 220W 650W PSU |
New | $549.99 | $34.37 | View on Amazon |
 Radeon RX 9070PowerColor Reaper AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB GDDR6 |
16GB GDDR6 |
ROCm / DirectML | 220W 650W PSU |
New | $549.99 | $34.37 | View on Amazon |
 GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GBZOTAC Gaming Geforce RTX 5060 Ti Amp Nvidia 16 Gb Gddr7, W129163508 (Amp Nvidia 16 Gb Gddr7) |
16GB GDDR7 |
CUDA | 180W 600W PSU |
New | $569.99 | $35.62 | View on Amazon |
Frequently asked questions
How much VRAM does a 7B Q4 model need?
The weights are often around 4GB to 5GB, but context cache and runtime overhead mean a comfortable GPU target is higher.
Why do two runtimes report different memory use?
File format, quantization implementation, cache precision, kernels and workspace allocation can differ between runtimes.
Does more context always improve an LLM?
No. Longer context increases memory and processing cost, and model quality may not improve for every task.