Will Your Computer Handle It?

The main limit is memory. A model has to fit in your computer’s RAM, or in a graphics card’s memory if you have one, to run at a usable speed.

As a rough guide from current beginner guides: 8 GB of RAM will run small models, 16 GB is recommended for comfortable performance with mid-size ones, and you should set aside 10 to 20 GB of disk space if you want to try a few. A dedicated graphics card is optional but helps a lot.

Bigger is not always better for you. A small model that responds instantly is often more useful for summarizing a page or rewording an email than a large one that crawls. If your computer struggles, it usually means the model is too big, not that the setup is wrong. Try a smaller one.

To find out what you have, look up your computer’s specs: on a Mac, About This Mac, and on Windows, System settings. Note the RAM figure. That single number tells you most of what you need to know.

Takeaway: RAM is the main limit. Around 8 GB runs small models, around 16 GB is comfortable, and a smaller model that runs well beats a bigger one that crawls.

Tools, prices and features in this area change quickly. Last reviewed September 2026.