What fun is having an AI workstation if you don’t dive deeply into what makes AI work. Inference is maybe 98% of AI tasks from image generation to machine learning and even basic chats and summaries. We rely on model makers to do the heavy lifting and provide models that we can use, either in the cloud or locally.
In my previous articles I discussed the balance between model quality and hardware requirements for running AI models locally. For this article I wanted to discuss software and how my AI Workstation build was designed to work with the software packages and how I can switch between them to complete certain tasks.
Building an AI workstation is rarely about buying the single fastest component on the market; it is about finding the specific "sweet spot" that fits your workload. Whether you are prioritizing VRAM capacity, PCIe lane availability, or thermal management, the right build depends entirely on how you plan to use your machine. The goal isn't just raw power, but the ability to run the tools you need efficiently.
This is the first article in a new AI Hardware series talking about the requirements for running AI Models and why paying attention to these things can help you build a better AI Workstation. If anything learning why a DGX Spark or Mac Mini work but, can also be really slow.
2026 marks the 30th year for Lexar and they started CES off with an announcement that they were going to be the global storage partner for the Argentina National Football (Soccer) Team and launched a number of AI focused storage devices.
Pro Gamers Group was available at CES showing of some of the latest products available in their catalog including a number of ultra light mice, a racing chair and some rather impressive GPU waterblocks.
A big concern with many enthusiasts is knowing if their 12VHPWR cable connection is going to burst into flames and make the evening news. Well, with this new PSU from Cooler Master you'll be alerted to impending danger before the system shuts down for safety.
There are several unicorns when it comes to computer hardware and while most are considered unobtainium a few stand as consumer hot rods. The MSI Lightning series of video cards are not only fast but have the hardware to push the limits.
PC components were rather scarce during CES 2026 though ASUS did have a good number of motherboards on display including the new X870E Dark Hero and a number of Glacial white designs.
When it comes to premier gaming controllers MadCatz jumps right to the top of the list. This company is well known for their RAT mice and for building the finest arcade style gaming controllers for competitive fighting games. At CES 2026 MadCatz is showing off the STRAFE gaming keyboard and is looking to be one of the most unqiue designs I have seen.
SilverStone surprised us all with this retro inspired computer case is quite amazing and extremely bold. The first thing you will notice is the unassuming beige that was common in the early PC era starting with the original IBM PCs and then carried forward for over twenty years. This case is built on the success of the FLP-01 and is proving to be even better.
STORMCRAFT PC Launches Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Gaming Desktop Lineup with GeForce RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 TiDeltaMate GPU Block - ROG Astral RTX 5080Shuttle XPC slim DH810 Barebone Review @ Madshrimps.beMSI MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 Monitor Review @ TechPowerUpMSI MEG X870E Ace Max Motherboard Review @ TechPowerUpDucky OK-M Keyboard ReviewLatest Audio Trends and A Sound Solution Looking for A ProblemARCTIC - Xtender Black (Clear Glass) Expands the SeriesTEAMGROUP Earns Multiple International Patents, Marking a New Milestone in Data Security and Next-Gen Memory ApplicationsFine-Tuning LLMs on a Local Multi-GPU AI Workstation