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.
We all know about the troubles associated with the 12VHPWR PCI Express power connector causing issues in certain systems and making cable management a major problem in most builds. Well, beQuiet has a solution and goes beyond the simple 90-degree connector or questionable multi colored plugs.
Patriot was showing a number of performance related products including some high speed 8000+ Mhz DDR5 memory, super-fast PCI Express Gen 5 NVMe SSDs and a rare sight, an overclocking demonstration using mainstream DDR5 memory modules.
While the Aorus division of Gigabyte had a cozy ballroom booth in the Venetian Convention center Gigabyte Enterprise was slinging in out on the main show floor in the Las Vegas Convention center and I was amazed at the server machines they had on display including the Gigabyte S183-SH0.
The ASUS ROG NUC is an ultra compact gaming computer with all of the power and connections you would normally expect from a high-end gaming laptop, without the limitations of a laptop. You’ll be able to use full sized keyboards and mice along with your favorite gaming monitors and audio system. All of this in a 2.5 liter form factor and none of the mess.
Alphacool is a German watercooling company that has been around for years and have started aggressively expanding they product offerings to include most of the popular trends including distro plates, custom fittings, custom GPU blocks and now Custom Full Monoblocks for ANY motherboard.
What makes Digital Experience different is that the event is only open to invited and registered media and is one of the only pre-CES events where the companies attending are guaranteed that if they speak with someone that person will be a member of the press.
A tribute to the very first ROG motherboard from 20 years agoEpomaker RT100 Pro Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Review @ APH NetworksASUS ROG Strix X870E-A Gaming Wi-Fi 7 Neo @ TechPowerUpPC Board Game Crossovers that are Actually GoodLIAN LI VECTOR V150 INF: Infinity Mirror Front Panel Meets Compact m-ATX PerformanceADATA Unveils New Product Strategy to Accelerate Its Expansion into the Next AI EraPop 2 Vision by FractalAlphacool Apex Grip Fittings & AdapterBLUETTI FridgePower, BlueCell 200, Display 1 Uninterruptible Power Supply Review @ APH NetworksCORSAIR FRAME 4000D WOOD RS & 4000X RS Review @ Vortez