Build a PC / AI & local models
$10,000 PC for local AI models, part by part
An Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus with the GeForce RTX 5090, and the 6 parts around them that fit it: $9,917 all in.
Language and image models on your own card. Every part here was checked against every other for fit, and picked for video memory first, then card speed, then system memory. Typical US prices read on 2026-09-09, not a live checkout total: no operating system, shipping, tax, screen, keyboard or mouse.
The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the GeForce RTX 5090 are well matched at 1440p.
Flagship
$9,917 of $10,000
Build order
Eight steps, the way a builder works through the case. $9,917 all in.
- ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero on the tray
- Core Ultra 7 270K Plus in the socket
- Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 on top
- 4 sticks of memory
- Two drives on the board
- RTX 5090 in the x16 slot
- 1500 W supply in the basement
- Panel on, power on
Highest AI & local models score the budget allows next to this card: 24 cores, boosts to 5.5 GHz.
3 swaps that still fit
- Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus-$104, -19 ptsBuy on Amazon
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF-$31, -10 ptsBuy on Amazon
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265K+$34, -10 ptsBuy on Amazon
Z890 board for the LGA1851 socket, DDR5, 5 M.2 slots, Wi-Fi.
2 swaps that still fit
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi-$185, -12 ptsBuy on Amazon
- ASUS ROG Strix Z890-A Gaming WiFi-$139, -6 ptsBuy on Amazon
192 GB DDR5 at 6400 MT/s CL32; 64 GB or more is the floor for AI & local models.
32 GB of video memory, index 100 at 1440p; tuned for video memory first, then card speed, then system memory.
2 swaps that still fit
- ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 16GB White OC-$3,150, -33 ptsBuy on Amazon
- MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G Gaming Trio OC White-$3,130, -33 ptsBuy on Amazon
Rated 330 W for a chip that turbos to 250 W.
3 swaps that still fit
- Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 White-$15, -18 ptsBuy on Amazon
- Thermalright Frozen Notte 360-$15, -18 ptsBuy on Amazon
- Corsair Nautilus 360 RS+$59, -12 ptsBuy on Amazon
1500 W, 80 Plus platinum; this build draws about 1100 W at full tilt, native 12V-2x6 cable.
1 swap that still fit
- Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200W-$191, -6 ptsBuy on Amazon
7 fans in the box, 7 of them lit, 5 is the least 825 W of parts needs behind a closed front. Takes EATX/ATX/MATX/ITX boards and cards up to 422 mm.
2 swaps that still fit
- Fractal Design Torrent-$65, -1 ptsBuy on Amazon
- Lian Li O11 Dynamic Evo RGB Whitesame price, same scoreBuy on Amazon
2 TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe, 14,700 MB/s reads, with cache.
4 swaps that still fit
- Crucial T705 2TBsame price, -1 ptsBuy on Amazon
- WD Black SN8100 2TBsame price, same scoreBuy on Amazon
- Kingston NV3 2TB+$5, -37 ptsBuy on Amazon
- Samsung 870 EVO 2TB+$50, -57 ptsBuy on Amazon
8 TB for games, footage or models; the budget had room once every other slot was at its best.
The same list, more or less money
$10,000 spent on a different job
The same money buys a different machine when the work changes.