> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/Crosstalk-Solutions/project-nomad/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hardware Requirements

> Minimum and recommended hardware specs for running N.O.M.A.D., including storage estimates and GPU acceleration guidance.

N.O.M.A.D. itself is lightweight — it's the tools and content you choose to install that determine the hardware you actually need. A barebones installation of the Command Center runs on modest hardware, but getting the most out of the AI tools requires a capable, ideally GPU-backed machine.

<Note>
  Project N.O.M.A.D. is not sponsored by any hardware manufacturer and is designed to be hardware-agnostic. Hardware listed here is for comparison purposes only.
</Note>

## Minimum specs

For a barebones installation of the Command Center and non-AI tools:

| Component | Minimum requirement               |
| --------- | --------------------------------- |
| Processor | 2 GHz dual-core or better         |
| RAM       | 4 GB system memory                |
| Storage   | 5 GB free disk space              |
| OS        | Debian-based (Ubuntu recommended) |
| Internet  | Required during installation only |

## Optimal specs

To run LLMs and other AI tools at full performance:

| Component | Recommended                                 |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7 or better      |
| RAM       | 32 GB system memory                         |
| Graphics  | NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD equivalent or better |
| Storage   | 250 GB free disk space, preferably on SSD   |
| OS        | Debian-based (Ubuntu recommended)           |
| Internet  | Required during installation only           |

<Tip>
  More GPU VRAM allows you to run larger AI models. The community sweet spot is an AMD Ryzen 7 with 16 GB+ RAM. For detailed build recommendations at three price points ($150–$1,000+), see the [Hardware Guide](https://www.projectnomad.us/hardware).
</Tip>

## Storage requirements

Storage needs scale with the content you download. Plan accordingly:

| Content              | Approximate size            |
| -------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Full Wikipedia       | \~95 GB                     |
| Khan Academy courses | \~50 GB                     |
| Medical references   | \~500 MB                    |
| Maps (per US state)  | \~2–3 GB                    |
| AI models            | 10–40 GB depending on model |

Start with essentials and add more as needed. Check available storage at any time in **Settings → System**.

<Tip>
  Use an SSD for your primary storage. Disk speed directly affects AI response times and content search performance.
</Tip>

## GPU acceleration for AI

Running AI locally requires significant computing power. Adding an NVIDIA GPU with the [NVIDIA Container Toolkit](https://docs.nvidia.com/datacenter/cloud-native/container-toolkit/latest/install-guide.html) can improve AI response speeds by **10–20x or more** compared to CPU-only operation.

* CPU-only systems typically achieve 10–15 tokens per second
* GPU-accelerated systems typically achieve 100+ tokens per second

N.O.M.A.D. automatically detects NVIDIA GPUs when the Container Toolkit is installed. If you add a GPU after initial setup, go to **Settings → Apps**, find the AI Assistant, and click **Force Reinstall** to reconfigure the AI container with GPU support.

<Note>
  AMD GPUs are supported for general use. NVIDIA GPUs with the NVIDIA Container Toolkit provide the best AI acceleration support in the current release.
</Note>

## Further reading

For curated build recommendations at three price points — from a budget $150 build up to a $1,000+ powerhouse — see the full hardware guide:

[Hardware Guide → projectnomad.us/hardware](https://www.projectnomad.us/hardware)