That’s probably one of the first questions that comes to mind, and it’s a good one.
Here’s what’s going on under the hood: XLlama is built on top of Ollama, which handles the actual model loading and execution. Ollama itself uses a backend called llama.cpp, designed to run models locally on your machine.
So when you ask “what kind of computer do I need,” the real answer is:
It depends on the model you choose.
Lighter models, lighter requirements #
Some models are small and efficient. Others are massive and hungry for memory. If you’re just getting started or working on a regular laptop, here’s the rule of thumb:
- If your laptop isn’t older than 5 or 6 years and you have at least 8GB of RAM, you’re good to go for small models
- You don’t need a dedicated GPU to get started. Small models like TinyLLaMA (around 638 MB) or Gemma 3B:1b (around 815 MB) can run on the CPU
- Things might run a bit slower on CPU, but they still work fine for basic use
What happens with bigger models? #
Once you go beyond the small ones, like 13B or larger, you’ll start to need more power:
- More RAM (16GB or more recommended)
- Ideally a dedicated GPU with enough VRAM (8GB or more)
- A system that can handle heavier memory loads without slowing down
In short, the bigger the model, the more your system needs to keep up.
So… Will it work? #
Most likely, yes, especially if you start small. XLlama won’t break anything. If a model is too large, it either won’t load or will run very slowly.
Just save your work first, especially any open Excel files, and give it a try. Better safe than sorry
