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The cheapest way to run gpt-oss 20B
OpenAI built it for 16 GB. Here are the three cheapest routes we priced, from a $607 mini PC to a complete RTX PC.
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- Ollama’s gpt-oss 20B download is 14 GB (MXFP4, as shipped).
- Cheapest fully-on-GPU route we priced: a 16 GB RTX 5060 Ti card (check the current price at Amazon), if you already own a PC.
- Cheapest complete box: a $607 mini PC with 32 GB RAM. It runs from system RAM, so it’ll be slower (not measured).
OpenAI’s smaller open model was built to fit in 16 GB. That makes it one of the best value targets in local AI, as long as you buy the right 16 GB.
The target
“can run on edge devices with just 16 GB of memory”
gpt-oss 20B has 21B total parameters, of which 3.6B are active per token, according to OpenAI. In Ollama it’s a 14 GB download with a 128K context window.
Route 1: you already have a desktop
Add a 16 GB card. The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC is sold at Amazon (check the current price there). The model fits on the card, tightly at long context (our estimate). Check your PSU against the card listing.
Route 2: you want one box today
The ABS Cyclone Aqua prebuilt with the same class of card was $1,599.99 at Newegg (Oct 27, 2026, about 12:35 PM CT). It ships with 16 GB of system RAM; we’d plan an upgrade to 32 GB.
Route 3: lowest total price
The Minisforum NAB6 Lite with 32 GB RAM was $607 (Oct 27, 2026, 1:06 PM CT). The 14 GB model fits in its RAM, with room for the OS (our estimate), but there’s no GPU, so expect slower replies. We haven’t measured how much slower.
Our pick
If you own a desktop with a free x16 slot and enough power, Route 1 is the cheapest way to run it fully on a GPU. Otherwise, Route 3 is the cheapest way to try it at all. Full details are in the gpt-oss 20B guide.
Hardware in this article
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC
Price shown at Amazon
Sold at Amazon.
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ABS Cyclone Aqua gaming PC (Core i7-14700F, RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, 16GB DDR5, 1TB SSD)
$1,599.99 Newegg · checked Oct 27, 2026, about 12:35 PM CT
Sold by Newegg, seen on the product page. Ships with 16 GB system RAM; plan an upgrade to 32 GB.
Check price at Newegg (opens in a new tab) Minisforum NAB6 Lite, Core i5-12600H, 32GB RAM / 500GB SSD
$607 Minisforum · checked Oct 27, 2026, 1:06 PM CT
Listed as available in the store data. Integrated graphics only: models run from system RAM.
Check price at Minisforum (opens in a new tab)More articles
Can a $600 mini PC really run local AI?
Yes, for small models, if you buy enough RAM. Here is what fits in a $607 Minisforum box, and what it can’t do.
Why VRAM matters more than GPU speed for LLMs
A faster GPU that can’t hold the model loses to a slower one that can. Here’s the one spec to read first.
Unified memory vs a GPU: Strix Halo, Mac and RTX compared
Capacity or bandwidth? Three ways to hold a model, compared on the two numbers that matter, straight from the spec sheets.
FAQ
What is the cheapest GPU for gpt-oss 20B?
Of the cards we priced, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC (sold at Amazon; check the current price there). The 12 GB Arc B580 is cheaper but cannot hold the 14 GB download fully.
Can gpt-oss 20B run without a GPU?
Yes, from system RAM. A 32 GB mini PC holds the 14 GB download. It runs slower than on a GPU; we have not measured how much.
