A budget under EUR 2,000 may cover a targeted upgrade of an existing workstation. What matters is which parts can still sensibly be reused. This worked example separates existing hardware, a documented GPU price and assumed project reserves.
The starting point: a suitable computer is already available
The example assumes a maintained desktop with a capable multicore processor, 64 GB of existing memory, a suitable motherboard and a sufficiently large case. The upgrade incurs no new purchase price for these parts. Their residual value, age and eventual replacement remain economically relevant; they are not treated as worthless here.
The plan is for one workstation running local text models: for example, drafts, short summaries or limited coding assistance followed by review. Model version, quantisation and context are defined during the pilot. A shared company service with availability requirements needs separate planning.
EUR 1,652 including VAT as an upgrade example
Calculation dated 15 October 2026. The budget is EUR 2,000 including assumed Austrian VAT of 20%, equivalent to EUR 1,666.67 net. The following configuration totals EUR 1,376.67 net or EUR 1,652.00 including VAT. Only the explicitly identified GPU price is a reseller price observed that day; the other new items are budget allowances.
| Component | Allowance and prerequisite | Net | Including VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU, motherboard, 64 GB RAM | Already available and checked for the pilot; no additional purchase. | EUR 0.00 | EUR 0.00 |
| Graphics card | ASUS DUAL-RTX5060TI-O16G, 16 GB. ALTERNATE AT price observed on 15 October 2026, excluding shipping. | EUR 636.67 | EUR 764.00 |
| NVMe SSD | Budget for 1 TB; check the exact form factor, model and price before ordering. | EUR 200.00 | EUR 240.00 |
| Power supply | Budget for a suitable quality power supply, for example in the 650–750 W range following an assessment of the complete system. | EUR 120.00 | EUR 144.00 |
| Cooling | Reserve for suitable fans or adjustments to the cooling system. | EUR 60.00 | EUR 72.00 |
| Small parts | Reserve for required brackets and suitable cables. | EUR 30.00 | EUR 36.00 |
| Case, monitor and input devices | Reuse suitable existing components. | EUR 0.00 | EUR 0.00 |
| Operating system | Ubuntu without a paid additional subscription is assumed; setup is included separately. | EUR 0.00 | EUR 0.00 |
| Setup and initial checks | Assumed project budget; actual effort depends on the existing system and model. | EUR 300.00 | EUR 360.00 |
| Shipping reserve | Assumed overall buffer for the additional components purchased. | EUR 30.00 | EUR 36.00 |
| Total | EUR 1,376.67 net + EUR 275.33 VAT | EUR 1,376.67 | EUR 1,652.00 |
That leaves EUR 348 below the illustrative gross limit. This buffer does not replace an up-to-date calculation. Additional RAM, a new motherboard, a replacement case or more setup work can use it up. Prices and availability are checked again before procurement; the actual invoice follows the specific quotation and applicable VAT treatment.
Why the same calculation does not describe a completely new purchase
Existing parts make the difference here. As a cross-check, the reviewed reseller listed the Kingston KF560C36BBEK2-64 64 GB kit at EUR 1,374 including VAT; the item could not be ordered at the time. Together with the GPU mentioned above, that would already be EUR 2,138 including VAT, before CPU, motherboard, SSD or case.
This compares two specific listed components, not a minimum price for the whole market. A different platform, 32 GB of RAM or a checked used device can produce a different result. A completely new build therefore needs a current, complete bill of materials. Earlier low memory prices should not be carried into today’s budget without checking.
The graphics card must fit the existing system
For the example ASUS card, the manufacturer specifies 16 GB GDDR7, 229 × 120 × 50 mm, 2.5 occupied slots and one 8-pin power connector. Its 550 W power supply recommendation refers to a particular complete configuration. Power supply quality, connectors, other loads, airflow and space in the actual computer are checked as well.
A free full-length PCIe slot alone does not prove suitability. Electrical connectivity, occupied neighbouring slots, firmware and manufacturer-specific cases or power supplies can limit an upgrade. Current Ollama documentation lists the RTX 5060 Ti as a supported GPU family; the operating system, driver and runtime versions still belong in the test. The product name does not replace successful commissioning.
What this workstation is intended to do
A suitable compact text model can provide useful preparatory work on the workstation. The example promises neither a particular token rate nor a blanket number of simultaneous users. Long contexts, large models, additional image processing and GPU use by other applications change memory requirements and response times.
- Acceptance: test recurring real tasks, subject-matter quality, longer inputs and response times.
- Storage: allow space for model versions, working data and updates. An extra SSD is not a backup.
- Ongoing costs: also budget for electricity, support, backup and eventual replacement. The table covers the one-off upgrade.
- Used devices: include condition, return options, memory, cooling and a suitable power supply in the comparison.
DAXS first assesses the existing equipment and the intended task. Upgrading, a new workstation or an external or hybrid service can then be compared sensibly. The guide to Local LLMs and infrastructure explains the framework; the pilot under representative load supports acceptance. For a shared service, the article Ollama and Open WebUI on the company network explains the additional operational components.
Discuss your existing workstation and AI budget
Sources and observed prices, 15 October 2026: ALTERNATE AT: GPU price (external link) · ALTERNATE AT: listed RAM example (external link) · ASUS: exact card specifications (external link) · Ollama: hardware support (external link) · Ubuntu: download and use (external link) · USP: Austrian standard VAT rate (external link). Items without documented prices are explicitly our own planning allowances, not current reseller quotations.
