@keyboardpipette I don't know if the tools you are using can manage out of memory computing (https://python-bloggers.com/2025/06/handling-larger-than-memory-datasets-with-polars-lazyframe/) but if they can, my focus would be on CPU first if RAM is upgradable, so I would ditch anything below ryzen 7. Also, DDR4 won't kill your budget comapred to DDR5 but that means less powerful CPU (a ryzen AI CPU has an NPU if you want to play with LLM when Linux support is good for example). Right now I can't vouch for a model but I can add another brand GMKTek. I have one and it is nice at iddle, did not stressed it out yet