GPUs suited for AI image generation
This list includes GPUs suited for AI image generation (Krea, Flux, SDXL, Pony, Anima, Illustrious, and others). As a rule of thumb, (quantized) 2–6B models need 8 GB of VRAM, 12B models need 16 GB, and 20B models need 24 GB. At the same VRAM capacity, newer generations also run faster.
Listing criteria: models with 16 GB of VRAM or more (the mainstream tier), ordered by VRAM capacity.
What to Check Beyond the Score
- Many tools in this field assume CUDA, so non-NVIDIA GPUs (AMD/Intel) face extra hurdles to get running.
- At the same VRAM capacity, newer generations generate faster.
- Tiers reflect the model landscape as of 2026 and may shift as the technology evolves.