Perplexity Brings Local AI Agent to Windows, Targeting High-End RTX Graphics Cards
Perplexity's Portable Computer, an on-device AI agent for complex tasks, is now available on Windows systems equipped with Nvidia RTX GPUs carrying at least 24GB of memory.
Local AI Agent Expands Beyond Linux
Working alongside Nvidia, Perplexity has made Portable Computer available for Windows machines through its existing Windows application. Until now, the capability existed only on Linux systems. The same hardware constraints apply: users need a GeForce RTX or RTX PRO GPU with a minimum of 24GB of VRAM, along with either a Pro or Max subscription to Perplexity. The tool originally debuted on the DGX Spark as a fully local AI agent environment.
Launched for Linux on August 25, Portable Computer represents a locally-running variant of Perplexity Computer, the company's agent designed to handle multistep workflows. Unlike simple conversational responses, Perplexity Computer can devise strategies, execute subtasks through integrated tools and connectors, and deliver structured outcomes. The cloud-based version consumes credits from a user's account. Portable Computer mirrors this functionality but executes on the user's own machine, avoiding credit consumption. The agent retains the ability to delegate work to cloud-based models when the user explicitly permits it, according to Perplexity's statements. Nvidia announced on September 3 that Windows support would arrive shortly.
New Capabilities and Integration Points
The Windows iteration introduces additional functionality. Perplexity highlighted the addition of scheduled recurring tasks and local MCP servers for desktop applications. Nvidia detailed connectors that link to Microsoft Word, Google Drive, Gmail, Slack, and GitHub. Users can download a local model directly from within the application with a single click. Nvidia cited Qwen 3.8 27B as one example of a local model option. Support for DGX Station hardware is expected in the near future, Nvidia indicated.
Hardware Requirements and Eligible Cards
Perplexity's Chief Executive, Aravind Srinivas, stated on X on September 14 that the release delivers "unmetered local intelligence on every Windows PC running on Nvidia hardware and Perplexity harness." The 24GB VRAM threshold functions as a memory specification rather than a generational cutoff, spanning across Nvidia's consumer product range. Consumer-grade cards meeting the 24GB or higher requirement include the RTX 3090 and 3090 Ti (both 24GB), the RTX 4090 (24GB), and the 5090 (32GB). The RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, which carries 24GB, has not been explicitly confirmed by either organization. Qualifying RTX PRO Blackwell variants comprise the 4000 (24GB), 4500 (32GB), 5000 (available in 48GB or 72GB configurations), and 6000 (96GB).
Broader Rollout Plans and Market Implications
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Nvidia outlined additional initiatives in a September 3 announcement preceding IFA, the Berlin consumer electronics exhibition. The company signaled that RTX Spark Windows PCs from Lenovo and Acer would ship in October, and that two other local agents, Hermes Agent and OpenClaw, would receive comparable streamlined local deployment options. For owners of qualifying RTX systems, the Windows launch eliminates the requirement to purchase additional hardware. Alternatively, users could retrofit an existing compatible desktop with a used qualifying graphics card at a cost potentially lower than the DGX Spark Founders Edition, priced at $4,699.
