Processor boxes and laptop listings are now full of "AI" badges, "TOPS" figures and Copilot+ PC logos. If you're building or buying a desktop, it's fair to ask whether any of it matters, and whether you'll miss out on Windows features without it.
This is an explainer. Forge PC hasn't tested NPU performance; the requirements and figures below come from Microsoft, Intel and AMD and are credited at the end.
What an NPU is
An NPU (neural processing unit) is a part of a processor designed specifically for running AI models efficiently. Your CPU can run AI tasks, and your graphics card can run them very quickly, but both use more power to do it. An NPU is built to handle steady, low-power AI jobs in the background, such as blurring your webcam background or transcribing speech, without spinning up the GPU or slowing everything else down.
That's why NPUs first became important in laptops, where battery life matters most. On a desktop that's plugged in, with a graphics card that may be far more powerful for AI, the case is weaker.
What TOPS means
TOPS stands for trillion operations per second. It's the headline number for AI performance. Intel's specifications, for example, quote "NPU Peak TOPS (Int8)". Be careful comparing figures from different companies, or between an NPU and a graphics card, because they aren't always measured at the same precision. TOPS also says nothing about which software can actually use the hardware.
What makes a Copilot+ PC
Copilot+ PC is a Microsoft label with specific hardware requirements. According to Microsoft's Windows 11 specifications page (checked 12 November 2026), a Copilot+ PC must have:
A processor with an NPU capable of 40+ TOPS. Microsoft says this currently includes AMD Ryzen AI 300 and 400 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V and 300V series, and Snapdragon X series processors.
16GB of DDR5 or LPDDR5 memory.
A 256GB SSD or UFS storage.
Microsoft adds that a PC with a 40+ TOPS NPU but less memory or storage is not a Copilot+ PC, although it can still run AI apps locally.
What Copilot+ PCs get
Microsoft's Copilot+ PC page lists features that need the NPU, including:
Recall (preview): search for things you've seen on screen by describing them.
Click to Do (preview): suggested actions for text and images on screen.
Live Captions with real-time translation.
Windows Studio Effects: background blur, eye contact and automatic framing for webcams.
Cocreator in Paint and image tools in Photos.
Microsoft says Recall, Studio Effects, Live Captions translation and super resolution in Photos run on the device, while Cocreator, generative fill and some Photos features need an internet connection. It also notes that features vary by device, region and over time.
Can a desktop PC be a Copilot+ PC?
Not if you're building with today's socketed desktop processors. None of the chip families on Microsoft's list is a socketed desktop CPU:
Desktop processor | NPU | Meets 40 TOPS? |
|---|
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus (LGA 1851) | Intel AI Boost NPU, 13 TOPS (Int8); Intel quotes 36 TOPS for the whole chip | No |
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G (AM5) | Up to 16 TOPS | No |
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D (AM5) | No NPU listed on AMD's specification page | No |
Intel's figures are from its official specification page for the 270K Plus, which also lists Windows Studio Effects support. So some NPU features can work on desktop chips below 40 TOPS, even though the PC isn't a Copilot+ PC. AMD's figure for the 8700G is from its product page.
Some mini PCs use laptop-class chips from the Ryzen AI 300 or 400 series, which are on Microsoft's list. Check the full specification of any specific system, because the memory and storage also have to meet Microsoft's requirements.
What about your graphics card?
Graphics cards are very capable at AI. NVIDIA lists 759 "AI TOPS" for the RTX 5060 Ti and 988 for the RTX 5070, far above any NPU figure. These numbers aren't directly comparable with Microsoft's NPU requirement, though, and a powerful GPU doesn't make a PC a Copilot+ PC. Microsoft's requirement is specifically for an NPU.
If you want to run chatbots or image generators on your own PC, a graphics card with plenty of video memory matters much more than an NPU. Our VRAM guide explains why memory capacity matters, and our best graphics card guide covers current cards.
Do you need one?
If you're building a gaming desktop: no. Today's desktop processors don't qualify, and the processors that perform best in games don't have powerful NPUs. Spend your budget on the CPU and graphics card that suit your games; our best CPU guide covers the options.
If you're buying a laptop and like the sound of Recall, live translation or webcam effects: a Copilot+ laptop makes sense. Check that the exact model is listed as a Copilot+ PC before buying.
If you want local AI for chatbots or image generation: look at GPU video memory, not NPU TOPS.
Our verdict
An NPU is an efficient, low-power AI engine that matters most for battery-powered laptops. Copilot+ is Microsoft's label for PCs with a 40+ TOPS NPU, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and as of 12 November 2026 no socketed desktop processor meets it: Intel's Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a 13 TOPS NPU and AMD's Ryzen 7 8700G is rated up to 16 TOPS. For a gaming or general-purpose desktop, that's no reason to worry. You still get Windows 11, and your graphics card will do far more for local AI than an NPU would. Choose a Copilot+ PC only if specific features such as Recall or live caption translation matter to you, and in practice that means a laptop or a laptop-chip mini PC.
