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Microsoft debuts Surface Laptop Ultra and RTX Spark hardware for local AI

Oct 8, 6:21 AM2 min read

Drafted by AI from the sources below, fact-checked by the Ajako Taja Editorial Team · How we use AI

AI Summary

Microsoft has unveiled new Surface hardware powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark chip, designed to run complex AI models locally on Windows 11.

Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box at a San Francisco event, introducing hardware designed to run AI models locally using Nvidia's RTX Spark chip.

The new Surface Laptop Ultra features Nvidia’s RTX Spark system-on-a-chip and starts at $2,599. According to Ars Technica, the device offers configurations with up to 128GB of LPDDR5x unified memory and Blackwell GPUs with either 5120 or 6144 cores. TechCrunch noted that high-end models of the laptop are priced up to $5,900, while The Verge reported that a kitted-out version from partner Asus could reach nearly $7,000.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also introduced the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a $5,999 workstation housed in an anodized aluminum chassis. The device is pre-configured with a developer-optimized build of Windows 11 and includes tools such as VS Code and GitHub Copilot CLI. Ars Technica reported the unit claims one petaflop of AI compute performance and features a cooling system with 1,000 air vents.

The hardware coincides with updates to Windows 11 aimed at local AI orchestration. TechCrunch reported the inclusion of "Execution Containers," a feature designed to sandbox AI agents. Nadella stated that the platform is moving toward a "harnessed layer" capable of managing multiple models, context, and memory. To attract developers currently using Apple hardware, Microsoft is offering trade-in rebates of up to $1,000 for MacBook Pros.

Ars Technica reported that a demonstration of the upcoming title Gears of War: E-Day showed the system's ability to handle AAA titles. By leaning on unified memory allocation rather than physical VRAM limits, the laptop can assign resources to local AI development and gaming tasks. Shipments for the new devices are scheduled to begin on October 16.

Background

The release follows a June announcement where Nvidia revealed agreements with Microsoft and other PC manufacturers to develop AI-ready PCs based on the RTX Spark architecture.