Microsoft opens preorders for $6,000 local AI desktop
The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box pairs an NVIDIA chip with 128GB of unified memory and is planned to ship in November.
Microsoft has opened preorders for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a desktop computer aimed at developers running AI workflows locally. It costs $6,000, with shipments planned to begin in November.
The system uses NVIDIA’s RTX Spark N1X chip and includes 128GB of unified memory and 2TB of storage. The storage is removable; other components cannot be customised, according to Engadget, which reported the preorder opening and specifications.
The Dev Box comes with Windows 11 Pro and developer software including Visual Studio Code, Git, GitHub CLI, GitHub Copilot and Python. Microsoft says the computer can run AI models exceeding 120 billion parameters, a capability claim not independently verified in the supplied reporting.
Engadget compares the machine with NVIDIA’s DGX Spark. It reports that the DGX Spark launched at $3,999 and that a 128GB model now sells for nearly $7,000, though it does not specify a date or retailer for that current price.
At $6,000, the Dev Box is positioned as specialised hardware for local AI development, with its price likely to limit its appeal beyond enterprise buyers.
