Microsoft Unveils $6,000 Surface RTX Spark Dev Box and New Nvidia-Powered AI PCs

The Surface Laptop Ultra comes in two base models, one starting at $2,600 and another with a more powerful chip starting at $3,700. Prices rise with more memory and storage options up to $5,900, and Microsoft says the highest-end device is already out of stock. The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box starts at $6,000 and is available for pre-order now for $5,999.99. It includes Microsoft development tools such as VS Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, WSL and PowerShell 7.

Microsoft first offered a glimpse of the Dev Box earlier this year, and reporters got a first good look at the event. Engadget described the machine as relatively thin but long, sitting on an elevated base that takes up a sizable footprint. It is covered in 1,000 air vents, making it look a bit like an oversized Lego brick. Microsoft has not shared a weight, but Engadget said the device was surprisingly heavy, at least 5 to 6 pounds and possibly heavier, and awkward to hold with one hand because of the base. Microsoft has previously called it a compact PC, but Engadget said it would not describe it that way.

The Dev Box has a 6,1444-core GPU, 128GB of memory and a 2TB SSD, according to Engadget. It was not shown powered on at the event. The machine has three USB-C ports, a headphone jack, HDMI, ethernet and a USB-A port on the back. Engadget noted it lacks a card slot, unlike Apple's Mac Studio, but said the ports should be enough for a monitor and peripherals. The publication also said the Dev Box seems less like a portable machine and more in line with Apple's Mac Studio, a beefy desktop with a smaller overall footprint.

Microsoft's pitch for both computers is that they can run AI models on-device locally and for free, using the CPU, GPU, unified memory and hardware modifications such as superior cooling. They run a revamped Windows 11 that includes a feature called Execution Containers, which Microsoft says makes it easier to sandbox AI agents. CEO Satya Nadella said the feature will be available for all Windows 11 users.

Nadella said at the event: "One of the things we realized in the last 3-4 years is that just having a model doesn't do much for anything. You really do need to orchestrate, and you need to have memory outside of the model. You need to have this harnessed layer that is able to take multiple models plus context, plus memory, and the action space." He added that Microsoft is enabling that "not just for our apps but apps for anyone's agent. That's what the Windows platform is all about going forward."

The devices are aimed squarely at developers. Microsoft is offering up to $1,000 off to people who trade in a MacBook Pro, reflecting Macs' popularity among developers and AI agent enthusiasts, particularly in Silicon Valley. Microsoft also says the Surface PCs, with their powerful graphics processing, can handle content creation, video processing and gaming.

Nvidia announced in June that it had secured agreements with Microsoft and a host of other PC makers to develop AI- and agent-ready Windows PCs based on the RTX Spark chip, but details were scant at the time. On Wednesday, Dell also announced details of its previously announced Dell XPS 16 Creator Edition PC. It is available for pre-order now for later October delivery at Best Buy, priced at $3,800.

Editor's Summary

Microsoft announced Nvidia RTX Spark-powered Surface PCs, led by the $6,000 Surface RTX Spark Dev Box and the Surface Laptop Ultra starting at $2,600, along with a Windows 11 update that adds Execution Containers for sandboxing AI agents. The machines are designed for developers who want to run AI models locally, and Microsoft is offering up to $1,000 in trade-in credit for MacBook Pros. Dell also detailed its RTX Spark-based XPS 16 Creator Edition, priced at $3,800.