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Tom's Hardware has released an explainer breaking down core terminology behind large language models, covering concepts such as models, tokens, weights, KV cache, quantization and inference. The guide is aimed at readers following the growth of local AI hardware, such as Nvidia's RTX Spark, and is intended to support the publication's ongoing AI coverage.
Tom's Hardware Premium published its weekly roundup covering TP-Link's efforts to satisfy US regulators amid scrutiny over its China ties, including a letter of intent with Key Tronic to assemble Wi-Fi 8 routers in Mississippi and nearly $1 billion pledged toward US R&D and manufacturing. The roundup also details testing of Nvidia's new RTX Spark-based Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra for gaming performance, plus an examination of whether costly audiophile-grade headsets are worth it for gamers.
A review of the ASUS ProArt P16 laptop equipped with NVIDIA's RTX Spark chip and 128GB of RAM found strong GPU, NPU and AI benchmark performance, outperforming a MacBook Pro with M5 Max in Geekbench 6 GPU tests and UL Procyon AI benchmarks. However, the system scored lower than a Snapdragon X2 Elite-powered ASUS A16 in PCMark 10 and single-threaded CPU tests. The laptop reportedly ran large local AI models like Qwen3.8 27B alongside demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077 without performance slowdowns.
Nvidia's RTX Spark chip is now shipping in laptops from multiple manufacturers, with prices starting at $2,599 for a 24GB Asus ProArt P14 at Best Buy. Configurations scale up to 128GB of unified memory, with models like the Asus ProArt P16 reaching nearly $7,000 and HP's OmniBook line topping out around $5,300. Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra with 48GB of memory is also among the initial retail offerings.
Microsoft has launched the Surface Laptop Ultra, a new flagship Windows laptop built around Nvidia's new RTX Spark N1X 'superchip,' aimed at handling on-device AI, gaming and content creation in one machine. At 4.4 pounds, it's lighter than the 16-inch MacBook Pro but is the thickest among the new wave of N1X-powered laptops, including HP's OmniBook Ultra.
Microsoft has released the Surface Laptop Ultra, a premium Windows-on-Arm laptop built with Nvidia to showcase its new RTX Spark chips, which are designed to run AI models locally alongside demanding games and creative software. The top-spec model costs $5,900 and features a 15-inch 3:2 MicroLED touchscreen reaching 2,000 nits, an all-aluminum design, and a new Magnetic Connect charging port built into a USB-C port.
NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform pairs a Blackwell GPU with large unified RAM, targeting AI developers who want to run large local models like a 125B-parameter Qwen3.8-Flash-Next variant. NVIDIA says the chips deliver RTX 50-series gaming features including DLSS 5, with performance comparable to an RTX 5070 at 1440p, and a new DLSS Frame Generation mode that pushed Cyberpunk 2077 to 280fps. Being Arm-based, RTX Spark relies on Microsoft's Prism emulator for x86 compatibility, with NVIDIA naming supported titles like Gears of War: E-Day, NBA 2K27 and World of Warcraft: Forever, and says it is working with anti-cheat vendors on multiplayer support.
Nvidia has introduced RTX Spark PCs, compact desktop systems built around its chips, which reviewers note resemble a shift PC makers may follow in laptop design going forward. The devices run on an architecture requiring emulation for some software and are built with AI workloads as a core consideration, rather than an add-on.
Nvidia is launching RTX Spark laptops on October 16th, its first major push into Arm-powered Windows PCs since the ill-fated Surface RT. The company says these machines will run existing Windows software including Adobe, Office, Blender, and games with kernel-level anti-cheat, alongside local AI workstation capabilities with up to 128GB of RAM.
Adobe VP Deepa Subramaniam said the company has rearchitected Photoshop, Premiere and Substance 3D Painter to run on NVIDIA's new RTX Spark system-on-chip, which brings local AI processing to Windows laptops and small desktops aimed at creatives. Subramaniam claims the optimized apps run twice as fast on AI-driven tasks and general editing workflows, with improvements including real-time previews in Photoshop, faster rendering and color-grading in Premiere, and quicker texturing and file handling in Substance 3D Painter.
Microsoft announced the upcoming release of its Surface Laptop Ultra, set for October 18, with a base price of $2,599. The device features a 15-inch HDR display, Nvidia RTX Spark processor, up to 128GB of memory, and a sleek aluminum design, emphasizing its focus on AI and creative workflows. The launch was highlighted at a San Francisco event attended by top executives from Microsoft and Nvidia.
Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Ultra, featuring Nvidia's new RTX Spark SoC with up to 6144-core GPU and 128GB memory, available from October 16. Alongside, the company revealed the RTX Spark Dev Box, a high-performance AI development machine with 128GB memory and a custom Windows 11 build, capable of delivering one petaflop of AI compute power. These products aim to enhance AI and gaming capabilities for developers and enthusiasts alike.