Microsoft has launched preorders for its high-end, AI-optimized desktop PC, which is designed for developers and scheduled to begin shipping in November.

Microsoft has opened preorders for the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a high-end desktop computer specifically engineered for local AI development. The device, which was first introduced alongside the Surface Laptop Ultra, is priced at approximately $6,000 and is slated to begin shipping to customers in November. It is part of Microsoft’s Project Zenith initiative, aiming to provide a specialized hardware platform for developers working with complex AI models.

Hardware Specifications and Design

The Dev Box features an anodized aluminum chassis designed with a 3D-printed grille containing 1,000 air vents to assist with heat management. Internally, the machine is powered by Nvidia’s Arm-based RTX Spark N1X platform, paired with 128GB of unified memory and a 2TB removable SSD. The device operates within a 100-watt thermal envelope and includes a 6,144-core GPU. While Microsoft has not provided an official weight, reports indicate the machine is substantial, with a footprint that sits on an elevated base. The rear port selection includes USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1b, and DisplayPort 2.1, along with a headphone jack. Unlike some competing workstations, the device does not include a card slot, and Microsoft notes that internal components beyond the storage are not customizable.

Software and Development Capabilities

As a Project Zenith device, the Dev Box comes pre-installed with a developer-optimized version of Windows 11 Pro. It includes a suite of pre-loaded development tools and runtimes, such as Visual Studio Code, Git, GitHub CLI, GitHub Copilot, WSL, Python, and Node. The system is specifically optimized for local AI workflows, with Microsoft stating it is capable of running models that exceed 120 billion parameters. These capabilities are intended to support tasks like prototyping AI agents and testing large-scale AI models directly on-device.