Nvidia's RTX Spark Chip Hits Surface Laptop Ultra, Weak at Gaming

Nvidia's RTX Spark Superchip now powers a version of Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra, and a hands-on review from Tom's Hardware says the chip handles local AI tasks well but struggles to keep up when gaming.

What is the RTX Spark Superchip?

The RTX Spark Superchip is Nvidia's entry into Microsoft's Windows on Arm lineup, built to run inside the Surface Laptop Ultra, according to Tom's Hardware. Windows on Arm machines use processors built on the Arm architecture instead of the traditional Intel or AMD x86 chips found in most Windows laptops. Microsoft has pushed the platform in recent years as a way to get longer battery life without giving up Windows software.

How does it do on AI tasks?

Tom's Hardware reports the RTX Spark Superchip impresses when running AI workloads directly on the laptop, rather than sending tasks to a remote server. That matters for anyone who wants AI tools to work without an internet connection, or who wants to keep data on the device instead of in the cloud. The review credits Nvidia's chip design for the strong local AI showing inside the Surface Laptop Ultra.

Why isn't it strong at gaming?

Despite carrying the RTX name familiar to PC gamers from Nvidia's graphics card lineup, the chip is not built the same way as a dedicated gaming GPU, and Tom's Hardware found gaming performance to be the laptop's weak point. The review frames gaming as a secondary use case for this hardware, with AI performance as the clear selling point instead.

Does Windows on Arm run normal PC games?

Windows on Arm has historically had a rockier relationship with game compatibility than traditional Windows PCs, since many PC games are written for x86 chips and need to be translated to run on Arm hardware. That translation step can cost performance, which lines up with what Tom's Hardware found when testing the Surface Laptop Ultra for gaming specifically.

Who should buy this laptop Monday morning?

For someone who wants a laptop to run AI chatbots, image tools, or other AI software locally without relying on the cloud, Tom's Hardware's review suggests the Surface Laptop Ultra with the RTX Spark Superchip is worth a look. For someone shopping for a laptop mainly to play PC games, the review's finding is a reason to keep comparing other options before buying.

Anyone setting up a new laptop like this at a home desk may also want to plan how cables and power bricks will sit on the desk before the hardware arrives; HTT's guide to desk cable routing that survives a move covers the basics.

Tom's Hardware did not publish specific frame-rate or benchmark numbers in the portion of the review summarized here, so shoppers who want exact performance figures should check the full review directly before buying.