Impressive details of the Windows Dev Kit 2023

The newest Arm gadget designed for Windows developers, the Windows Dev Kit 2023 (also known as "Project Volterra"), features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that offers best-in-class AI computing capabilities, several ports, and a stackable design for desktop and rack deployment. Specifically designed with all the tools you need to create, test, and debug native Windows apps for Arm.

Detailed Information

The manufacturer has officially confirmed the handset's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chipset. Contrary to the Surface Pro 9, the SoC is not being rebranded as a Microsoft SQ3. It includes a 512GB SSD, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, 32GB PDDR4x RAM, and the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3. There is a single SKU. In addition to technology, software plays a significant role in this narrative. The new Arm-native developer toolchain, also revealed at Build, is what matters. You can currently use a native Arm version of Visual Studio 17.4 preview. This is significant because the full version of Visual Studio is a large application. Arm64EC, which is already functional and will facilitate the development of Arm64 apps using x86 components. The theory is that Qualcomm's Arm processors outperform Intel's CPUs in AI workloads. The DSP in the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 has a 15 TOPS capacity, whereas the Qualcomm AI Engine, which combines the DSP with additional chipset elements, has a 29 TOPS capacity. Microsoft shows this on the Surface Pro 9 with 5G, which is powered by Arm and offers background noise cancellation and eye gaze correction capabilities. You'll have the perfect setting for developing programs that use the neural processing unit with the Windows Dev Kit 2023.

Device Specs

• 512GB of quick NVMe storage and 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM
• Gen 3 computing platform for the Snapdragon® 8cx
• Ports: Mini-Display (HBR2 compatibility), 3 USB-A, 2 USB-C, and Ethernet (RJ45)
• 20% recycled ocean plastic was used to make this
• Accessible through the Microsoft Store

Build a Display

• Set up your primary display on the mDP port to configure this device. MDP port is the default for the UEFI output.
• When you switch on the device, you won't see the UEFI starting screen if the display is solely connected to USB-C. After pressing the power button, the display doesn't light up for about 25 seconds.
• An active mini-DP to HDMI adapter is needed when using the mDP port to connect an HDMI monitor.
• Use USB-A ports rather than USB-C to connect an external keyboard or mouse. Only sporadically will connecting a keyboard or mouse through USB-C work.

Install Power

• A 90W power supply is included with the dev kit. Attach the device's power supply to the back, on the leftmost side.
• When not used, the device will automatically enter "Connected Standby Mode." Using OS controls, you can decide whether to hibernate the device.
• The firmware supports and manages fan control. When necessary, the fan will turn on to control the thermal load.
• AC can only power the system because the device has no battery. There isn't a DC mode to compare to.

Price and Release Date

At its Build developer conference earlier this year, Microsoft unveiled Project Volterra, a new development platform for building AI applications. It's being released as Windows Dev Box 2023 today, and it costs $599 right now.