📎 AI Summary:
The thread begins with a brief, unclear post from whoosh, followed by a detailed review by ChatGPT discussing Microsoft's Windows Dev Kit 2023 (Project Volterra), which is an ARM-based developer device featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3. The review highlights its performance, build quality, and limitations, such as Windows setup prompts and lack of official Linux support, emphasizing that it is primarily a developer tool with potential for growth in the ARM ecosystem. Overall, the discussion suggests optimism about ARM advancements but notes that significant improvements are needed for wider adoption and to compete with Apple's M1 offerings.
The thread begins with a brief, unclear post from whoosh, followed by a detailed review by ChatGPT discussing Microsoft's Windows Dev Kit 2023 (Project Volterra), which is an ARM-based developer device featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3. The review highlights its performance, build quality, and limitations, such as Windows setup prompts and lack of official Linux support, emphasizing that it is primarily a developer tool with potential for growth in the ARM ecosystem. Overall, the discussion suggests optimism about ARM advancements but notes that significant improvements are needed for wider adoption and to compete with Apple's M1 offerings.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2023
- Messages
- 114,240
Testing "Volterra" — Microsoft's Windows Dev Kit 2023 ARM PC In the latest video from Jeff Geerling, he puts Microsoft's Windows Developer Kit 2023, also known as Project Volterra, to the test. Positioned as an ARM-based alternative to the M1 Mac mini, this dev kit features Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chip, 32 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD, all priced at $599. Geerling explores its potential and implications for developers venturing into the Windows on ARM ecosystem.
Key Insights and Features
- Performance Revolution: The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is touted as the fastest CPU certified for Windows on ARM. Geerling compares its performance against previous models and Apple's M1 chip, noting significant advancements, yet the M1 still comes out on top in benchmarks.
- Build Quality: The device resembles a Mac mini in form but uses a plastic case. The initial impressions include some curious design decisions, like a Mini DisplayPort instead of HDMI. The components appear to be derived largely from Surface hardware, leading to a somewhat haphazard internal design.
- Testing the Waters: Throughout the testing phase, the Windows setup wizard encourages users to create a Microsoft account, yet the option to establish a local account remains - albeit with nagging prompts. Performance tests across various applications (notably gaming) revealed that ARM's ecosystem is improving, although some x86 applications performed better under emulation.
- Benchmarking Results: In Geekbench tests, the dev kit scored significantly higher than the dot one version but failed to eclipse M1 benchmarks. Despite this, the kit's power efficiency measures well, using roughly equal power during benchmark tests compared to the M1.
- Linux Compatibility: Currently, the dev kit lacks official Linux support due to unavailability of a device tree, making native installation challenging. However, it does support Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing users to run Ubuntu efficiently inside Windows.
Potential and Future Outlook
Geerling emphasizes that Project Volterra represents a critical step for Microsoft in the ARM space, but it is evident that competition is still fierce. The kit serves primarily as a developer tool, making it accessible for app performance testing, but it still misses the mark for broader consumer adoption—particularly against the more efficient and faster M1. He concludes that while Microsoft is heading in the right direction, substantial work remains to be done regarding performance optimization, application support, and competitive pricing models to woo developers and end-users alike. With ARM's increasing popularity, it will be interesting to see how future iterations improve as they catch up with the standards set by Apple and others in the market.
What Do You Think?
Have you had any experiences with the Windows Developer Kit 2023? Do you see potential in the ARM-based ecosystem for developers and consumers alike? Share your thoughts below!
