Windows Dev Kit 2023 Explained

Windows Dev Kit 2023
Codename:Project Volterra
Developer:Microsoft
Type:Compact desktop
Price:US$599
Os:Windows 11 Pro
Soc:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
Memory:32 GB RAM
Ramtype:LPDDR4X
Storage:512 GB SSD
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, three USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet
Dimensions:196 mm x 152 mm x 27.6 mm (8 in x 6 in x 1.1 in)
Weight:960g
Marketing Target:Software developers

Windows Dev Kit 2023 (also known as Project Volterra) is an ARM-based compact desktop computer for software developers, developed by Microsoft. It was announced during the Build conference on May 24, 2022, and was released on October 24, 2022.

Windows Dev Kit 2023 came pre-loaded with Windows 11 Pro and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 system-on-a-chip (SoC), 32 GB LPDDR4X RAM, 512 GB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, three USB-A, two USB-C (with DisplayPort Alternate Mode support), one Mini DisplayPort (with HBR2 support), and one physical Gigabit Ethernet port (embedded USB). It can support up to three external monitors simultaneously.[1] The USB-C ports provide USB-PD but the device itself cannot be powered by them. The device's shell design is "made with 20% recycled ocean plastic".

Windows Dev Kit 2023 contains a neural processing unit (NPU), enabling developers "to run hardware-accelerated AI tasks and machine learning workloads".[2]

Development

The Windows Dev Kit 2023 was developed by the Microsoft Surface and Qualcomm as the first developer kit for Windows on ARM.[3] The internals of the device are based on that of the Surface Pro 9 with 5G.[4] Unlike the ARM version of the Surface Pro, the System on a chip is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 rather than Microsoft's customized Microsoft SQ3.

Availability

The device was released on October 24, 2022, in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Microsoft starts shipping its Windows on Arm device for developers: Windows Dev Kit 2023. Jo Foley. Mary. October 24, 2022. ZDNet. November 19, 2022.
  2. Web site: Microsoft's new $599 Mac Mini-like PC is designed to improve Windows on Arm. Warren. Tom. October 24, 2022. The Verge. November 19, 2022.
  3. Web site: Bowden . Zac . May 28, 2022 . Project Volterra: Everything you need to know about Microsoft's ARM developer kit . March 9, 2024 . Windows Central.
  4. Web site: Cunningham . Andrew . November 15, 2022 . "Project Volterra" review: Microsoft's $600 Arm PC that almost doesn't suck . March 9, 2024.
  5. Web site: Davuluri . Pavan . Gallo . Kevin . October 24, 2022 . Available today: Windows Dev Kit 2023 aka Project Volterra . November 19, 2022 . Windows Experience Blog.