Nvidia’s RTX Spark chip targets the Mac Studio, with Asus and MSI calling the first dibs


The battle for compact high-performance desktops is heating up, and Nvidia appears ready to enter territory long dominated by Apple’s Mac Studio. At Computex 2026, MSI unveiled a new AI-focused mini PC called the MSI EdgeMesa N AI, powered by Nvidia’s brand-new RTX Spark platform.

The launch signals Nvidia’s growing ambition to push AI computing beyond traditional gaming desktops and into compact creator and workstation machines. More importantly, it also shows PC brands moving aggressively toward Apple’s increasingly successful formula of powerful desktop performance inside small, minimalist systems.

A tiny AI workstation built around Nvidia’s new RTX Spark platform

MSI’s EdgeMesa N AI is one of the first mini PCs announced using Nvidia’s new RTX Spark chip architecture. The system is designed specifically for AI workloads, local generative AI applications, creative software acceleration, and edge computing tasks.

While MSI has not fully disclosed every hardware detail yet, the company confirmed the mini PC combines Nvidia RTX Spark graphics with Intel-based processing hardware inside a compact chassis aimed at creators, developers, and AI-focused users.

The system is being positioned less like a traditional gaming PC and more like a local AI workstation capable of handling generative AI models, accelerated creative tasks, and productivity workloads directly on-device. That positioning immediately invites comparisons to Apple’s Mac Studio, which has become increasingly popular among creators, video editors, and developers looking for desktop-class performance in smaller form factors.

MSI says the EdgeMesa N AI is designed for local AI inference, AI-assisted workflows, content creation, and advanced multitasking scenarios that traditionally required much larger desktop systems.

MSI is not alone either. Other PC manufacturers, including ASUS, are also expected to adopt Nvidia’s RTX Spark platform for their own compact AI-focused desktops. ASUS is also pushing the RTX Spark platform far beyond laptops with its new ProArt Mini PC, a compact workstation measuring just 150 × 150 × 51mm. Despite the small footprint, the system supports up to 128GB unified LPDDR5X memory, delivers up to 1 petaflop of AI performance, and uses Nvidia’s 20-core Grace CPU paired with a Blackwell RTX GPU featuring 6,144 CUDA cores.

ASUS says the mini PC can handle 90GB+ 3D scenes, 120B-parameter large language models with up to one million tokens of context, and AI-assisted creative workloads locally. It also includes 10GbE networking, PCIe Gen 5 x4 storage expansion, and a thermal solution rated for up to 140W sustained workloads.

Why this matters

For years, Apple largely dominated the premium compact workstation category with devices like the Mac Studio and Mac mini. Now, Nvidia, alongside major PC brands, appears ready to challenge that space directly. The RTX Spark platform represents Nvidia’s attempt to create a standardized AI-focused desktop ecosystem for Windows PCs, particularly as AI workloads become more important for creators, developers, researchers, and businesses.

The shift also highlights a much larger industry transition happening right now. AI acceleration is rapidly becoming just as important as traditional CPU and GPU performance in next-generation PCs.

What happens next

MSI has not yet confirmed pricing or final availability details for the EdgeMesa N AI. However, the company is expected to reveal more specifications and launch timelines later this year. ASUS is also preparing its own RTX Spark-powered ProArt Mini PC lineup, which takes the concept even further with up to 128GB unified LPDDR5X memory, Nvidia Blackwell-based graphics, 10GbE networking, PCIe Gen 5 storage support, and claimed AI performance reaching 1 petaflop in an ultra-compact chassis.

As more manufacturers adopt Nvidia’s RTX Spark platform, compact AI desktops could quickly become one of the biggest new hardware categories emerging after the generative AI boom. Instead of massive workstation towers, creators and developers may soon have access to AI-focused machines small enough to sit beside a monitor while still handling local LLMs, advanced rendering, and accelerated AI workflows.

The bigger question is whether Windows-based AI mini PCs from brands like MSI and ASUS can truly compete with Apple’s ecosystem advantage and silicon efficiency. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the fight for the future of desktop computing is no longer just about raw performance. It is increasingly about who can build the smartest AI workstation in the smallest possible box.



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Recent Reviews


What streaming platform do you think of when you hear the term “comfort shows?” There are plenty of great comfort shows over on Netflix, or maybe available with an HBO Max subscription. But for me, I always think of Peacock.

With a Peacock subscription, there are so many options for classic comfort shows that will no doubt make your day—and provide you with that comfy need that we all so desperately crave. Here are seven that you must check out.

The Office

A classic comedy

Dwight in The Office. Credit: NBC

I mean, you knew it was going to be on here, don’t lie.​​​​​​​

The Office was a nine-season sitcom that took the world by storm. Starring Steve Carell as Michael Scott, this iconic workplace comedy follows the professional and personal lives of workers at a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

I think The Office is a show that defines the word “comfort.” Anytime I ask people what they usually put on in the background, The Office is always the first choice because it’s easy to follow, has characters you want to root for, and is so freaking funny (even if some of those jokes have not aged well all these years later). It’s certainly worth a shot

Parks And Recreation

Amy Poehler is the best

Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation speaking to a camera Credit: NBC

Another great comfort show that also happens to come from the same developer of the U.S. version of The Office (the wonderful Greg Daniels), Parks and Recreation is a sitcom mainly about Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat who is trying to improve her home in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, in the Parks and Recreation department.

The series is extremely well-received and has some huge stars attached, including Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and more. With seven seasons and one hundred and twenty-six episodes, you’re in for a long binge.​​​​​​​

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The laughs go on and on

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Andy dressed asAndy Samberg as Jake Peralta with his arm around Eva Longoria as Sophia Perez in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those shows that I think everyone has seen at least one episode of, just because it’s so funny. The main premise of the series follows the lives of police officers, detectives, and others in a fictional police precinct in New York, specifically in Brooklyn.

This series was a hit for NBC, and while it did move to another streaming platform towards the end of its run, it is a beloved comedy perfect for a weekend of comfy watching. Not only that, but the stars—Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, and more—have some of the best chemistry out there and will, no doubt, make you laugh out loud.

Everybody Loves Raymond

Who doesn’t love an Italian Long Island-er?

Ray Romano in Everybody Loves Raymond Credit: CBS

You better believe I put Everybody Loves Raymond on here—because everyone loves it!

This late 1990s-early 2000s sitcom stars Ray Romano as Ray Barone, an Italian-American who lives on Long Island and has made it as a successful sports writer. It tells the story of his family and how he deals with the drama, juggling his wife, his neighbors, and more.​​​​​​​


The Simpsons on Disney+ on a 4K TV in a green living room.


The 5 Most Popular Comfort Shows and Where to Stream Them

Switch on these shows when you want to switch off.

I genuinely cannot think of another television show I have seen more often over the last couple of decades than this, and the number of reruns is astronomical. With nine seasons, Everybody Loves Raymond is the type of binge you don’t want to miss.​​​​​​​

Modern Family

A series anyone can relate to

Claire and Phil Dunphy in Modern Family Credit: ABC

Now this is my kind of comfort show. Modern Family—and all eleven of its seasons—is available to stream on Peacock.

This groundbreaking sitcom tells the stories of three diverse families in the suburbs of Los Angeles and how their lives intersect. But it’s so much more than that. The comedy is hysterical, and yet each episode finds a new way to tug at your heartstrings.

Not only that, but it’s also just a genuinely relatable show for modern-day parents, and I’m not just saying that because of the name. It touches on both funny topics and social issues, making it a really well-done series. There’s a reason why there were so many Emmys thrown at this series.

That ‘70s Show

So much smoke—and friends!

Topher Grace on That '70s Show. Credit: Fox

For some reason, That ‘70s Show was the series I was obsessed with as a kid. And honestly, it’s a vibe, even now. The series mainly follows six teenagers in Wisconsin between 1976 and 1979 as they come of age, experience growing pains, and learn to come into their own while also smoking the devil’s lettuce, if you know what I mean.

On a real note, That ‘70s Show is a hilarious series with great performances from Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama, and so many more. This series has been with me on my good days and bad, and while its little successor, That ‘90s Show, on Netflix is a fun one, nothing compares to the original. You’re missing out if haven’t had the chance to sit down and watch the whole show.

Saturday Night Live

Laughs and more

Bill Hader and Ben Affleck in Saturday Night Live Credit: NBC

OK, so hear me out.

I know, when it comes to comfort shows, we honestly do think sitcoms are cute, but I think Saturday Night Live falls into that category. Why? Because it’s one of those shows that you can put on in the background and just chill.

It’s not something that’s heavily serialized or has any real plot to follow. It’s just funny sketches and enjoyable music performances. That’s it. And with the number of seasons that are available to watch on Peacock, you can’t really get better than this.


Peacock is such a great subscription service, and honestly, it just makes me want to rewatch each of these awesome shows. What are you looking forward to watching on a comfy weekend?

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Subscription with ads

Yes, $8/month

Simultaneous streams

3




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