NVIDIA's New Mini PC - With the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip

Summary

Nvidia unveiled the *Project Digit Mini PC* at CES 2025, featuring the new *Grace Blackwell Super Chip* (GB10), designed for AI and machine learning. With a 20-core ARM CPU, Nvidia Blackwell GPU, 128 GB of memory, and 4TB of storage, this compact device delivers powerful AI performance. Aimed at data scientists and AI researchers, it offers up to 200 billion parameters for large-scale models. Priced at $3,000, it’s a smaller yet highly capable alternative to Nvidia’s larger systems. Developed in collaboration with MediaTek, it runs Nvidia’s DGX OS and will be available in May 2025.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nvidia's new **Project Digit Mini PC** features the **Grace Blackwell Super Chip (GB10)**, offering up to **1 PetaFlop of AI computing performance**.
• 😀 The mini PC is designed for **AI, machine learning**, and **data science workloads**, making it ideal for developers and researchers.
• 😀 Equipped with a **20-core ARM-based CPU**, it includes both **Cortex-X925** (high-performance) and **Cortex-A725** (power-efficient) cores.
• 😀 The system includes **128 GB of unified memory**, ensuring optimal performance for heavy AI tasks and machine learning models.
• 😀 The device can support up to **4 TB of NVMe storage**, offering flexibility in storage and enabling **large-scale AI model training**.
• 😀 With the ability to run **200 billion parameter language models** at 4-bit quantization, the mini PC excels in **AI inference tasks**.
• 😀 **Nvidia Blackwell GPU** offers the latest **fifth-generation CUDA cores** and **Tensor cores**, boosting AI computing performance.
• 😀 The mini PC runs on **Nvidia DGX OS Linux**, compatible with Nvidia’s AI stack, enabling users to leverage tools like **CUDA programming** and **Tensor programming**.
• 😀 Designed in collaboration with **MediaTek**, the device benefits from specialized interconnects, though it is **not a Windows on ARM PC**.
• 😀 Starting at **$3,000**, the Project Digit Mini PC provides a more affordable option for AI enthusiasts compared to larger **Nvidia DGX systems**.
• 😀 Expected to launch in **May 2025**, this product is a **compact, powerful AI workstation** that brings high-end computing into a mini PC form factor.

Q & A

What is the Nvidia Project Digit Mini PC, and what makes it special?

The Nvidia Project Digit Mini PC is a compact, high-performance computing device aimed at AI professionals and researchers. It features the powerful Nvidia Grace Blackwell (GB10) superchip, which delivers up to 1 petaflop of AI computing performance, alongside a 20-core ARM-based CPU and an Nvidia Blackwell GPU. This system is designed for machine learning, data science, and AI inference, offering substantial power in a smaller form factor.

What is the Nvidia Grace Blackwell superchip (GB10)?

The Nvidia Grace Blackwell (GB10) superchip is a specialized chip combining a powerful ARM-based CPU and an Nvidia GPU. It is designed for AI and machine learning workloads, providing up to 1 petaflop of AI computing power, making it highly suitable for running large AI models and data processing tasks.

How does the CPU architecture in the Project Digit Mini PC work?

The CPU in the Project Digit Mini PC consists of a 20-core ARM processor, which is a heterogeneous design. It includes 10 Cortex X925 cores for maximum performance and 10 Cortex A725 cores for power efficiency. This mix allows the system to balance high performance with energy efficiency, which is ideal for AI and machine learning tasks.

What is the significance of the unified memory in the Project Digit Mini PC?

The Project Digit Mini PC includes 128GB of unified memory, which means that the memory is directly integrated with the chip, ensuring high-speed data access. This configuration is crucial for running large-scale AI models, such as those with up to 200 billion parameters, as it allows the system to handle substantial data processing without performance bottlenecks.

How much storage does the Project Digit Mini PC offer, and why is it important for AI workloads?

The Project Digit Mini PC comes with up to 4TB of NVMe storage. This storage capacity is critical for storing large datasets, training models, and running AI inference tasks. High-speed NVMe storage also ensures that data is accessed quickly, which is essential for real-time AI applications and machine learning tasks.

What operating system does the Project Digit Mini PC run on?

The Project Digit Mini PC runs on Nvidia's DGX OS Linux, which is based on Ubuntu. This OS is specifically optimized for AI workloads and is fully compatible with Nvidia's AI stack, including CUDA and Tensor cores, enabling users to leverage the same software tools used on Nvidia's larger AI systems.

What role did MediaTek play in the development of the Project Digit Mini PC?

MediaTek collaborated with Nvidia on the design of the Project Digit Mini PC, particularly in terms of the interconnects and system integration. However, the machine runs Nvidia’s software and is sold directly by Nvidia. MediaTek's involvement highlights the growing partnership between the two companies, though this collaboration does not extend to the sale of the system itself.

What are the key differences between the Project Digit Mini PC and Nvidia’s larger DGX systems?

The key difference lies in the form factor and price. While the Project Digit Mini PC offers substantial AI power in a compact, desktop-friendly design, Nvidia's larger DGX systems are more powerful, designed for massive-scale AI tasks, and come at a significantly higher price point. The mini PC is targeted at individuals or smaller teams who need AI capabilities but cannot afford the larger DGX systems.

How much does the Project Digit Mini PC cost, and when will it be available?

The Project Digit Mini PC is priced starting at $3,000. It is expected to be available in May 2025. While the price is higher than some desktop PCs, it is a more affordable option compared to Nvidia’s larger DGX systems, making it an attractive choice for professionals in AI and machine learning fields.

Can the Project Digit Mini PC run Windows on ARM?

No, the Project Digit Mini PC does not run Windows on ARM. Despite collaboration with MediaTek, the system is built specifically for Linux (DGX OS) and is focused on AI workloads. It is not intended as a Windows on ARM PC, though future collaborations may explore that possibility.