On June 1, 2026, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced at the Computex GTC Taipei 2026 event a new partnership with Microsoft and MediaTek to launch the RTX Spark superchip, a next-generation processor designed for Windows PCs. This marks NVIDIA’s official entry into the core PC processor market, previously dominated by Intel and AMD. The first Windows PCs powered by this chip will be released in fall 2026 by leading manufacturers including Dell Technologies, Lenovo Group, HP, ASUS, and MSI.
The announcement drew significant attention from capital markets. Multiple media outlets reported that NVIDIA’s stock opened up about 4% that day, with intraday gains exceeding 6% at one point, boosting its market capitalization by over $300 billion. Meanwhile, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm stocks came under pressure to varying degrees. According to financial media reports from that day, Intel shares fell by approximately 3% to 4%, AMD by around 3% to 5%, and Qualcomm by about 5.8% to 7%. Despite these pullbacks, analysts noted that since the start of 2026, AMD and Intel shares have surged by roughly 130% and 200%, respectively.
This market reaction reflects more than just the launch of a single product; it represents investors’ reassessment of the structural dynamics within the PC chip sector. This article will analyze the AI PC market outlook, the strategic significance of NVIDIA’s RTX Spark, and key listed companies in the space. It will also outline how crypto users can participate in the AI PC sector via Gate.
AI PC Market Outlook: Trends in Penetration and Shipments
Divergent AI PC Penetration Forecasts, But Unified Long-Term Growth Trajectory
Between 2025 and 2026, several institutions released forecasts for the AI PC market. While their specific numbers differ, there is broad consensus that the market is shifting toward AI PCs.
Goldman Sachs (March 2026): Lowered its 2026 global PC shipment forecast to approximately 257 million units, down about 10% year-over-year, citing rising component costs and a lengthening replacement cycle. However, the report emphasized that AI PCs will be the sole growth driver, projecting shipments of AI-capable PCs to reach around 150 million units in 2026, with a market penetration rate of about 59%. Previously, in May 2025, Goldman had forecast a 53% penetration rate for AI PCs in 2026, so this update marks a 6 percentage point increase.
Morgan Stanley (earlier report): Forecasts AI PC market penetration at around 2% in 2024, 16% in 2025, 28% in 2026, 48% in 2027, and approximately 64% by 2028. Morgan Stanley highlighted Lenovo as its top pick for this trend.
Counterpoint Research (April 2024): Projects cumulative AI laptop sales of nearly 500 million units between 2023 and 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of about 59% for this segment. By 2027, laptops with advanced AI capabilities are expected to account for roughly 75% of total laptop sales.
Gartner (August 2025): Forecasts AI PC shipments will reach 143 million units in 2026, accounting for about 55% of the overall PC market. However, in a revised forecast released in February 2026, Gartner lowered its 2026 AI PC penetration estimate from 55% to about 49%, citing users’ reluctance to pay higher prices before AI software can fully demonstrate its upgrade value.
It’s important to note that these forecasts were published at different times—ranging from April 2024 (Counterpoint) to March 2026 (Goldman Sachs)—and reflect each institution’s market assessment at the time of publication rather than competing predictions for the same period. Logically, penetration forecasts have generally trended upward over time, but Gartner’s downward revision highlights ongoing uncertainty regarding the pace of short-term AI PC adoption.
Growth Drivers and Constraints
According to institutional analyses, the main drivers of rising AI PC penetration include: growing enterprise demand for AI edge computing, the replacement cycle triggered by the end of Windows 10’s lifecycle, and the ongoing need for hardware upgrades to support local AI model execution. Constraints include persistently rising component costs—especially memory prices—which squeeze manufacturer margins, and the generally high pricing of premium AI PCs, which limits their short-term reach into the mass consumer market.
NVIDIA RTX Spark Launch and Shifting Competitive Landscape
Product and Technical Positioning
The NVIDIA RTX Spark superchip is manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process. Its CPU is a custom-designed collaboration between NVIDIA and MediaTek, based on the Arm architecture, and supports up to 128GB of unified LPDDR5X memory.
For top-tier configurations, the N1X chip features approximately 6,144 Blackwell GPU cores and a 20-core Grace CPU, delivering AI performance of about 1 petaFLOP. This design allows the CPU and GPU to share a single memory pool, enabling local execution of large language models with up to 120 billion parameters. During his keynote, Jensen Huang described RTX Spark as a "reinvention of the PC" and revealed that the architecture was jointly developed by NVIDIA and Microsoft over three years.
NVIDIA did not disclose official pricing at launch. Supply chain and market analysts indicate that laptops featuring this chip will start at around $2,499, with flagship models potentially exceeding $4,999. Other reports suggest that top-spec 128GB models will be priced above $3,000. Overall, the initial RTX Spark products are positioned for the high-end market and are unlikely to penetrate the mainstream consumer segment quickly.
Potential Impact on the Competitive Landscape
The strategic significance of RTX Spark lies in NVIDIA’s transformation from a supplier of discrete GPUs—historically reliant on Intel and AMD CPUs—to a provider of system-level PC chip solutions by integrating GPU and CPU into a single package. This move puts NVIDIA in direct competition with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm at the heart of the PC market. Analysts note that competition in the AI PC space is evolving from hardware specifications to a full-stack ecosystem encompassing "chip + operating system + AI agent entry points."
Publicly Listed AI PC-Related Companies
The following table categorizes major listed companies in the AI PC value chain by their roles for reference. Please note that availability for direct trading on the Gate platform is subject to real-time platform listings:
Chip Design
| Company | Ticker | Core Positioning | Recent Market Developments |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | NVDA | Core AI PC chip provider | RTX Spark marks NVIDIA’s official entry into the PC processor market |
| Intel | INTC | Leading x86 CPU supplier | Came under pressure on launch day, but up ~200% since 2026 |
| AMD | AMD | Dual x86 CPU and GPU strategy | Came under pressure on launch day, but up ~130% since 2026 |
| Qualcomm | QCOM | Pioneer in Arm-based AI PC chips | Snapdragon X Elite series already deployed in AI PCs |
| Arm Holdings | ARM | Arm architecture IP licensor | Benefiting from expanding Arm PC ecosystem |
OEMs
| Company | Ticker | Core Positioning | Recent Market Developments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Technologies | DELL | Early RTX Spark partner | Saw significant stock gains on launch day |
| HP | HPQ | Early RTX Spark partner | Highlighted by Goldman Sachs as a beneficiary of the AI PC cycle |
| Lenovo | 0992.HK | Early RTX Spark partner | First Yoga Pro 7 models with N1X processor disclosed |
| Asus | 2357.TW | Early RTX Spark partner | Included among the initial 30+ laptop suppliers |
| MSI | 2377.TW | Early RTX Spark partner | Included among the initial suppliers |
Operating Systems and Ecosystem
| Company | Ticker | Core Positioning | Recent Market Developments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | MSFT | Windows OS and Copilot AI | Jointly developed RTX Spark architecture with NVIDIA |
| MediaTek | 2454.TW | Custom N1X CPU design partner | Provides custom Arm CPUs for N1X |
Important Notes
The above list is compiled from publicly available information and does not constitute investment advice. Stock prices are influenced by various factors, and investors should make independent decisions based on their own risk tolerance. Not all companies listed may be directly tradable on Gate; please refer to the Gate platform for real-time tradable assets.
How to Participate in the AI PC Sector via Gate
Two Main Approaches: Stock Tokens and Direct Stock Trading
Gate currently offers two ways to access US equity assets:
Direct Stock Trading: As of June 1, 2026, Gate has officially launched real US stock trading services. Users can trade stocks and ETFs from major US exchanges such as NYSE and Nasdaq using USDT within the platform, covering over 10,000 stocks and ETFs. Trade orders are routed through compliant brokers directly to major exchanges, and any dividends are credited automatically.
Stock Tokens (xStocks): Using blockchain technology, listed stocks are tokenized and mapped on-chain, backed by real stocks held by regulated custodians. Trading is available 24/7 and settled in USDT. The cumulative trading volume in Gate’s stock token section has surpassed $20 billion. Initial supported assets include NVDAX (NVIDIA), MSFTUSDT (Microsoft), and others.
Trading Process
The direct stock trading process is as follows: After completing identity verification on the platform, users’ USDT balances are automatically converted to USD for US stock trading. Buy orders are sent through partner brokers to exchanges for execution. Once filled, assets are settled via the DTCC clearing system. The user experience is similar to trading cryptocurrencies, but note that US stock trading is subject to market hours.
The stock token trading process is even simpler: Users select the desired asset in the Gate stock token section and trade directly in USDT, with no need for currency conversion. Trading is available 24/7, unrestricted by US market hours.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Register and complete identity verification on the Gate platform;
- Deposit USDT into your account;
- For direct stock trading, ensure your account has USDT (which will be automatically converted to USD); for stock tokens, simply navigate to the "Stock Tokens" section;
- Search for the relevant ticker (e.g., NVDA or NVDAX);
- Select trade direction and quantity, confirm your order, and complete the transaction.
All operations must comply with the platform’s trading rules; please refer to Gate’s official guidelines for details.
Conclusion
AI PCs are evolving from a conceptual narrative to a substantive restructuring of the industry value chain. Institutional forecasts show that market penetration, starting from a low base of about 2% in 2024, is expected to reach the 55%–64% range between 2026 and 2028. Multiple analytical frameworks support this growth logic. The launch of NVIDIA’s RTX Spark accelerates this trend, shifting PC chip market competition from traditional CPU performance to new technical dimensions such as AI compute density, memory bandwidth, and system-level integration. For investors interested in this sector, understanding the competitive dynamics and technical barriers across the value chain—as well as each company’s actual role in this evolving structure—is an essential step before asset allocation.
Gate provides users with both stock token and direct stock trading options for participating in the US equity market, enabling crypto asset holders to diversify across asset classes on a single platform. Investors can choose the tools that best match their risk tolerance and investment horizon.
