Computex 2026 Day 1: Night Markets, MRT Trains, and AI Demos

Key Takeaways

• Nvidia dominated Day 1 with a two-hour demo session focused on RTX Spark-powered gaming and AI
• Gigabyte unveiled the X870E Aorus Infinity Next, a motherboard wrapped in 3D-printed metal costing thousands to produce
• Qualcomm's keynote delivered few surprises, with minimal new announcements

On the Ground at Computex 2026

Tom's Hardware has boots on the ground at Computex 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan. The team's five-person crew is navigating the sweltering heat, packed demo rooms, and Taiwan's famous night markets to bring back reports from one of the tech industry's biggest annual gatherings.

This year's show carries an "AI Together" theme. That pivot is clear from the keynotes and demo suites. Traditional PC hardware still gets floor space, but Agentic AI and on-device AI processing dominate the conversation.

“The era of the 'Generative AI' chatbot is closing; we are now firmly in the age of 'Agentic AI,' where your computer doesn't just talk to you—it acts for you.”

— Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA

Nvidia Steals Day 1 with RTX Spark Marathon

Editor-in-Chief Paul Alcorn spent two hours inside Nvidia's demo suite. The company showed a "seemingly unending string of gaming and AI demos," most powered by the new Microsoft Surface running RTX Spark. Alcorn described the session as far more interesting than what Qualcomm brought to the table.

The RTX Spark SoC supports up to 128GB of unified LPDDR5X RAM for consumer laptops. That's a significant jump for on-device AI workloads and marks Nvidia's serious push into the consumer CPU market with an Arm-based architecture.

After the marathon demo run, Alcorn made it back to the hotel by 10 pm. Next up: a 7:30 am Q&A session with Jensen Huang.

Qualcomm's Quiet Keynote

Qualcomm's presence at Computex felt muted. Alcorn rushed from Nvidia's keynote to Qualcomm's, only to find "not many new announcements" and no major news gems. The company held a press Q&A session afterward, but the real energy stayed in Nvidia's corner of the exhibition center.

Gigabyte's $1000+ 3D-Printed Motherboard

Managing Editor Matt Safford visited Gigabyte's Computex kickoff event after a Mos Burger breakfast. The standout: the X870E Aorus Infinity Next, a motherboard wrapped entirely in 3D-printed metal.

Gigabyte told the Tom's Hardware team that production and materials alone cost thousands of dollars. This board won't show up in typical builds. Unless you're a billionaire, it's more proof-of-concept than product. Still, it shows Gigabyte exploring what's possible when manufacturing constraints loosen.

Night Markets and the Computex Experience

Staff Writer Joe Shields shared his first night market experience. The verdict: overwhelming in the best way. He ate a pork pepper bun, fried prawns (both recommended), and what was supposed to be a brisket burger but "ended up being chicken sausage." Vendors, carnival games, and crowds filled the streets.

Getting around Taipei means using the MRT train system. The team has been navigating between the Nangang Exhibition Center, hotel, and night markets via public transit. It's part of the Computex experience that doesn't make it into press releases.

What's Generating Buzz Beyond the Show Floor

Computex 2026 has a new dedicated AI Robotics Zone with roughly 60 exhibitors. That's a significant expansion of floor space devoted to Physical AI, which brings integrated intelligence into robotics and consumer hardware.

Online, Reddit's r/hardware community is debating whether Nvidia's Arm-based Windows PC can truly replace x86 powerhouses for gaming. The gaming handheld crowd, meanwhile, is excited about the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and Intel's Xe3 graphics architecture as a path toward portable triple-A performance.

What's Coming Tomorrow

Day 2 marks the official opening of the show floor. The pace will quicken. Tom's Hardware's team expects more announcements, more demos, and more writing. Jensen Huang's morning Q&A session could deliver additional details on Nvidia's AI strategy and the RTX Spark roadmap.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Computex 2026 take place?

Computex 2026 is happening in Taipei, Taiwan, with the main show floor opening on Day 2 of the event. The show focuses heavily on AI and on-device processing this year.

What is the Nvidia RTX Spark?

The RTX Spark is Nvidia's new SoC (System on Chip) for consumer laptops. It supports up to 128GB of unified LPDDR5X RAM and represents Nvidia's entry into the consumer CPU market with Arm-based architecture.

How much does the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Infinity Next cost?

Gigabyte has not announced retail pricing, but the company stated that production and materials alone cost thousands of dollars. It's positioned as a concept showcase rather than a mainstream product.

What is Agentic AI?

According to Jensen Huang, Agentic AI refers to AI systems that act autonomously on behalf of users, executing complex tasks in the background rather than just responding to prompts like chatbots.

Source: Latest from Tom's Hardware