Full Breakdown
RTX Spark vs. Snapdragon X2: Which Laptop Handles Local AI Better?
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Comparison
A side-by-side test evaluated NVIDIA’s RTX Spark-powered HP OmniBook Ultra 16 (32 GB unified memory) against the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme-powered ASUS Zenbook A16 (48 GB RAM) to see which could run local AI agents with the Hermes app.
Test Setup and Model Compatibility
Both machines were loaded with the Hermes application, which serves as the primary interface for running AI models locally. On the OmniBook, the RTX Spark was limited to 16 GB of dedicated VRAM and failed to recognize any Hermes models as compatible. After extensive tweaking, a heavily compressed 4-bit version of Qwen 3.6 35B-A3B could be launched, but it was unstable and frequently crashed due to context-size limits.
In contrast, the Zenbook accepted three models—Qwen 3.8 27B, Nemotron 3.5 Bolt, and Qwen 3.6 35-A3B—without any configuration changes. The models ran on the CPU because Adreno GPU driver errors prevented GPU execution.
Performance Outcomes
Simple prompts on the Zenbook took several minutes but completed, whereas the OmniBook’s attempts often failed or required repeated restarts. When tasked with generating a Python script, the Zenbook successfully produced and began testing the code, while the OmniBook crashed and could not run the prompt at all. Even when the OmniBook did manage to run Qwen 3.6 35B-A3B, it performed comparably to cloud-based services; however, this required the extensive manual adjustments described above.
Limitations and Implications
The RTX Spark’s primary shortcoming was memory headroom: the 32 GB configuration could not accommodate the larger models, a limitation that would disappear in the announced 64 GB or 128 GB variants. The Zenbook, despite relying on CPU execution, demonstrated that a higher RAM capacity can outweigh a specialized AI GPU when model size exceeds available memory. This suggests that, for current local-AI workloads, system memory is a more decisive factor than GPU architecture.
Recommendation
For users seeking a ready-to-run local AI solution today, the ASUS Zenbook A16 (priced around $2,200) offers functional model support that the HP OmniBook Ultra 16 ($3,200) cannot provide in its 32 GB configuration. The Zenbook’s ability to load and run models out of the box makes it the more practical choice for immediate local-AI experimentation.