ASRock has quietly expanded its mini PC lineup with the new NUC Ultra 300 BOX series, now officially listed on the company’s website. While the range was announced earlier, the fresh product pages effectively confirm the exact models ASRock plans to ship, along with key specifications. This new NUC Ultra 300 generation steps in as the successor to the NUC BOX 200 series and launches with four mini PC options in total.
Positioned as industrial embedded BOX mini PCs, the NUC Ultra 300 BOX family is built around Intel’s current-gen Core Ultra 300 “Panther Lake” processors. Buyers can choose between two CPU tiers: the Intel Core Ultra 5 325 for a more budget-friendly configuration, or the higher-end Core Ultra X7 358H for users who want more cores and stronger integrated graphics.
ASRock is offering each processor in two chassis styles that keep the core platform largely the same, but differ in size and port configuration. The standard “NUC” version uses a larger enclosure and includes dual 2.5G LAN ports, while the more compact “NUCS” edition trims that down to a single 2.5G LAN port. The smaller NUCS model also drops one USB 3.2 Gen 2 port compared to the larger chassis. In terms of physical dimensions, the NUC chassis is slightly thicker at 49 mm, while the NUCS version measures 38 mm. Both are offered as barebones systems, letting users choose their own memory and storage.
For upgrades, the NUC Ultra 300 BOX series supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory via SO-DIMM slots, with stated support for speeds up to 7200 MT/s. Storage expansion is handled through two M.2 slots, and there’s also an M.2 Key E slot intended for WiFi modules, making it easier to tailor the system for office, industrial, or edge deployments.
The two processor choices separate the lineup’s performance targets. The Core Ultra 5 325 model is listed with an 8-core configuration and no efficient cores. Stepping up to the Core Ultra X7 358H brings a larger core layout listed as 16 cores (4+8+4), alongside integrated Arc B390 graphics featuring 12 Xe3 cores—aimed at users who need stronger GPU capability in a compact machine.
ASRock is also leaning heavily into AI performance positioning, promoting the NUC Ultra 300 BOX series as the “Core of Next-Gen AI.” The company claims up to 180 AI TOPS when combining CPU, GPU, and NPU capability, which is especially relevant for workloads such as local AI inference, smart automation, and edge AI deployments where power and space are limited.
Connectivity is another major focus. Depending on configuration, these mini PCs include modern ports such as USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB4/Thunderbolt 4 with Alt DP 2.1, and a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C option with DP 1.4a support. That mix is designed to cover high-speed storage, docking setups, and multi-display usage in professional environments.
ASRock hasn’t shared official pricing or a release timeframe on the product pages yet. As soon as availability details surface, it should become clearer where these Panther Lake-powered mini PCs will land in the broader compact PC market.
