The Asus ROG NUC stands as a testament to the evolution of gaming PCs, with its impressively small form factor that doesn’t skimp on performance. If you’re a serious gamer looking for a powerhouse to support Full HD and higher resolutions in a miniature size, you’ll find the ROG NUC intriguing.
Under its compact chassis, measuring a mere 2.5 liters in volume, it boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H alongside an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 laptop-grade GPU. This combination guarantees a superior gaming experience, enabling users to enjoy the latest titles with enhanced frame rates thanks to technologies such as Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). Frame generation supported by DLSS improves playing performance, ensuring smooth, high-quality visuals.
The Asus ROG NUC doesn’t just offer raw power; it’s also equipped with a comprehensive set of external interfaces. A standout feature is its Thunderbolt connection which provides more utility compared to a standard USB4, especially under certain circumstances where bandwidth and data transfer speeds are critical.
A surprising benefit of this gaming mini PC is its emission control. Despite its size, it outperforms many of its competitors with its quiet, efficient cooling system. It remains cool and quiet even under heavy loads, thanks in part to a 330-watt power supply that ensures sufficient headroom for performance without overheating.
However, no device is without flaws. The Asus ROG NUC has some areas where it lags behind alternatives like the Minisforum G7 PT. The latter harbors a powerful AMD SoC that outshines the Intel option in the ROG NUC regarding performance. Despite both devices’ similarity in graphics capabilities, games may perform differently depending on whether they’re run on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop or the AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT.
With the ROG NUC, you might find a card reader restricted to UHS-I speeds, instead of the faster UHS-II, and unexpectedly high DPC latencies that might not suit some high-precision tasks. Additionally, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) performance doesn’t reach high benchmarks.
Beyond hardware, the Asus ROG NUC has an attractive yet high price point, considering the configuration tested exceeds 2,000 euros. For a similar price, one could consider a full-fledged gaming laptop like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which includes a screen and input devices. Price-wise, the competition is stiff, especially when compared to the Minisforum G7 PT, which retails around 1,699 euros, offering a better bang for your buck. The ROG NUC provides a more affordable option through its barebone versions, costing approximately 1,450 euros for the Core Ultra 7 155H model and about 1,750 euros for the Core Ultra 9 185H model, highlighting a flexible range for different budgets.
In summary, the Asus ROG NUC gaming mini PC serves as a robust and sleek machine capable of tackling intense gaming sessions and demanding tasks, though it may come at a premium price point. It’s a reminder that in the world of gaming, performance often finds its match in cost. Nevertheless, for dedicated gamers who value space-saving design without compromising on power, the Asus ROG NUC proves to be a worthy contender.
