Asus has thrown down the gauntlet in the mini PC arena with its brand-new ROG NUC. This compact beast codenamed Scorpion Canyon, packs a serious punch despite its diminutive size, making it a dream come true for people who want to carry around powerful mini-PCs around for LAN parties!
Asus ROG NUC Specifications
| Feature | ROG NUC |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H/ Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
| Chipset | Integrated |
| Graphics | Integrated – Intel®Arc™ Graphics Discrete – NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 4060/RTX 4070 mobile graphics |
| Wireless Data Network | Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) 2×2 + Bluetooth® 5.3 Wireless Card |
| LAN | 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps, 2.5G Intel® LAN |
| Audio | Realtek/ALC256 |
| Front(Side) I/O Ports | 1 x SD Express ver8.0 Card Reader (UHS-I support), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1 x Audio Jack (Line out/Mic in/Headphone out/Headset) |
| Back I/O Ports | 1 x Thunderbolt™ 4 / USB4 Type C port3 (Supports DP2.1 and 5V/9V/12V fast charging profiles), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI port1, 2 x DP1.4a ports2, 1 x 2.5G RJ45 LAN, 1 x DC-in, 1 x Kensington Lock slot |
| Power Supply | 330W Power Adapter |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 144mm x 112mm x 41mm |
| Weight | 800g |
The ROG NUC is armed with the muscle of Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 processors and NVIDIA RTX 4060 or 4070 mobile GPUs. Asus’ proprietary Performance Hybrid Architecture is the secret sauce behind the ROG NUC’s agility.
It intelligently distributes processing power, leveraging additional E-cores to seamlessly handle even the most demanding tasks, whether you’re streaming, editing, recording, or playing the latest AAA titles.
Also Read: ASUS Leaps Ahead with NUC 14 Pro and ROG NUC at CES 2024
Tool-Free Upgrades and Connectivity
Asus understands the pain of fiddling with tiny screws and cables. That’s why the ROG NUC boasts a practically tool-less chassis, allowing you to upgrade memory and storage in under 10 minutes. Connectivity is equally impressive, with a smorgasbord of ports including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, and 2.5Gb Ethernet.
Gone are the days of laggy wireless. The ROG NUC embraces the future with Wi-Fi 6E support, ensuring a lag-free gaming experience. Asus understands that choice matters, so the ROG NUC comes prepped for both Windows 11 and Linux, giving you the freedom to choose your own OS.
Also Read: Intel teases next gen Lunar Lake processor
And for those who love a bit of personalization, the system features an addressable backlit ROG panel with customizable RGB lighting.
Also Read: ASUS Zenbook Duo: Almost perfect Dual screen laptop
Potential Competition to Gaming Consoles?
The ROG NUC is essentially a mini-PC with laptop parts. While it might not sound very exciting, it has the potential to compete with gaming consoles like Xbox Series S|X and Playstations.
Since it uses laptop parts, you might be wondering – “Why don’t you just carry a laptop”. You won’t be wrong in thinking that the price is the same as any laptop with RTX 4070 or RTX 4060 laptop GPUs.
However, it is not a laptop as the ROG NUC can pump more power for gaming and not worry too much about cooling (like in laptops). This gives it an edge in performance compared to laptops with similar specifications.
Given the price is quite high, if it can manage to lower the price, it can be a great competition to consoles and can offer gaming-grade mini-PCs.
Pricing and Availability
While pricing and availability haven’t been officially announced, whispers suggest a spring release with a starting price tag of around $1,600, putting it in line with high-end gaming laptops offering similar hardware.
Stay tuned with Yantragyan for reviews of ROG NUC when it arrives.
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