We check out the newest mini PC from ASUS and the way it compares to different gaming {hardware} Up to date: Dec 4, 2024 5:57 pm WePC is reader-supported. While you purchase by way of hyperlinks on our website, we might earn an affiliate fee. Costs topic to alter. Be taught extra Desk of Contents Desk of Contents SPONSORED PIECE There are a variety of various platforms you may get pleasure from PC gaming on moreover your traditional desktop pc, and every brings one thing totally different to the desk. While laptops/notebooks are a few of the hottest options, one typically missed possibility is the mini PC, which might be equally, if no more moveable than a few of the extra heavy-duty gaming laptops on the market, in addition to having fun with higher cooling, upgradability/customization, and a higher array of ports. ASUS has just lately launched one in all these compact PCs to the market, so let’s have a look and see what it has to supply when in comparison with your traditional gaming desktop or pocket book gadgets. What’s a ROG NUC? NUC (which stands for Subsequent Unit of Computing) was a line of small kind issue computer systems launched by Intel over a variety of years, till they transferred the manufacturing and help over to ASUS in 2023. Now the Taiwanese tech big has launched a brand new entry within the revitalized NUC line, with the ROG branding that marks out ASUS’ premium gaming vary: the ROG NUC 14. ASUS ROG NUC 14 specs & options Specs CPU: Intel Core Extremely 7 Processor 155H / Extremely 9 Processor 185H Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB VRAM, 135W) / 4070 (8GB VRAM, 140W) Reminiscence: 16GB/32GB DDR5 RAM (5600MHz) Storage: 512GB/1TB M.2 PCIE (Gen 4) Entrance I/O ports: 1x card reader (SD) (UHS-I), 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Sort-A, 1x 3.5mm Headset Jack Again I/O ports: 1x Thunderbolt 4 Sort-C (DP 2.1), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2x DP 1.4a, 1x RJ45 LAN (2.5GBps), 1x DC-in, 1x Kensington Lock Dimensions: 27cm x 18cm x 6cm / 10.62″ x 7.09″ x 2.36″ Weight: 5.7lbs/2.585kg Present extra The ASUS ROG NUC 14, alternatively generally known as the ASUS ROG NUC 970, is a extremely compact and remarkably light-weight gaming PC. It comes with Nvidia 40-series graphics playing cards and the newest Intel Core Extremely CPU choices: probably the most high-end mannequin coming with an Intel Core Extremely 7 Processor 185H paired with an Nvidia RTX 4070 (8GB VRAM) GPU, the extra inexpensive variant having a Extremely 7 155H paired with an RTX 4060 (8GB VRAM). The large benefit of the 40-series playing cards is that they arrive with the newest DLSS 3.5 AI-based graphics acceleration, now with ‘Body Era’; when enabled in video games (there are over 600 that now help this tech), this can provide as much as a 300% enhance in FPS efficiency, which is completely insane. The Nvidia playing cards additionally give one of the best Ray-Tracing efficiency in the marketplace. The Intel Core Extremely collection of processors have the newest AI processing tech the corporate gives, plus are a few of the most power environment friendly in the marketplace. Customary reminiscence and storage choices are 16GB/32GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB/1TB of SSD storage, although each might be expanded upon very simply after buy: the screwless casing might be slid off with out want for a screwdriver, to disclose two upgradable SO-DIMM RAM slots, plus three M.2 2280 slots for storage, which could be very good certainly. For such a compact gadget you additionally get a wonderful collection of ports on the I/O, together with a 3.5mm headset jack, a USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 port that additionally helps DisplayPort 2.1 output, six USB-A ports (two on the again, 4 on the entrance), an HDMI 2.1 and two devoted DisplayPort 1.4a sockets, a 2.5GBps ethernet port, and even a Kensington Lock for added safety. With all these show outputs you may truly help as much as 4 totally different 4K screens directly – fairly spectacular. Creatives additionally get the advantage of an SD UHS-I card reader. The NUC 14 can simply match beneath a monitor in its horizontal place, or might be stood up vertically utilizing the included stand, the place its slim profile permits it to be squeezed in between the opposite gadgets in your desk. supply: ASUS ROG DIY PC vs gaming laptop computer vs ROG NUC: how do they evaluate? Self-build, DIY PCs may maintain the benefit in gaming with regards to efficiency per cash spent, and in that you could hand-select each element that goes in; nonetheless, one in all their apparent disadvantages is that it’s important to do all this your self, sourcing every element and ensuring they’re suitable then placing them collectively with out breaking something. Crucially, desktop PCs additionally take up a considerable quantity of desk area and they aren’t moveable within the slightest, even the smaller case builds. So far as moveable choices go, we’re large gaming laptop computer fanatics right here at WePC, as a matter of reality, ASUS machines regularly characteristic in our greatest gaming laptop computer guides, with the totally different generations of the 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14 being one in all our highest rated every year. Nonetheless, gaming laptops/notebooks (because the thinner choices are typically known as) aren’t with out their drawbacks both; typically the RAM and/or storage can’t be upgraded, at the very least on thinner fashions, and even when it may be it’s typically troublesome to entry, actually when in comparison with the ROG NUC. The array of ports, at the very least on this explicit ASUS ROG NUC 14, can also be far superior to what you’d get on a laptop computer, together with the two.5Gbs ethernet port which you’d solely have a tendency to seek out on the bigger laptops on the market. Fan noise when a gaming laptop computer is underneath load additionally tends to get very loud, notably whenever you set the onboard software program to the utmost efficiency mode. It’s additionally uncommon to get as many show output sockets or USB ports on a gaming laptop computer as you’ll discover on the NUC, even on the very massive fashions. The ROG NUC can’t fairly compete with a laptop computer when it comes to the person flexibility provided by the inbuilt display screen, keyboard, and trackpad, permitting you to apply it to trains, in café’s and many others. That being stated, the inclusion of the display screen does make a laptop computer much less simply moveable than the ROG NUC, and the bigger, extra highly effective choices can weigh considerably extra. When it comes to uncooked FPS efficiency, the ROG NUC performs about in addition to the extra highly effective gaming laptops on the market, although each are underpowered relative to bigger desktop rigs, because the GPUs particularly have a decrease wattage (TGP). Nonetheless, because of the benefits of the Nvidia 40-series GPUs as talked about, the ROG NUC undoubtedly has the facility to play the newest AAA video games and, should you go for the RTX 4070 variant you may run these on the upper settings no downside. In abstract, the ROG NOC has the next benefits: A higher variety of USB ports plus show sockets than you’d discover in a laptop computer. Far superior upgradability of the RAM and SSD if you wish to add to those in future. Higher cooling than a laptop computer. Quieter fan noise (usually) than on a laptop computer of equal energy. Different merchandise to pair together with your ROG NUC If you’re considering of shopping for an ASUS ROG NUC you’ll in fact want a monitor, mouse, and keyboard to go together with it, in addition to some headphones should you don’t have already got some. ASUS make merchandise in all these classes should you’re trying to put collectively a setup with an identical aesthetic, and their gaming screens are notably nice. Take a look at the ASUS retailer for his or her full vary of choices.
