We check out the newest mini PC from ASUS and the way it compares to selection gaming {hardware}
Up to date: Dec 4, 2024 5:57 pm
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There are a selection of various platforms you’ll revel in PC gaming on but even so your vintage desktop pc, and each and every brings one thing other to the desk. While laptops/notebooks are one of the most hottest possible choices, one continuously overpassed possibility is the mini PC, which will also be similarly, if no longer extra moveable than one of the most extra heavy-duty gaming laptops available in the market, in addition to playing higher cooling, upgradability/customization, and a better array of ports. ASUS has lately launched any such compact PCs to the marketplace, so let’s have a look and notice what it has to provide when in comparison to your vintage gaming desktop or pocket book gadgets.
What’s a ROG NUC?
NUC (which stands for Subsequent Unit of Computing) used to be a line of small shape issue computer systems launched via Intel over numerous years, till they transferred the manufacturing and improve over to ASUS in 2023. Now the Taiwanese tech large has launched a brand new access within the revitalized NUC line, with the ROG branding that marks out ASUS’ top rate 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)
- Garage: 512GB/1TB M.2 PCIE (Gen 4)
- Entrance I/O ports: 1x card reader (SD) (UHS-I), 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Kind-A, 1x 3.5mm Headset Jack
- Again I/O ports: 1x Thunderbolt 4 Kind-C (DP 2.1), 2x USB-A three.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
Display extra
The ASUS ROG NUC 14, however referred to 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 style coming with an Intel Core Extremely 7 Processor 185H paired with an Nvidia RTX 4070 (8GB VRAM) GPU, the extra reasonably priced variant having a Extremely 7 155H paired with an RTX 4060 (8GB VRAM). The large good thing about 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 improve this tech), it will surrender to a 300% building up in FPS efficiency, which is basically insane. The Nvidia playing cards additionally give the most efficient Ray-Tracing efficiency in the marketplace. The Intel Core Extremely collection of processors have the newest AI processing tech the corporate provides, plus are one of the most maximum power environment friendly in the marketplace.
Same old reminiscence and garage choices are 16GB/32GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB/1TB of SSD garage, although each will also be expanded upon very simply after acquire: the screwless casing will also be slid off with out want for a screwdriver, to show two upgradable SO-DIMM RAM slots, plus 3 M.2 2280 slots for garage, which could be very great certainly.
For this type of compact instrument you additionally get a very good collection of ports at the I/O, together with a three.5mm headset jack, a USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 port that still helps DisplayPort 2.1 output, six USB-A ports (two at the again, 4 at the entrance), an HDMI 2.1 and two devoted DisplayPort 1.4a sockets, a 2.5GBps ethernet port, or even a Kensington Lock for extra safety. With a lot of these show outputs you’ll in fact improve as much as 4 other 4K monitors without delay – lovely spectacular. Creatives additionally get the good thing about an SD UHS-I card reader.
The NUC 14 can simply are compatible underneath a observe in its horizontal place, or will also be stood up vertically the usage of the incorporated stand, the place its slim profile lets in it to be squeezed in between the opposite pieces for your table.
DIY PC vs gaming computer vs ROG NUC: how do they examine?
Self-build, DIY PCs would possibly dangle the benefit in gaming in terms of efficiency in keeping with cash spent, and in that you’ll hand-select each and every part that is going in; nonetheless, considered one of their evident disadvantages is that you must do all this your self, sourcing each and every part and ensuring they’re suitable then placing them in combination with out breaking the rest. Crucially, desktop PCs additionally soak up a great deal of table area and they aren’t moveable within the slightest, even the smaller case builds.
So far as moveable choices move, we’re giant gaming computer fanatics right here at WePC, as an issue of truth, ASUS machines often characteristic in our easiest gaming computer guides, with the other generations of the 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14 being considered one of our perfect rated each and every yr. Nonetheless, gaming laptops/notebooks (because the thinner choices have a tendency to be known as) aren’t with out their drawbacks both; continuously the RAM and/or garage can’t be upgraded, no less than on thinner fashions, and even if it may be it’s continuously tough to get admission to, surely when in comparison to the ROG NUC. The array of ports, no less than in this explicit ASUS ROG NUC 14, may be a long way awesome to what you’d get on a computer, together with the two.5Gbs ethernet port which you’d handiest generally tend to seek out at the higher laptops available in the market.
Fan noise when a gaming computer is beneath load additionally has a tendency to get very loud, specifically while you set the onboard instrument to the utmost efficiency mode. It’s additionally uncommon to get as many show output sockets or USB ports on a gaming computer as you’ll to find at the NUC, even at the very massive fashions.
The ROG NUC can’t slightly compete with a computer with regards to the consumer flexibility introduced via the in-built display screen, keyboard, and trackpad, permitting you to apply it to trains, in café’s and so forth. That being stated, the inclusion of the display screen does make a computer much less simply moveable than the ROG NUC, and the bigger, extra tough choices can weigh considerably extra. On the subject of uncooked FPS efficiency, the ROG NUC plays about in addition to the extra tough gaming laptops available in the market, although each are underpowered relative to greater desktop rigs, because the GPUs particularly have a decrease wattage (TGP).
Nonetheless, because of some great benefits of the Nvidia 40-series GPUs as discussed, the ROG NUC without a doubt has the ability to play the newest AAA video games and, in the event you go for the RTX 4070 variant you’ll run those at the upper settings no drawback.
In abstract, the ROG NOC has the next benefits:
- A better selection of USB ports plus show sockets than you’d to find in a computer.
- A ways awesome upgradability of the RAM and SSD if you wish to upload to those in long run.
- Higher cooling than a computer.
- Quieter fan noise (in most cases) than on a computer of equivalent energy.
Different merchandise to pair together with your ROG NUC
In case you are pondering of shopping for an ASUS ROG NUC you’re going to in fact want a monitor, mouse, and keyboard to head with it, in addition to some headphones in the event you don’t have already got some. ASUS make merchandise in a lot of these classes in the event you’re taking a look to place in combination a setup with an identical aesthetic, and their gaming screens are specifically nice. Take a look at the ASUS store for his or her complete vary of choices.
