Asus’ small 2.5-liter gaming NUC starts at $1,629 in the US.

In a surprising twist for aficionados of the world of gaming, Asus has taken the torch to revive Intel’s NUC line, long considered to be on borrowed time. There is no shortage of ambition here: to transform this range into a real competitor in the PC market gaming compact. However, this renaissance comes with its share of surprises, particularly with regard to the prices charged which can rival, or even exceed, those of laptops. gaming equivalents.

Asus recently lifted the lid on two versions of the ROG NUC, boasting head-turning prices: $1,629 for the base model and a jump to $2,199 for the premium version according to Asus’ announcements. But what do you get for these amounts? The entry model offers a solid configuration: an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, an Nvidia RTX 4060, 16 GB of DDR5 RAM at 5600 MHz and 512 GB NVMe SSD storage. Its superior counterpart does not skimp on the means with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, an Nvidia RTX 4070, and doubles the RAM and storage, with 32 GB / 1 TB, respectively.

It is interesting to note that the price positioning of these NUCs could be disconcerting, particularly when the Asus Zephyrus G14 and G16, known for their performance and equipped with similar specifications, are available at lower costs while including screen and battery.

But then, what does the Asus ROG NUC offer to stand out? The answer may lie in its remarkable connectivity, offered in a chassis just two inches thick. The machine has six USB-A ports, four of which have speeds of 10 Gbps, an SD Express 8.0 card reader, a Thunderbolt 4 port supporting fast charging, 3.5 headphone inputs mm and 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet, without forgetting the two DisplayPort 1.4a sockets and the HDMI 2.1 port. Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E support and Bluetooth 5.3 strengthen the argument for its versatility. However, we will regret the absence of a greater number of USB-C ports and the presence of an external 330 watt power supply.

The interior of the ROG NUC, although not fully revealed, promises a certain flexibility with the simplicity of adding RAM or SSD thanks to a single button located on the back of the device, opening access to three slots M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4.

Concerning the availability of this technological jewel, Asus maintains the suspense. If no precise date has been communicated, the company suggests a release aligned with or slightly later than that of the models NUC 14 Pro Plus expected in the spring.

The Asus ROG NUC, despite its high price, could well appeal to gamers looking for a compact system without compromising on performance and connectivity. But the question remains: do these innovations justify the cost for gaming enthusiasts?