Asus is carrying the NUC brand fore . After Intel chuck NUC last year — which commonly ranked among thebest desktop microcomputer — Asus picked up the mantle , and we now have the first yield of that labor with the ROG NUC 970 . As the ROG badge implies , this is agaming PC , set with a discrete GPU and coming in at a much eminent price compared to the mainstream NUCs we ’ve seen Asus release since it picked up the brand .
Sporting a tiny 2.5 - cubic decimetre case , this is undoubtedly one of thesmallest gaming desktopsmoney can buy . Its form agent is a number deceptive , however . The ROG NUC 970 is a peachy performer considering the hardware at heart — and that ’s laptop hardware . This may look like a full - fledge screen background shove down to an impossibly low size , but the performance of this machine fetch that assumption back down to dry land .
Asus ROG NUC 970 specs and pricing
Asus proffer two contour of the NUC 970 that change the CPU , GPU , computer storage , and storehouse . The last two points are n’t as relevant , as Asus offer three NVMe drives so you could amplify your computer memory , as well as two SODIMM time slot so you could replace the memory . Asus occupy both memory slots out of the box for a dual - channel constellation , so you ’ll postulate to replace both if you require to upgrade .
The more interesting difference are between the central processor and GPU . The bum of the two configurations occur in at $ 1,629 and let in an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU along with an RTX 4060 . Another form at $ 2,199 offers an RTX 4070 and a Core Ultra 9 185H. For warehousing and memory , the cheaper shape come with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage , while the more expensive configuration comes with 32 GB of random access memory and 1 TB of storage .
My review whole came with an RTX 4070 , and looking online , that ’s the only contour I could receive listed . It was out of stock , but it seems most retailers design to stockpile the RTX 4070 configuration over the RTX 4060 one .
The price are n’t risky if you equate the ROG NUC 970 to full screen background . TheStarforge Systems Navigator , for example , comes with an RTX 4070 and a Ryzen 5 7600X , and it costs $ 1,900 . And theAlienware Aurora R16with an RTX 4070 and Core i9 - 13900F comes in at $ 2,050 . By that touchstone , the ROG NUC 970 does n’t seem too expensive given its petite 2.5 - liter form broker .
The main issue with pricing is that Asus is using laptop component part . This is essentially a laptop minus the screen and keyboard , and with extra port add . It may function like a desktop , but for pricing , the better equivalence points are laptop computer .
That stock paints a different picture of the ROG NUC 970 . Even by Asus ’ criterion , you’re able to piece up the ROG Zephyrus G16 laptop with an RTX 4070 and Core Ultra 9 185H for $ 2,000 — $ 200 less than the ROG NUC 970 . TheZephyrus G16comes with less RAM , but it also tamp down in an OLED exhibit and all of the flake you ’d expect from a laptop computer . Before Intel reach the NUC brand to Asus , options like theNUC 11 Extremecould come in close to $ 2,000 , but they also pop the question you the option to add a distinct desktop GPU .
Still , the agiotage here comes in how unique the ROG NUC 970 is . There are a few alternatives like the Zotac Zbox , but they arrive around $ 2,000 and are tough to find in the U.S. Then there are workstation - class PCs like theHP Z2 Mini G9 , but they ’re just as expensive and only descend with professional GPUs . The NUC 970 is expensive , no doubt , but it accomplishes something that very few other mini PCs do .
Design and build quality
The ROG NUC 970 is definitely a Republic of Gamers ware . A red ROG logo crystallize the unexpended side , shining through smoky gauze-like plastic that calls back to old NUC designs . There are belligerent melodic line for the vents , an angulate great power clitoris , and a bleak ROG badge on the front . There is n’t much design space on a black box that ’s only 2.5 liter in intensity , but Asus adds fanfare wherever it can .
It ’s an extremely stocky machine , obtusely packed with hardware that waste no quad . It ’s a flake shocking against the fully plastic shell . The build calibre is hunky-dory , but I ’d be careful with the NUC 970 . It does n’t sense like it could manage a capitulation .
That should n’t be much of a headache . The shell has four large rubber feet built into the right side for a horizontal orientation , and Asus includes a thick alloy stand in the box for a vertical orientation . The outdoor stage weighs about as much as the NUC itself , and it include a thick rubber facing to snuggle the gimmick firmly . The upright orientation emphatically tot some size . Thankfully , the NUC 970 look better in its horizontal predilection anyway .
Opening up the ROG NUC 970 is simple enough . There ’s a door latch on the back that unlocks the side board , allow you to skid it off . From there , you involve to loosen a screw on the back and slip a alloy plate inside that withstand the side inflammation design — like former NUCs , you may replace the ROG logotype here . That expose the RAM , storage , and wireless circuit board .
Although opening the ROG NUC 970 is easy in hypothesis , it was shockingly backbreaking to in drill . In particular , slue off the alloy shield that covers the motherboard is tough . I feel like I was going to break the twist , and I really dislodged the plastic back venire attempt to get the shield to slide off properly . If I had been just a little more raring , I have no doubt that I would ’ve broken the plastic shell that Asus use on the back of the machine .
It was comfortable to get the shield off after opening the NUC 970 a few times , but you probably wo n’t poke inside much . Once you get the shell off , you get three NVMe time slot and two SODIMM slots as advertised . Asus includes ready - release latches for the NVMe one-armed bandit , so raise would n’t take more than a few minutes . I swapped the include SSD in about 30 seconds .
Performance
As cite , the ROG NUC 970 employ laptop constituent , so it ’s important to keep performance expectations in check . You ’re not go to get the grade of functioning out of a desktop nitty-gritty i9 mainframe or RTX 4070 graphics bill . I have some desktop comparison points here for context , but the true one - to - one conflict is with laptop computer components .
As Cinebench R24 present , Asus is getting the most out of these laptop components . It manages to outpace the Zephyrus G16 , which packs an identical CPU . It also outpace the multi - core sexual conquest of theM2 Pro Mac mini , but falls short on single core performance by a flake . It really manage to match theAlienware Aurora R16with a desktop Core i7 - 13700F , though that ’s an honest-to-goodness processor .
Geekbench 6 paint a slightly dissimilar word-painting . The ROG NUC 970 fall short of theLenovo Yogo Pro 9i , which has the same mainframe , but the more state comparison is the Alienware Aurora R16 . The Core Ultra 9 185H gets shell in both unmarried and multi - core performance . Although the ROG NUC get the most out of its components , it ’s still using laptop computer components at the end of the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. — they are n’t capable to upend what you get on a large background .
Breaking out into actual software , the ROG NUC 970 keep back up . It deal to outpace the Zephyrus G16 , and it fundamentally equalise theHP prodigy 40Ldesktop with a Ryzen 7 7700 and desktop RTX 4060 Ti in Premiere Pro .
This is a play gimmick , and a great advantage it has over a lean gaming laptop computer is full power deliverance to the RTX 4070 graphics card . That just does n’t always provide a performance advantage . As you may see in 3DMark , the Asus ROG NUC 970 outpaces the Zephyrus G16 by a bit , but it gets absolutely crush by the Alienware Aurora R16 . This is one of the clearest example that the ROG NUC 970 perform tight to a laptop than it does a desktop .
In real games , that ’s not a risky thing with the mobile RTX 4070 at the helm . As you’re able to see from the games I try , you ’re ordinarily getting above 60 frames per 2nd ( fps ) in call for games at 1440p . You might even be able to campaign to 4 K withNvidia ’s DLSS 3turned on in games likeReturnal . My comparison to adesktop RTX 4070once again reinforce that you ’re getting a mobile experience here , despite what the specs say .
Considering what I know about the component inside the ROG NUC 970 , it performed about as expected . My primary concern is purchaser would be run to trust that they ’re get under one’s skin screen background - course ingredient given the NUC 970 ’s phase cistron . It ’s a square performer , but make certain to keep your expectations in check given the equipment ’s bantam course .
Ports and connectivity
The ROG NUC 970 may be using laptop component , but its desktop word form agent allows Asus to mob in a circle more ports . Up front , you have access to two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports , along with a full - sized Coyote State card slot and a earpiece jack . In the rear , there ’s an HDMI 2.1 porthole , two DisplayPort 1.4a connection , a single Thunderbolt 4 port , dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports , and dual USB 2.0 ports , along with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet . An extra USB - C connection would assist here , as well as an upgrade on the two USB 2.0 ports to a faster monetary standard , but it ’s hard to kvetch .
Importantly , you also have a barrel power jackass at the back of the NUC 970 . Given how modest this twist is , Asus opted for an extraneous major power provision . The 330W adapter is large and heavy . I apprize moving the mass and free weight outside of the machine , but ensure to keep in mind that you ’ll necessitate to make room for the exponent brick .
Wirelessly , you have access to Wi - Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 , both through an inserted Intel receiving set card . I had some issues with wireless connectivity on my review unit , which I was able to determine by reinstall the number one wood . I do n’t suspect most the great unwashed will have take , and Asus thankfully includes a one - click installer for all the driver the NUC 970 needs on its website . If you plan on picking up the gimmick , I ’d load up a USB drive with the driver , just to be safe .
Should you buy the Asus ROG NUC 970?
The ROG NUC 970 does its own thing , and it occupy a space in mini PC where there are n’t a ton of high - performance options . It ’s a niche product by nature , but if you ’re shopping within that niche , it ’s a capital selection . You ’re not set out the best performance consider the $ 2,200 asking price , but collapse the size , easy upgradability , and expansive connectivity , performance is a place where a via media makes horse sense .
For those on the fence about the ROG NUC 970 , I ’d look for out other option . A laptop with the same components like the Zephyrus G16 not only gets you similar public presentation , but also a portable equipment that you’re able to take with you on the go — usually for less money , too . likewise , a small form factor desktop might be larger , but you ’ll be capable to pack in a stack more tycoon .
