Back to the roots: the Asus ROG NUC tested
17-12-2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Kevin Hofer
Asus is taking the mini high-performance PC back to its roots with the ROG NUC - with success.
It's been over two years since I tested the last «sized» NUC. Still manufactured by Intel at the time, I found that the NUC 13 Extreme Raptor Canyon crossed the line from micro PC to small form factor PC /page/wilder-raptor-nuc-with-even-wilder-price-27049. Intel has now ceded the NUC division to Asus. With the extreme NUC - under the ROG branding - the Taiwanese manufacturer is taking the step back to the smallest PC with a capacity of just under three litres. That's great, but it means that the new top-of-the-range NUC two years later is on a par in terms of performance - albeit with increased efficiency.
Design, specifications and connections
At 28.2 × 18.8 × 5.7 centimetres, the ROG NUC is larger than other NUCs, but still significantly smaller than many mini-ITX systems. The signature of the Republic of Gamers series (ROG) is clearly visible: striking edges and RGB lighting dominate. The lighting can be adjusted in the Armoury Crate software. There are also many ventilation slots - an indication that Asus has optimised the NUC for cooling performance: Three fans in two chambers are used.
Like the Asus NUC 15 Pro+, the ROG NUC is easy to maintain and can be upgraded to a limited extent. I open the case with a thumbscrew on the back. This gives me tool-free access to the RAM and the M.2 slots for the SSDs. Two RAM bars and two M.2 SSDs fit in, which are also the only components that I can upgrade - unfortunately. The maximum RAM capacity is 48 gigabytes. In my test sample, 32 gigabytes of RAM (DDR5-6400) and two terabytes of SSD memory are installed. The supplied power supply unit has 400 watts.
An Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with 24 cores is used as the CPU and an Nvidia RTX 5080 laptop GPU as the graphics card. The latter is also the reason why the ROG NUC has shrunk in size compared to the Raptor NUC from Intel: I still had to install a desktop graphics card in the latter. I therefore can't expect the same graphics performance from the new NUC.
The NUC has various connections on the back:
- 4× USB-A 3.2 Gen 2
- 2× HDMI 2.1
- 2× DisplayPort 2.1
- 1× Thunderbolt 4
- 1× USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- 1× 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
In the front, it also has two USB-A ports and one USB-C port as well as a jack audio output for quick access. I connect the NUC wirelessly via Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, so there are more than enough connection options available.
Temperature, volume and power consumption
It is amazing how cool the system remains even under load. The CPU does not reach its thermal limit even in the stress test. On the one hand, this is due to the cooling system. On the other hand, it is because both the CPU and the GPU are usually used in notebooks. They are limited in terms of performance, which also limits the heat development. In extreme situations, the system draws a maximum of 320 watts. Most of this is used by the GPU. Only in idle mode does the new NUC demand more power than the old one, which surprises me.
When browsing or during office employees, the ROG NUC is barely noticeable at 35 decibels (dB). When gaming, the device is more audible at 42 dB, but not yet disturbing. In the stress test with AIDA64 and Furmark, the fans roar loudly at 48 dB. Fortunately, these are exceptional situations. Here is an overview of all measured values:
Performance in productivity applications
The comparison of the 275HX with the i9-13900K in the Raptor NUC shows that Intel processors have become significantly more efficient in recent years. Overall, the mobile processor in the ROG NUC delivers better results and demands less power with a maximum of 100 watts. Please note: I have not included the video benchmark in the first chart. The benchmark manufacturer has changed the calculation method, which is why the results are not comparable. Unfortunately, I was unable to test the Raptor NUC because I sent it back to the manufacturer.
Performance in games
In the following gallery you can see the arithmetic mean of the frames per second (FPS) of the games «Shadow of the Tomb Raider», «Cyberpunk 2077», Clair Obscur: Expedition 33» and «Silent Hill 2» (remake). For the predecessor system, you can only find the comparison to «Shadow of the Tomb Raider» and «Cyberpunk 2077». I wasn't able to test the other two games. However, I wanted to integrate newer games to see how well the NUC handles them. As you can see, the ROG NUC reaches its limits with «Silent Hill 2». Here I would either have to activate an upscaling technology, the presets or reduce the resolution.
When it comes to games, it's clear that the mobile RTX 5080 can't quite keep up with the RX 7900 XTX in the Raptor NUC. Nevertheless, you will be able to play most of the newer games with few compromises.
In a nutshell
A top NUC that looks the way it should look
Asus is turning the high-performance NUC back into a genuine NUC. Gone are the days when it was almost as big as a mini-ITX system. The system impresses with its performance, cooling and maintenance concept.
Despite all the praise for the performance, the top NUC 2025 feels similar to the one from 2023, when Intel was still responsible for it. This is because, unlike Intel, Asus relies on a mobile CPU and GPU. Although this makes the system more efficient and smaller, the two systems hardly differ in terms of raw performance. A compromise that is necessary and, in my opinion, the right one - otherwise I could simply build a mini-ITX PC. Unfortunately, this compromise leads to another limitation: With the NUC, I can only upgrade the SSD and RAM.
As always with these top NUCs, the price is the sticking point for me. Compared to what you get, the price seems fair to me, but still high. Personally, the NUC would be too expensive for me - but I also like to assemble my PCs myself. If you are looking for a powerful system with a small footprint and have the necessary budget, I can recommend the Asus ROG NUC.
Pro
- real mini PC
- Tool-free maintenance and upgrades
- Efficient cooling system
- Relatively efficient
- Many connections and modern connectivity
- Quiet in everyday operation
Contra
- High price
- Hardly any increase in performance compared to the model from two years ago
- reaches its limits in demanding games
- Fan clearly audible under full load
- Only partially upgradeable
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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