ASUS ROG NUC ROG NUC (2025)

The ROG NUC's CPU is in the 92nd percentile, making it one of the fastest mini PCs we've ever tested. Its port selection is even better at the 94th percentile, so connectivity is a non-issue. Just know that the 16GB of RAM is a letdown and reliability is only middle-of-the-pack, so factor in a memory upgrade and maybe an extended warranty.

The ASUS ROG NUC (2025) is a tiny desktop that punches way above its weight class. Its Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX lands in the 92nd percentile for CPU performance in our database, and the RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU sits in the 85th percentile. That combo makes this 3-liter box one of the fastest mini PCs we've ever tested. It's built for gamers who want serious frame rates without a tower hogging their desk. The port selection is best-in-class too, ranking in the 94th percentile, so connecting five 4K displays isn't just marketing fluff, it's actually doable.

This thing is a little monster. The 24-core Core Ultra 9 275HX chews through multi-threaded work, and paired with the RTX 5070 Ti's 12GB of VRAM, you're looking at a genuine 1440p high-refresh gaming rig that fits in a backpack. In our benchmarks, it's a standout for CPU tasks and leads most mini PCs by a wide margin. The GPU is one of the best on the market for this form factor, though it's a mobile chip, so don't expect it to match a full desktop 5070 Ti. Still, DLSS 4 picks up the slack nicely in supported titles. The triple-fan vapor chamber cooling keeps things surprisingly quiet under load, which is a nice bonus when you're not wearing a headset.

Pricing for the ROG NUC is a mess right now. We're seeing it listed anywhere from $2,399 to an eye-watering $867,123 across different storefronts. Obviously, nobody should pay the high end of that range, that's just scalper nonsense. At the $2,399 mark, you're getting a lot of compact power for the money, especially when you factor in the best-in-class port selection and that 92nd percentile CPU. But you'll want to budget for a RAM upgrade immediately, 16GB is underwhelming for a machine with this much GPU horsepower. Shop around and don't get fleeced.

Stacked against the Lenovo Legion 34IAS10 and HP OMEN GT22-3080, the ROG NUC carves out a unique niche. Those are traditional towers with more room for cooling and full-size desktop GPUs, so they'll typically outrun the NUC in raw GPU benchmarks. But neither can touch the NUC's port density or its 3-liter size. The MSI MEG Vision X AI 2NVZ9-045US might beat it in AI workloads, which is this NUC's weakest area at 56.5, but it's also a much larger box. If desk space is your main constraint, the NUC is in a league of its own. If you just want the most frames per dollar and don't care about size, a mid-tower from CLX or Dell will give you more GPU for less cash.

If you don't absolutely need a tiny PC, skip this and get a mid-tower. The reliability scores are mediocre at the 40th percentile, and the AI performance is a real letdown at 56.5 out of 100. You're paying a premium for the 3-liter size, and a traditional desktop with a full-power GPU will give you better frames per dollar and easier long-term maintenance. Anyone doing serious local AI work should look elsewhere entirely, this chip just isn't cut out for it.

The ASUS ROG NUC (2025) is the fastest mini PC you can buy right now, and the numbers back that up. The 92nd percentile CPU and 85th percentile GPU make it a genuine high-end gaming rig in a shockingly small package. The port selection is best-in-class, and the cooling actually works. The 16GB of RAM is a cost-cutting move that stings, and the reliability scores give us some pause, but for the right buyer, those are fixable or forgivable trade-offs. If you need maximum power in minimum space, this is your machine.