Just a few weeks after introducing the ROG NUC 16 mini gaming PC with an Intel Arrow Lake-HX processor and up to NVIDIA RTX 5080 graphics, Asus has unveiled an even higher-performance model.

As part of the 20th anniversary of the ROG brand, Asus calls the new model the ROG NUC 16 Edition 20 and it features a semi-transparent chassis, much like the new Asus Xbox ROG Ally X20 that also debuted this week. But while the ROG Ally is a handheld gaming PC with integrated graphics, the ROG NUC 16 is console-sized mini PC with discrete graphics – in this case, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 mobile GPU with 24GB of GDDR7 memory.

While the GPU is designed for laptops and won’t offer the same performance you’d get from a desktop version, Asus does give pack this little computer with a vapor chamber and three fans, which it says can dissipate up to 300 watts of heat, allowing the GPU to run at up to 175 watts while the system’s Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX processor uses up to 125 watts.

For the most part, the computer’s other specs are pretty similar to those for the regular ROG NUC 16, except that the Edition 20 model has a black, red and gold color scheme (instead of black, gold, and white).

Both systems ship with up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 SODIMM memory or DDR5-6400 if you use CSO-DIMMs, and support up to 128GB if you can afford to bring your own. Both models have two M.2 2280 slots for storage (including one with PCIe 5.0 support and one that tops out at PCIe 4.0 speeds). And both have a set of ports that includes:

  • 1 x Thunderbolt 4
  • 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
  • 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
  • 2 x HDMI 2.1
  • 2 x DisplayPort 2.1
  • 1 x 3.5mm audio
  • 1 x 2.5 GbE LAN (RTL8125D)
  • 1 x DC power input

The system ships with a 380W power supply, a detachable base that lets you stand it up vertically, and also feature Intel Killer WiFi 7 BE1750 with support for Bluetooth 5.4. It ships with Windows 11 Home Edition pre-installed.

The ROG NUC 16 and RUC NUC 16 Edition 20 both measure 282.4 x 189.5 x 56.5mm (11.1″ x 7.5″ x 2.2″).

Asus hasn’t announced how much the new model will cost, but given that a version with an RTX 5080 GPU is expected to sell for $3800 in the US, it seems safe to say that the new RTX 5090-powered model will cost well over $4,000.

press release

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11 Comments

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  1. I’m actually interested in this form factor, I always have been. From somebody who does a lot of gaming and occasional streaming I often take my gaming rigs to family and friend gatherings or events, my personal gaming high performance rig is to heavy and too big 70+ lbs at the current point to even consider taking anywhere and that’s not even counting my ultrawide monitor or peripherals. I have a gaming laptop with an ROG Zephyrus Duo 16″ with an RTX 4090 but I’m not using it in transit for gaming. it’s just not feasible or powerful enough when placing it into eco mode to even consider taking it out of the bag when my phone or tablet wil suffice for web browsing or emails, it’s a heavy piece of kit and requires things like a lap board to keep the super hot surfaces of my body and a cooling pad just to keep from overheating while gaming, it consumes a lot of battery life and a lot of power even when connected to the wall, And the heat generated is unbearable at times. Iwould rather have a easier to pack equally powerful mini PC and a separate travel monitor if one is not already at the location which I am going that I can connect to. I like that it has a lot of power. I like that it has a lot of performance, I would prefer to have this on travel, especially on things like long cruises for those gatherings and want to bring some entertainment, stream some gameplay, etc… This makes a lot more sense when you’re just trying to pack a streaming setup into a carry-on or backpack when doing air travel. When the only awkward thing you have to carry is the screen, the Mini PC is easy to stuff in the nooks and crannies in your luggage, no need for all the extra cooling devices or things to keep it off your lap, With either form factor you still have the 300 plus watt power supply which is also sizable and weighty so that’s factored into both. As for cost When you make things smaller naturally they get more expensive, most of our modern cell phones are 1/4 to a third of the cost of this device more so if a tablet, and those devices don’t have anywhere near the same level of performance or power. I’d say the cost is justified.

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    1. No it’s not. This stinks as a paid post. Unsurprising from a scummy company like Asus.

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  2. What is the market for a $3,800 gaming PC in this form factor?

    I figure anyone who is that serious about their gaming would want a desktop for easier component access/upgrading, bigger power supplies, cooling systems, etc.

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    1. Why so expensive when you can get a laptop with similar specs and an oled screen for less?

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      1. I use desktops like that one for work. Used to build 7-9L ones myself before.
        I travel over the globe for a few months from time to time (well, not so much after COVID), so even ITX mini tower is a no go. “Gaming” laptops die pretty fast due to the heat under constant load, and you get worse sustained performance in general. I do have a MacBook Pro for shorter trips though.
        There is no point on getting mini-PC like that if you stay at one place or can move by car, or if you just want to game a couple hours a day.

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      2. Notebooks are less expensive due to the volumes they sell at. It’s sort of like how a rather large computer monitor costs a ton more than a similar size TV that includes a tuner.

        But to answer your question of why, it depends on where the computer will be located. For my desk a laptop is fine, even though I don’t use the built in monitor, and need a UPS still to power the monitor I do use. For my DVR server located in my bedroom a NUC is a much better form factor because it takes up so little space and is so unobtrusive. I like it so much my next computer for my desk may be a NUC, but the price difference may get me to buy a notebook instead.

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        1. Makes sense but you could also fold up a laptop and use it for the same purpose. Just make it so windows stays on when its folder and voila you have a mini pc. I’ve ran Terreria and Palworld servers this way.

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          1. Yes, but it’s still a larger footprint even when folded. That’s what I was doing before the Asus NUC. Now maybe if they still made netbooks, those smaller notebooks, but I don’t think they do. That would probably be perfect even for my DVR server situation since it doesn’t require much of a CPU and would take up little space.

  3. Neat! By the way, they have price for 5080 model on the US website: ASUS estore price: $3,799.00. So under $4k. I afraid 5090 bump markup won’t be $500 extra I’m willing to pay.

    Reply