Asus has taken over the NUC brand from Intel, and their first offering, the ROG NUC 970, is a gaming PC packed into a tiny 2.5-liter case. It boasts a discrete GPU, which is impressive considering its size, but comes at a premium price compared to other NUCs. While it seems like a full-fledged desktop squeezed into a small package, the performance reveals that it utilizes laptop components, which limits its potential.
Asus offers two configurations of the ROG NUC 970, with varying CPU, GPU, memory, and storage options. The cheaper configuration features a Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and RTX 4060 GPU, priced at $1,629. The more expensive option boasts an RTX 4070 GPU and a Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, costing $2,199. Both configurations allow storage and memory upgrades, with the cheaper one coming with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, while the higher-end model offers 32GB RAM and 1TB storage. My review unit featured the RTX 4070, which seems to be the more popular configuration among retailers.
Compared to full desktops, the ROG NUC 970’s pricing is competitive. It stands up against similar configurations from Starforge Systems and Alienware, offering a smaller form factor at a slightly lower price. However, when compared to laptops with similar components, the ROG NUC 970 starts to lose its appeal. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, for example, offers an RTX 4070 and Core Ultra 9 185H for $2,000, which is $200 less than the ROG NUC 970. While the Zephyrus G16 has less RAM, it comes with an OLED display and all the features of a standard laptop.
The ROG NUC 970 stands out due to its unique design and size. There are other compact gaming PCs, like the Zotac Zbox, but they are more expensive and harder to find in the US. Workstation-class PCs like the HP Z2 Mini G9 offer similar price points but come with professional GPUs. While the ROG NUC 970 is expensive, it offers a level of performance and compactness that few other mini PCs can match.
The ROG NUC 970 boasts a bold design with a red ROG logo illuminating through smoky transparent plastic. It features aggressive vent lines, an angular power button, and an ROG badge on the front. The compact form factor allows for very little design space, but Asus makes the most of it. While the build quality is decent, the plastic shell feels fragile, making it essential to handle the device with care. Asus includes a thick metal stand for a vertical orientation, adding to the overall size, but the NUC 970 looks better in its horizontal orientation.
Opening the ROG NUC 970 is relatively simple, but can be tricky in practice. A latch on the back unlocks the side panel, followed by removing a screw and sliding off a metal shield covering the motherboard. This exposes the RAM, storage, and wireless card. Although the process seems straightforward, I found it difficult to remove the metal shield, fearing I would damage the device. Despite the initial challenges, it became easier after opening it a few times. Inside, you’ll find three NVMe slots and two SODIMM slots for easy upgrades.
Since the ROG NUC 970 utilizes laptop components, performance expectations should be managed. While it delivers impressive performance for a device its size, it doesn’t match the level of a desktop Core i9 CPU or RTX 4070 graphics card. In benchmarks like Cinebench R24, the ROG NUC 970 outpaces its laptop counterparts, including the Zephyrus G16 with the same CPU. It even surpasses the multi-core score of the M2 Pro Mac mini but falls short in single-core performance. It also matches the Alienware Aurora R16 with a Core i7-13700F, though that’s an older processor.
Geekbench 6 presents a slightly different picture, with the ROG NUC 970 lagging behind the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i with the same processor. It also falls behind the Alienware Aurora R16 in both single and multi-core performance, highlighting the limitations of laptop components. While the ROG NUC 970 makes the most of its components, it still can’t match the power of a full-fledged desktop.
In real-world applications, the ROG NUC 970 holds its own. It outperforms the Zephyrus G16 and delivers performance similar to the HP Omen 40L desktop with a Ryzen 7 7700 and RTX 4060 Ti in Premiere Pro. As a gaming device, the ROG NUC 970 has an advantage over thin gaming laptops due to full power delivery to the RTX 4070 graphics card. However, in benchmarks like 3DMark, it lags behind the Alienware Aurora R16, reinforcing the fact that it performs closer to a laptop than a desktop.
Despite these limitations, the ROG NUC 970 delivers impressive gaming performance. It consistently achieves over 60 frames per second (fps) in demanding games at 1440p and can even push to 4K with Nvidia’s DLSS 3 enabled. While its performance doesn’t match a full-fledged desktop RTX 4070, it delivers a solid mobile gaming experience.
The ROG NUC 970 features an extensive array of ports for a device its size. Up front, you’ll find two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a full-sized SD card slot, and a headphone jack. On the rear, there’s an HDMI 2.1 port, two DisplayPort 1.4a connections, a single Thunderbolt 4 port, dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, dual USB 2.0 ports, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, and a barrel power jack. While an additional USB-C connection and an upgrade to the USB 2.0 ports would be welcome, it’s hard to complain given its size. The device uses an external 330W power supply, which, while large and heavy, helps keep the NUC itself small and lightweight. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, through an Intel wireless card. I experienced some wireless connectivity issues with my review unit, which were resolved by reinstalling the driver. However, most users shouldn’t encounter such problems. Asus offers a one-click installer for all drivers on its website. If you plan on purchasing the ROG NUC 970, it’s wise to download the drivers beforehand.
The Asus ROG NUC 970 caters to a niche market within mini PCs, offering a high-performance option in a compact form factor. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a small, powerful, and upgradeable gaming PC, but its price and performance limitations make it a niche product. If you’re on the fence, consider alternatives like a laptop with similar components, like the Zephyrus G16, or a small form factor desktop, which offers more power but a larger footprint. Ultimately, the ROG NUC 970 offers a unique combination of performance and size, making it a compelling option for those seeking a compact gaming powerhouse, but at a premium price.
