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ASUS has announced the new ROG NUC 16<\/b>, and while it looks almost the same as the previous ROG NUC 15, there are key upgrades and some minor aesthetic changes.<\/p>\n
For one, the updated compact PC comes powered by Intel\u2019s new Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus<\/b> processor and can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU<\/b>, all packed inside a 3-litre chassis. The specifications are fairly absurd for something this small, if you think about it.<\/p>\n
ASUS also says the ROG NUC 16 supports up to 128GB of DDR5-6400 memory alongside PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage, while also handling AI-related workloads with \u201cup to 1,334 AI TOPS performance from the RTX 5080 GPU\u201d. Clearly, the company is positioning this as more than just a tiny gaming PC, with the usual AI workstation and creator-focused messaging attached to it as well \u2013 as with almost<\/i> every other PC makers.<\/p>\n
The bigger talking point, though, is probably cooling. Small-form-factor gaming PCs have always struggled with heat and noise once you start stuffing flagship-class components into tiny enclosures. ASUS claims the ROG NUC 16 uses an upgraded triple-fan<\/b> and vapour chamber cooling<\/b> setup, alongside what it calls QuietFlow<\/b> cooling that supposedly improves CPU thermal coverage by 12% compared to the previous model. ASUS also says the system can stay below 38dBA under load, although I\u2019ll leave my judgement on that until we get our hands on a review unit.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve already mentioned the design itself doesn\u2019t look drastically different from the previous ROG NUC model, but what\u2019s new is a removable stand that allows the mini PC to sit vertically or horizontally. There\u2019s even a built-in G-sensor that automatically adjusts thermal behaviour depending on orientation. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and support for up to five 4K displays simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Colour-wise, there\u2019s a new Moonlight White Edition<\/b> alongside the standard black model.<\/p>\nAvailability and pricing<\/h2>\n
The ROG NUC 16 will be available from Q3 onwards, with pricing and exact availability to be announced later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n