ROG NUC offers powerful performance in a smaller package than a PlayStation 5 — Asus pairs the RTX 5080 laptop GPU with a Core Ultra 9 mobile CPU

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Asus new compact gaming PC features two vapor chamber coolers to keep the Ultra 9 CPU and 5080 cool and quiet.

Asus ROG NUC 2025
(Image credit: Asus)

Asus has released an updated ROG NUC for 2025 featuring the latest GPU and CPU hardware for Nvidia and Intel. The new variant features an Intel Core Ultra 9 Arrow Lake-HX series CPU and an RTX 5080 laptop GPU in a form factor smaller than a PlayStation 5.

As the name suggests, the new ROG NUC comes in a portable/compact form factor of 282.4mm tall, 187.7mm deep, and 56.5mm thick. Compared to other consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, the new ROG NUC is 71.3% smaller volume-wise. The NUC is cooled with an integrated triple-fan design and twin vapor chamber coolers that purportedly keep the device silent. One of the fans is dedicated entirely to the CPU and can cool up to 135 watts alone. The chassis features integrated vents on both sides that exhaust air out the rear of the case.

The chassis' ventilation system has been integrated into its aesthetic. The left ROG logo features a perforated design that allows the internal fans to intake cool air. The right side features an RGB-illuminated ROG logo with a cutout at the bottom, enabling the CPU fan to intake air.

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Asus ROG NUC 2025
(Image credit: Asus)

For I/O, the ROG NUC has dual USB 3.2 Type-A ports, one 3.2 Type-C port, and a headphone jack in the front. The rear has four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2.5Gb ethernet, one Thunderbolt 4 port, dual DisplayPort 2.1 connectors, and dual HDMI 2.1 FLR ports. For wireless connectivity, the NUC features a Wi-Fi 7 card.

The Core Ultra 9 CPU inside has 24 cores and operates at up to 5.5 GHz paired with 16GB of DDR5-6400 memory, which is expandable up to 96GB. Asus did not share the exact model number of the CPU, but based on the peak turbo clocks of the Ultra 9 chip, it is inevitably the Core Ultra 9 285HX, Intel's flagship Arrow Lake mobile CPU.

The RTX 5080 inside the ROG NUC 2025 is the mobile variant, featuring Nvidia's new Blackwell GPU architecture, 7,680 CUDA cores, 60 SMs, 16GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit interface, and a variable TDP of 80-150W. Due to the vapor chamber coolers on the NUC, we wouldn't be surprised if Asus is pushing power near the 150W limit, but Asus did not state a TDP in the specs, so we can only presume what it might be. Overclocking is fully supported with overclocking controls in the UEFI/BIOS, with performance monitoring and fan controls available in Asus' Armory Crate software.

We have yet to find a price on Asus' newly updated ROG NUC from itself or any vendor selling the PC, but if history is anything to go by, this new system will be anything but cheap.

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Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • heffeque
    It seems that the G7 Pt has a new contestant!
    That ASUS has a slower CPU, but a faster GPU, which makes it better for gaming.

    And now for the price:
    Will it be double the price of the G7 Pt? Triple the price?
    Reply
  • bigdragon
    That looks like a nice little box in terms of specs and build. I'm glad to see vendors coming out with smaller options since not everyone wants a gigantic tower with a GPU that is both bigger and heavier than a brick. Only problem is that this ROG NUC will be 4+ times the price of a PS5. PC graphics have a huge pricing problem compared to the consoles.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    Asus has unfortunately largely carried over Intel's "that's really neat... wait what's the price?" NUC pricing after buying the division. I think things like this are definitely a great idea, but if it costs less than even an equivalent gaming laptop I'd be surprised. In general units like this don't get reasonably priced until they're near EOL.

    According to what I've seen elsewhere it comes with the Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 CPU. I imagine the CPU SKU is likely linked directly to the graphics option so the less expensive CPU won't be available with the top SKU graphics.
    Reply
  • Notton
    At this point, I don't see why they stick to the laptop GPUs.
    Is it really that difficult cramming a desktop GPU in there?

    The desktop RTX 5090 FE is 304mm x 137mm x 48mm = 2L
    The ROG Nuc 2025 is 282.4mm x 187,7mm x 56.5mm = 3L

    The only downside is now you need an 800W power brick for a 5090.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Notton said:
    At this point, I don't see why they stick to the laptop GPUs.
    Is it really that difficult cramming a desktop GPU in there?
    I'm going to hazard a guess that laptop GPUs are cheaper, since they can probably use lower-binned parts that don't clock as high. In such a constrained form factor, you wouldn't be able to clock it as high as a desktop GPU no matter what, unless you want it sounding like a hairdryer.

    Notton said:
    The only downside is now you need an 800W power brick for a 5090.
    People buying such small machines might be using them in small rooms where they don't wan an 800 W heater. I actually have a space heater with an 800W setting, so I know what that amount of heat feels like.
    Reply
  • das_stig
    Notton said:
    At this point, I don't see why they stick to the laptop GPUs.
    Is it really that difficult cramming a desktop GPU in there?

    The desktop RTX 5090 FE is 304mm x 137mm x 48mm = 2L
    The ROG Nuc 2025 is 282.4mm x 187,7mm x 56.5mm = 3L

    The only downside is now you need an 800W power brick for a 5090.
    You could easily say, why do we need desktop parts at all, if mobile cpu/gpu are capable of holding their own in gaming and lower pricing, desktops become the realm of number crunching/graphics etc?
    Reply