ASUS ROG NUC 2025
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The ASUS ROG NUC 2025 is ASUS’s attempt to fit a gaming desktop into something you could carry in one hand. Inside a vertical chassis that measures roughly 11.1 x 7.4 x 2.2 inches (about three liters) sits an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core Arrow Lake-HX processor, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series Laptop GPU and a triple-fan cooling system. ASUS sells it in two configurations that share the same chassis: a 32GB/1TB model with an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU and a 32GB/2TB model that steps up to the RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. It is the Intel half of a two-part lineup; the ASUS ROG GR70 is the AMD sibling built around the same idea. Heat, noise, and price are the tradeoffs that come with packing this much silicon into that volume.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX posts a PassMark CPU Mark around 55,875 | Laptop-class parts in 3 liters lean hard on the triple-fan cooling |
| Discrete NVIDIA RTX 5070 or RTX 5080 Laptop GPU in a 3-liter box | One reviewer of the AMD sibling found this Intel model’s power modes less consistent |
| Tool-less chassis makes RAM and SSD upgrades straightforward | Premium pricing well above mainstream mini PCs |
| Dual M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0, one PCIe 4.0) and up to 96GB DDR5 | Memory stops at 96GB across the two SODIMM slots |
| Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 7, dual HDMI, and dual DisplayPort 2.1 | Mobile GPU is soldered, so graphics cannot be upgraded later |
| Drives up to five 4K displays for multi-monitor setups | Bulky 330W external power brick and no VESA mount |
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ASUS ROG NUC 2025 Comparison Chart
 ASUS ROG NUC 2025 | ASUS ROG NUC 2025 | |
| Price | List Price: $3,899.00 Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: $3,769.98 Amazon Prices: Loading prices... |
| Version | 32GB/1TB/Core Ultra 9 275HX/RTX 5070 | 32GB/2TB/Core Ultra 9 275HX/RTX 5080 |
| Performance Rating | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Processor | Twenty-four-core 2.70 Ghz (max 5.40 Ghz) Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Twenty-four-core 2.70 Ghz (max 5.40 Ghz) Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| GPU | Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU | Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (Up to 96GB DDR5) | 32 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (Up to 96GB DDR5) |
| Internal Storage | 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 | 2 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 11.12 x 7.39 x 2.22 inches (282.45 x 187.71 x 56.39 mm) | 11.12 x 7.39 x 2.22 inches (282.45 x 187.71 x 56.39 mm) |
| Weight | 6.88 lbs (3.13 kg) | 6.88 lbs (3.13 kg) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Ethernet | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps |
| HDMI | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports | 2 Full-Size HDMI Ports |
| DisplayPort | 2 DisplayPorts (2x DP 2.1 (UHBR20); up to five 4K or dual 8K displays) | 2 DisplayPorts (2x DP 2.1 (UHBR20); up to five 4K or dual 8K displays) |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 6 USB 3, 2 USB-C Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2. Rear: 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x Thunderbolt 4 | 6 USB 3, 2 USB-C Front: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2. Rear: 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x Thunderbolt 4 |
| Thunderbolt Ports | 1 | 1 |
| OCuLink | No | No |
| Internal SATA Ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports |
| Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | combo | combo |
| Fanless | No | No |
| VESA Mount | No | No |
| In the Box | ROG NUC 2025 unit, 330W power adapter, power cord, removable stand, documentation | ROG NUC 2025 unit, 330W power adapter, power cord, removable stand, documentation |
| Expandability | Up to 96GB DDR5 (2x SODIMM, supports CSO-DIMM). 2x M.2 2280: PCIe 5.0 x4 + PCIe 4.0 x4. Tool-less chassis. | Up to 96GB DDR5 (2x SODIMM, supports CSO-DIMM). 2x M.2 2280: PCIe 5.0 x4 + PCIe 4.0 x4. Tool-less chassis. |
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Five-Display Output and Two M.2 Slots in Three Liters
The ROG NUC 2025 is a vertical tower that stands on an included removable foot and weighs a little under seven pounds. The styling follows the Republic of Gamers line: a smoked front panel with an illuminated red ROG logo, angular ventilation that spells out “ASUS” across the side, and ARGB lighting. It is the same design language ASUS carried over to the AMD ROG GR70, and the two machines share the same roughly three-liter footprint. The front face carries the power button, a combo audio jack, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port. The rear adds four more USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, dual HDMI, dual DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR20), and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet on an Intel controller.
At the center is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, an Arrow Lake-HX chip with 24 cores (8 performance and 16 efficient) and 24 threads, boosting to 5.4 GHz. Its PassMark CPU Mark lands around 55,875. Graphics come from one of two NVIDIA Blackwell Laptop GPUs: the entry model uses the RTX 5070 Laptop GPU with 8GB of GDDR7, and the top model uses the RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with 16GB of GDDR7. Both are soldered mobile parts, so the GPU is fixed for the life of the machine, though the Thunderbolt 4 port leaves the door open to an external GPU later.
Wireless is WiFi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4, backed by the 2.5GbE port and a Thunderbolt 4 connection that doubles as a high-bandwidth display and docking output. Between two HDMI outputs, two DisplayPort 2.1 outputs, and Thunderbolt, ASUS rates the system for up to five 4K displays or two 8K displays at once. Storage runs through two M.2 2280 slots, one wired for PCIe 5.0 x4 and the other for PCIe 4.0 x4, and the tool-less chassis makes getting to those slots and the two SODIMM memory slots painless. Memory tops out at 96GB of DDR5 (two 48GB modules), and ASUS notes the system also accepts the newer CSO-DIMM modules.
Reviewer Insights
ALKtech billed its unboxing and review with the question of whether this is “the most powerful gaming mini PC available today,” while Robtech’s ROG NUC 15 review used the same “most powerful mini PC” framing in its title but came away only “slightly impressed” once the benchmarks were in. Robtech tested an RTX 5070 Ti configuration, which sits between the RTX 5070 and RTX 5080 models sold here.
The closest comparison point is the AMD ROG GR70, which shares this chassis and cooling. In his GR70 review, Robtech came away preferring the AMD machine to the Intel one: he reported that on the GR70 “the software actually worked fine” and the Armory Crate power modes (which also govern fan noise) behaved as intended, “whereas on the Intel one, the power modes did not work properly.” That is one reviewer’s read of a sibling product rather than a verdict on this machine, but it is worth weighing for anyone choosing between the two, since in Robtech’s testing the AMD GR70 had the edge on power-mode behavior and noise.
Worth the Money for Enthusiasts Who Can Live With Fan Noise
A Core Ultra 9 275HX paired with an RTX 5070 or RTX 5080 Laptop GPU covers gaming and creator work in a three-liter box. The tool-less chassis, dual M.2 storage with a PCIe 5.0 slot, 96GB memory ceiling, and five-display output push it toward workstation duty, and Thunderbolt 4 plus WiFi 7 cover the current connection standards.
The cost of that density is heat and fan noise under load, on top of a steep asking price. Buyers who want a quiet, set-and-forget machine should look elsewhere, while enthusiasts who want desktop-class performance in a portable shell and easy upgrade access will find a lot here. To line it up against other small-form-factor systems, see our Mini PC Comparison Chart.
Upgrades
Accessories that fit the ASUS ROG NUC 2025's USB4 or Thunderbolt ports.
Core X V2
A Thunderbolt 5 enclosure that Razer lists as working with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hosts; it fits a four-slot card and needs an ATX power supply.
DEG2 eGPU Dock
Connects over USB4 or Thunderbolt 5, with an OCuLink input behind a switch, and adds an M.2 slot; it needs an ATX or SFX power supply.
Breakaway Box 850 T5
Has an 850W power supply built in, so only the graphics card is extra, and works with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Windows PCs.
TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
An 18-port dock that CalDigit lists for Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hosts, with 2.5GbE and a DisplayPort 1.4 output.
TBT4-UD5 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Two HDMI ports drive two 4K60 monitors from one Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 port on a Windows PC.
Revodok Max 208 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Adds three Thunderbolt 4 ports for dual 4K60 displays plus gigabit Ethernet; it has no HDMI port, so monitors connect over USB-C or an adapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What processor and GPU does the ASUS ROG NUC 2025 use?
The ROG NUC 2025 uses the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core Arrow Lake-HX processor that boosts to 5.4 GHz, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series Laptop GPU. The 32GB/1TB configuration ships with an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR7), and the 32GB/2TB configuration steps up to an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR7). Both share the same chassis and triple-fan cooling.
How is the ROG NUC 2025 different from the ASUS ROG GR70?
The ROG NUC 2025 is the Intel-based member of the family, while the ASUS ROG GR70 is the AMD version built around a Ryzen 9 processor. The two share the same vertical, tool-less chassis and triple-fan cooling. Reviewing the GR70, Robtech found its Armory Crate power modes behaved as intended, while on the Intel model he had tested the power modes did not work properly; since those power modes also govern fan noise, that is one consideration when choosing between the two.
Can I upgrade the RAM and storage in the ROG NUC 2025?
Yes. The ROG NUC 2025 uses a tool-less chassis that opens without a screwdriver. Inside are two SODIMM slots that accept up to 96GB of DDR5 memory and two M.2 2280 slots, one wired for PCIe 5.0 x4 and one for PCIe 4.0 x4. The GPU is a soldered mobile part and cannot be upgraded, though the Thunderbolt 4 port can connect an external GPU.
How many displays can the ASUS ROG NUC 2025 support?
ASUS rates the ROG NUC 2025 for up to five 4K displays, or two 8K displays, at once. It provides two HDMI outputs, two DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR20) outputs, and a Thunderbolt 4 port that supports DisplayPort output, making it well suited to multi-monitor gaming, workstation, and creator setups despite its small size.
Does the ASUS ROG NUC 2025 run hot or loud?
Fitting a Core Ultra 9 275HX and a discrete RTX 50-series GPU into a three-liter chassis means the triple-fan cooling system has to work hard, so the system runs warm and audible under sustained gaming or rendering loads.
What ports does the ASUS ROG NUC 2025 have?
On the front, the ROG NUC 2025 has the power button, a combo audio jack, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port. The rear adds four USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one Thunderbolt 4 port, two HDMI outputs, two DisplayPort 2.1 outputs, and a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port. Wireless connectivity is WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.