The ASUS ROG NUC 970 is an intriguing option for those who want a gaming PC in a compact form. This little powerhouse is full of surprises.
The world of personal computers has become so diverse that it’s hard to keep up. Somehow, I never had the chance to try out gaming devices known as NUCs. I’d heard of them, seen them, but never tested one. So, I gladly agreed to review this new addition to the Ukrainian gaming market—the ASUS ROG NUC 970.
I was curious to understand why everyone is so excited about these mini-PCs, which are sometimes even referred to as consoles. Let’s go through it step by step.
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What is NUC?
In recent years, tablets and laptops have gained popularity over traditional desktop systems. However, they often fall short in providing the necessary performance and functionality. On the other hand, desktop PCs lack mobility and take up too much space.
This created a need for computers that are both compact and capable of delivering full functionality without limitations. This led to the development of Intel’s mini-computers, known as Next Unit of Computing (NUC). Intel genuinely sees these systems as the future of computing, not just another take on nettops, all-in-ones, or similar concepts.
A NUC is essentially a form factor of a personal computer. The device looks like a small box-like case, yet despite its size, it doesn’t lag behind most PCs in terms of power. NUCs are convenient for use both at work and at home—as a home media center, for example, or even for gaming. You can place it right next to your keyboard on the desk or mount it behind a monitor using the included VESA bracket kit.
Using a mini-PC like the NUC involves connecting a keyboard, mouse, and monitor—a setup that takes only a few minutes.
As you may already know, for nearly a decade, Intel was the sole manufacturer of NUC devices. However, in the fall of 2023, Intel decided to step away from the NUC project for reasons speculated to range from losing interest in the line to budget constraints. This decision shocked NUC fans. But in October 2023, Intel officially handed over its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) product lines to ASUS. Moving forward, ASUS will be responsible for producing and selling Intel NUC products from the 10th through the 13th generations and will also lead the development, production, and sales of all future NUC products.
Following its acquisition of Intel’s NUC line, ASUS not only continued to advance the NUC legacy with releases like the NUC 14 Pro and NUC 14 Pro+, but it also took the opportunity to create its own mini-PC. This led to the debut of the ASUS ROG NUC 970, the first gaming-focused mini-PC under the Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand. So, let’s dive into what this new offering from the Taiwanese company has to offer.
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What is interesting about ASUS ROG NUC 970
The ASUS ROG NUC 970 stands out among compact desktop computers, combining impressive performance with a sleek design. This device appeals to both gamers and professionals, offering substantial computing power in a small form factor. Notably, it’s available in a base version, allowing users to customize RAM, SSD, and the operating system, or as a fully configured setup for convenience.
The ROG NUC 970, equipped with advanced components, offers configurations like the Intel Ultra 7 paired with an RTX 4060 or the Ultra 9 with an RTX 4070. My model featured the Ultra 9 processor and RTX 4070 graphics card, supported by 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Setup was straightforward, resembling a typical Windows installation, so even inexperienced users will manage with ease.
When it comes to connectivity, the ASUS ROG NUC 970 doesn’t disappoint. It includes a variety of ports, such as Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and high-speed USB ports, to support various devices and configurations. For gaming, it delivers satisfactory performance, running cutting-edge games smoothly without lag, although this mini-PC does slightly fall short of larger gaming laptops in terms of speed.
The ASUS ROG NUC 970 utilizes the latest Intel thermal design technologies, which help efficiently manage heat within its compact chassis. This design feature ensures that high-performance components like the Ultra 9 processor and RTX 4070 graphics card can operate optimally without thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. Another important aspect is the support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, providing fast wireless connectivity for online gaming and peripheral devices.
The ROG NUC 970 boasts good build quality and functionality, but its price is a significant concern. Starting at $2,199, it struggles to compete with alternatives that offer better gaming performance for less money. Overall, while the concept is appealing, a price reduction is necessary for it to become a serious contender in the gaming market.
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ASUS ROG NUC 970 specifications
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (6P+8E+2LPE – 16 cores, 22 threads)
- RAM: 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5-5600 (SO-DIMM)
- GPU Integrated: Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe cores)
- Discrete: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 notebook GPU (140W)
- NPU: Intel AI Boost NPU
- Storage: Samsung PM9A1a SSD (MZVL21T0HDLU-00BT7 – PCIe 4.0, M.2 2280), 1 TB, two additional M.2 2280 slots available
- Display: not available
- Audio: 3.5 mm Realtek ALC256 Codec combined jack
- Webcam: no
- Ports and connectors: Front: 1x UHS-I SD card reader, 2× USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10 Gbps), 1× 3.5 mm combo jack. Rear panel: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 2× USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10 Gbps), 2× USB 2.0 Type-A, 1× HDMI 2.1, 2× DisplayPort 1.4, 1× RJ-45 LAN, 1× DC input, 1× Kensington lock
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 (Intel Killer AX1690i), Intel I226-V 2.5GbE LAN
- Battery: no battery
- Cooling: air cooling
- Power supply: 330 W, DC socket
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home
- Dimensions: 270×180×60 mm
- Weight: 2.6 kg.
Packaging and accessories
I’m sure fans of the ROG gaming series will immediately recognize this brand. For the packaging of the ROG NUC 970, ASUS chose the familiar black and red color scheme that has become associated with the Republic of Gamers brand. On the back of the box, there are stickers that provide a brief overview of the mini-PC’s technical specifications.
Upon removing the outer sleeve, you’ll find an inner box with a lid that is secured in place by a magnet, making unpacking convenient.
Inside, you’ll find the ASUS ROG NUC 970, neatly packaged and protected on the sides to prevent damage during transport. ASUS pleasantly surprises you with the included accessories and extras that come with the ROG NUC 970. You’ll find a 330W power supply with the corresponding cable, various regulatory and informational leaflets, a warranty card, a cleaning cloth, and a branded stand for the mini-PC.
A few words about the stand: it has a sturdy construction made from a combination of plastic and metal. The branded stand is useful if you want to position the ASUS ROG NUC 970 vertically on your desk for convenience. I believe the “standing” mode saves space and looks aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, this model is not compatible with VESA mounts, although there are mods available that might offer alternative solutions.
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Design features
Let’s start by analyzing the design of the ASUS ROG NUC 970, which looks quite different from the mini-PCs previously released by Intel. In fact, it reminded me a lot of an ASUS eGPU for laptops or even a router.
It can confidently be stated that the ROG NUC 970 fits well within the current ASUS ROG lineup and features the company’s signature design, characterized by sharp lines and diagonal abstract patterns running along the product’s surface. The 2024 ROG NUC is the first iteration of this design and closely resembles the design of the ROG XG Mobile external graphics processor. Both share a similar chassis type, as well as ventilation grilles and input/output ports. The ROG NUC has larger ventilation grills compared to the main intake vent at the bottom of the chassis.
It’s worth noting that I appreciated ASUS developers’ attempt to give the chassis not only a gaming aesthetic but also a business-like elegance.
The very thick top cover is made of high-quality rigid plastic and features a small ventilation grille. A diagonal line of RGB lighting, shaped like a large ASUS logo, runs across the center of the panel.
The side edges of the mini-PC, which can also serve as the top and bottom when the unit is positioned vertically, also feature ventilation openings for the cooling system.
The back of the ASUS ROG NUC 970 also somewhat resembles the bottom panel of a router. It is made from the same high-quality plastic, featuring ventilation grilles but without a filter. You can even see through the grille to catch a glimpse of the two internal fans.
They also included another “ROG” logo, which is designed in the form of grilles. It looks quite stylish. Around the edges, there are four rubberized feet that help keep your mini-PC stable on smooth surfaces.
The front panel also features ventilation grilles, but there aren’t as many of them. The white “ROG” logo is present here as well, although it lacks RGB lighting.
Finally, at the back, we have a port panel along with ventilation grilles for expelling hot air. There is also a screw and a lock that allow you to unlock and remove the top cover for access to the PC’s expansion slots, clearly without voiding the warranty.
The design is quite stylish, showcasing the recognizable sophistication of the Republic of Gamers series. I’m confident it will fit seamlessly into any modern interior and hold a worthy place on the desk of any avid gamer. It’s hard to believe that such powerful, cutting-edge gaming hardware can be housed in this small box (reminding you that the ASUS ROG NUC 970 measures 270×180×60 mm). While the mini-PC weighs 2.6 kg, so it can’t be called lightweight.
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Ports and connectors
Now, let’s focus on the capabilities of the ASUS ROG NUC 970, which are broader than those of even a gaming laptop. As we mentioned earlier, these mini-PCs are typically equipped with hardware similar to that of portable computers, and compared to laptops, they definitely offer more available space, allowing for the inclusion of a greater number of ports.
The ROG NUC 970 offers two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an SD8.0 card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the front panel.
On the back panel, we have two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, one 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, and one Thunderbolt 4 port. The Thunderbolt 4 port supports fast charging capabilities and the DisplayPort 2.1 standard for video output. Note that this graphics output is handled by the integrated Intel Arc graphics, which is part of the Core Ultra 9 185H processor. We also have an HDMI 2.1 FRL port and two DisplayPort 1.4a ports, which are connected to the discrete NVIDIA RTX 4070 mobile graphics processor in the NUC 970. Additionally, there’s a power adapter port and a slot for a Kensington lock.
So, we’re talking about excellent hardware, but if I had to nitpick, I would say that a second Thunderbolt 4 port could be useful. Also, the NUC’s back panel features an input for the power source connector.
To keep the mini-PC’s dimensions as compact as possible, ASUS opted for an external 330W power supply. It’s important to consider the size of this adapter; while I appreciate the decision to move it outside the PC, the dimensions of the power brick must also be taken into account when deciding where to place everything.
Regarding wireless connectivity, the ASUS ROG NUC 970 is equipped with a modem that supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. In short, it has everything you need for a comfortable working experience.
Some might argue that a Wi-Fi 7 modem would have been a better choice here to take advantage of the latest generation of networks. However, at present, such networks are still quite rare, and the routers that support this technology are very expensive. Therefore, it’s unlikely that this will be a necessary feature for many users.
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Connecting and setting up
If you’ve never encountered a mini-PC of this type, the process of connecting and setting it up might seem daunting. However, I want to reassure you that there’s nothing difficult or confusing about it.
You only need a basic setup of a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to get started. For my testing, I had an impressive set of accessories from ASUS:
- ROG Swift Pro PG248QP monitor
- ROG Strix Score NX Wirelles Deluxe keyboard
- ROG Keris Wirelles Aimpoint mouse
- ROG STRIX GS-AX5400 router.
The connection process is quite straightforward. First, plug in the ASUS ROG NUC 970 and the monitor into the power source, then connect them via the HDMI port. Next, connect your keyboard and mouse, and start the Windows 11 installation process.
No additional settings or connections are necessary. Everything is quite simple and quick. Within a few minutes, the ROG NUC 970 is ready to go.
You can connect up to four monitors with 4K resolution. There’s also a slot for SD cards. One small note: you might occasionally encounter driver issues with some peripheral devices, so be prepared for that. I faced some problems with my mouse, but I was able to resolve it—after all, this is Windows 11!
Another question that I’m sure many are curious about is whether to set up the ROG NUC 970 vertically or horizontally. I would recommend the vertical position on the stand, as it looks quite striking, takes up less desk space, and provides better access to the ports and connectors. Let’s not forget that the back side has many ventilation grilles that shouldn’t be obstructed.
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Hardware
Let’s talk about what’s under the hood of this little beast and what performance metrics we can achieve. First and foremost, it’s important to emphasize that, given the small size of the chassis, it’s unrealistic to expect it to accommodate desktop hardware. The heat generated by the processor would be difficult to manage optimally in such a confined space, especially if the graphics card also needs to fit in there. This is why the ROG NUC 970, like all others of its kind, features platforms typically found in laptops. Let’s dive into the details.
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor
The brain of this mini-PC is the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor. This latest model combines power and efficiency in equal measures and belongs to the Meteor Lake family.
The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H consists of 16 cores, divided into 6 performance cores with a frequency of 5.1 GHz that double processing threads thanks to HyperThreading technology, 8 efficient cores operating at 3.8 GHz, and 2 low-power cores running at 2.5 GHz. This configuration yields a total of 22 processing threads. Additionally, the processor features an Intel AI Boost NPU running at 1.4 GHz for AI-oriented tasks, along with 24 MB of Intel Smart Cache and integrated Intel Arc Graphics, suitable for office and multimedia applications. Thus, achieving high energy efficiency is straightforward, with a TDP of 45 watts and a maximum turbo frequency of 115 watts.
32 GB of DDR5 memory at 5600 MHz
Together with the processor, the ASUS ROG NUC 970 is equipped with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM running at a frequency of 5600 MHz in a dual-channel configuration. As observed, the device has two SO-DIMM slots, both of which are occupied by the installed modules, ensuring strong performance with a data transfer rate of around 70 GB/s.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card
The key difference of the ASUS ROG NUC 970 from other mini-PCs is that it features a dedicated graphics card, allowing it to avoid reliance on the limited power integrated into the processor.
Specifically, this model features the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, based on the AD106 core architecture of Ada Lovelace, which is the same as that used in the desktop RTX 4060 Ti. It comprises 4,608 CUDA cores, supported by 144 Tensor cores and 48 RT cores, delivering a boost clock of 2,175 MHz. It’s important to note that this model has a TDP of 140 W, which is the maximum for this chip in portable or compact devices. Additionally, the chip is paired with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory running at 2,000 MHz, corresponding to an effective speed of 16 Gbps, and thanks to its 128-bit bus, it achieves a bandwidth of 256 GB/s.
PCIe Gen4 SSD with 1 TB capacity
The ASUS ROG NUC 970 is equipped with a 1 TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 solid-state drive, specifically the Samsung MZVL21T0HDLU. This provides excellent performance for sequential reads, but its write speeds are quite limited, as demonstrated in the upcoming performance test.
It’s worth noting that, as shown in the device images, there are two additional M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots available for expanding the device’s storage capacity if needed.
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ASUS ROG NUC 970 performance
Now it’s time to analyze the performance offered by the ASUS ROG NUC 970’s hardware and evaluate it in comparison to other mini-PCs and gaming laptops.
In this particular case, we’re looking at a mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card with a TGP of about 115W, an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. On paper, this might seem like a well-balanced platform, but we shouldn’t be misled by the fact that the processor is an Intel Core Ultra 9. Although it is the top model among the Meteor Lake series, the Core Ultra 9 remains a less energy-efficient chipset compared to the Raptor Lake HX series, and performance reflects this as well. In this case, it could be said that ASUS has somewhat stuck to specifications defined by NUC product standards. However, everyone wants UltraBook-class platforms with the lowest possible power consumption.
As a result, there are situations where laptops equipped with the same graphics processor but based on the Raptor Lake platform deliver better performance than the subject of my review. The ROG NUC 970 “suffers” due to its central processor, which acts as a bottleneck for the graphics card. Consequently, for the same GPU, a less powerful CPU leads to a performance loss, which we can quantify in this case at approximately 10%.
However, it’s still a product that offers a reliable gaming experience at 1080p. Among the tested games, for instance, I averaged over 90 frames per second in a game like *Assassin’s Creed Mirage*, which drops to just over 60 frames per second in a masterpiece like *Cyberpunk 2077*. Then, after activating DLSS, I had a buffer that allowed me to play comfortably at any settings. In fact, *Cyberpunk 2077* averages more than 100 frames per second. These aren’t record-breaking numbers, but I can’t complain about poor performance either.
With DLSS still active but increasing the resolution to 1440p, I averaged around 90 frames per second in *Horizon Zero Dawn*, 65 frames per second in *Red Dead Redemption 2*, and about 70 frames per second when revisiting *Cyberpunk 2077*. This is clearly lower performance than a modern desktop PC and, as you might have noticed, in some cases even compared to a gaming laptop. However, it’s still more than sufficient to ensure a good experience for both gaming and productivity tasks.
In fact, if you’re looking for a solution that can support you in creating multimedia content as well as handle more productive office tasks, the ROG NUC 970 undoubtedly has the power needed to meet the needs of 90% or more users.
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Cooling system and noise
One thing I noticed right from the start during my practical testing is that the ASUS ROG NUC 14 is pleasantly quiet even under constant load. While gaming for several hours, this mini PC is much quieter than my large gaming PC—not to mention gaming laptops, which can be excessively loud.
This applies to the default performance mode, as you can choose from four operating modes in the Armory Crate software. Among them are a particularly quiet profile and a Turbo mode designed for even greater performance boosts.
It’s also worth noting that the cooling system of the ASUS ROG NUC 970 significantly outperforms the cooling systems of most other mini PCs. The two fans located at the bottom provide excellent airflow and efficiently dissipate the heat generated by the processor and graphics card.
During stress tests, the processor can reach temperatures of 100°C, leading to thermal throttling. However, during less demanding tasks or while gaming, you definitely won’t get close to these temperatures, so there shouldn’t be any issues. On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card remains cool at around 70°C during stress tests, which is a correct and ideal temperature that can be maintained over time.
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Conclusions
But why should I consider a solution like this instead of a laptop or a desktop PC? I’m sure many have thought about this since the very first moment of reading this review, and I had the same question. The scenarios in which a NUC like this can be useful can vary widely.
The compact and convenient design of the ASUS ROG NUC 970, combined with its performance, is currently unique in the market. It’s also commendable that maintenance is so straightforward. Accessing the SSD and RAM without tools is something that no competitor currently does better. If you want to save space on your desk, the choice is obvious.
A significant advantage compared to gaming laptops is the pleasantly low noise level. While modern laptops can sometimes be annoyingly loud, the ROG NUC 970 typically remains quite quiet.
On the other hand, this “little guy” doesn’t offer greater performance than a gaming laptop with comparable specifications, which is available at a significantly lower price. In this price range, there are also dedicated gaming PCs with somewhat better features, where the CPU and GPU can be upgraded accordingly. Moreover, the price still remains quite high.
But for the first time in years, I found myself wanting to return to mini-PCs. This little guy, with all the features of the Republic of Gamers series, has won my heart. The ASUS ROG NUC 970 is undoubtedly an exciting mini-PC for those who need the performance of a modern gaming laptop in a desktop form factor with an appealing design. Gamers who love unique and stylish things, this is your solution!
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Advantages
- compact attractive design
- high-quality case materials
- ROG-style aesthetics
- a sufficient number of ports and connectors
- excellent hardware performance
- easy to connect
- solid performance
- adjustable fan power and speed
Disadvantages
- a few more Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports could be added
- internal hardware upgrades are limited to memory and storage
- very high price.