Asus NUC 15 Performance: A Compact Machine with Serious Hardware
The NUC 15 Performance is the compact machine from Asus that will pack some serious hardware into a 3-litre box. Up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Arrow Lake processor with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 mobile graphics. That's something.
If this sounds in a way familiar, you could be thinking about the Asus ROG NUC we were shown earlier this year. And rightly so - they share a lot of DNA. However, NUC 15 Performance makes its distinction, which is not entirely chasing the hardcore gamer.
Differences: What Sets the NUC 15 Performance Apart.
So, how does this new model distinguish itself from the ROG sibling. Here are a few things that stand out:
- More Understated Appearance: Bye-bye semi-translucent case with flashy RGB, the NUC 15 Performance shall adopt a more traditional design less "gamer-centered".
- Slightly Different Graphics Tier: The ROG NUC can go all the way up to RTX 5080, whereas the NUC 15 Performance ends up with a still-very-capable RTX 5070.
- The Barebones Advantage: This one is really big for the DIY-ers. While the ROG NUC comes fully configured, the NUC 15 Performance will be available as an almost-barebones kit-however you want to define that. This means you can bring your own memory, storage, and operating system, which could save you some bucks and match it perfectly to your needs.
This barebones approach should also put it in a lower price bracket. Rumor has it that the entry-level barebones might start somewhere around the $1200 mark with perhaps an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060.
Common Strengths: What's Under the Hood.
These two mini behemoths have quite a lot more in common beyond their differences: Expect
- Two SO-DIMM slots, ready for up to 32GB of speedy DDR5-6400 memory.
- Dual M.2 2280 slots for storage: one blazing-fast PCIe Gen 5 x4 slot and another speedy PCIe Gen 4 x4 slot.
- Connectivity is well-covered with a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port and an Intel BE200 wireless card bringing WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.2 to the party.
And ports. Yeah, lots. And here's the count:
- 1 x Thunderbolt 4 port
- 1 x USB Type-C port
- 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports
- 2 x HDMI ports
- 2 x DisplayPort outputs
- 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
Three internal fans to cool-down all that powerful hardware inside the nook-sized compact chassis, 330W of power adapter to push its performance.
If you're looking for a mini PC that doesn't hold back in power while allowing more customization and being budget-friendly instead of a contrived gaming rig, the Asus NUC 15 Performance is surely one to look for.
