Some time ago, Asus announced a new series of NUC 14 computers with Intel Core Meteor Lake processors. However, the most powerful NUC 14 ROG series with RTX 4070 has only just hit the market. Let’s see what a mini PC can offer today for almost 70 thousand crowns.
Many are certainly aware that Intel sold its NUC brand to Asus last year, which, as a long-standing manufacturer of small computers and notebooks, is certainly capable of continuing their production. The lower ranks of all NUC series have always been a “half-baked” computer. You had to buy additional memory, disk and sometimes other components of your choice.
In the case of the ROG NUC 14, however, you get everything directly from the manufacturer. It is therefore a fully functional and assembled computer, into which you no longer have to look for anything. We already tested one of this year’s NUC 14 models some time ago, but it was a purely work solution with integrated graphics. So nothing for players.
NUC 14 for gamers
The model tested today NUC 14 PLEASE is a completely different category. Of course, we all know that a NUC is basically a laptop without a display, battery and keyboard with extended cooling and connectivity options. This has always been the essence of small PCs. Asus has even gone back to its ROG mini PC design in the case of the ROG NUC 14, existing long before it took over the NUC from Intel.
What can a mini PC in the form of NUC 14 actually offer? As said before, the core is in the laptop CPU and GPU. We do not have a keyboard, speakers, battery and display. Otherwise, it is essentially a laptop, i.e. a lighter and portable computer. Compared to a laptop, however, we can have a slightly more sophisticated and powerful cooling and significantly more different ports. Of course, the dimensions are also smaller.
Connectors and ports
Let’s start the tour of the computer with the ports. The front side carries the power button, two USB Type-A connectors and a headphone output. There is also a slot for memory cards. The dimensions of the entire computer are compact, 180 mm by 270 mm with a weight of 2.6 kg.
The rear is better equipped. We have a pair of DP, HDMI and Thunderbolt ports here. Along with Ethernet, you also see a quadruple USB-A port. Four monitors can be connected to the computer. The only pity is the absence of USB-C ports, we only have one here, which is shared with Thunderbolt. The manufacturer does not state whether it is possible to power the computer with it. But I don’t think it will work. Wireless technology is represented by WiFi 6E and BT 5.3.
Although we may not be interested in the internal connectors this time, the computer is sold fully assembled, just for additions. Inside we find 3x M.2 slots for disks, only one is fitted from the factory. The memories are in two slots, the maximum capacity is 64 GB.
Configuration:
Source: pctuning.cz
