ASUS has introduced the ROG NUC 9 Mini, a compact gaming PC that represents the first AMD-based model in the ROG NUC series, which ASUS inherited from Intel, diversifying the lineup beyond its Intel roots. This small-form-factor system is powered by AMD’s flagship mobile processor, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, which boasts 16 Zen 5 cores, 32 threads, and 128 MB of L3 cache enhanced by 3D V-Cache technology, operating at a 75W power limit and hailed as one of the fastest gaming CPUs for laptops. It is paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU at a 115W power limit, though this AMD variant offers fewer GPU options compared to Intel-based models that support up to the RTX 5080.
The base configuration comes with 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-5600 memory, which is upgradable to 96GB, albeit at a slower speed than the DDR5-6400 found in Intel versions. Storage starts at 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, with two M.2 slots (one PCIe Gen 4 and one PCIe Gen 5) allowing upgrades up to 4TB, an improvement over the 2TB maximum in some Intel counterparts. The chassis design remains unchanged from the Intel version, measuring 282.4mm x 187.7mm x 56.5mm, featuring a side-ventilated case and dual-fan cooling for effective thermal management in its mini PC form. Connectivity is robust, including front USB Type-A and Type-C ports, rear USB4, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, a 2.5G Ethernet port, WiFi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.
Priced at 14,999 RMB (about $2,100 USD) for the base model in China, with a regular price of 15,999 Yuan (approximately $2,244), the ROG NUC 9 Mini is currently available only in China, where it was officially launched. In comparison to the Intel-based ROG NUC 2025 series, which features Core Ultra 9 275HX or Core Ultra 7 255HX processors with broader GPU selections and faster memory, the AMD model prioritizes superior gaming CPU performance but may reflect ASUS’s continued preference for Intel due to the brand’s origins.
Source: ASUS (JD) via @realVictor_M