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AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (16 cores, 32 threads) · 10 GbE · 1.78 L
8.4
$799Nov 92 videos
ASUS ROG NUC 16 (Core Ultra 9 290HX, RTX 5080)
A 3-liter vertical gaming desktop pairing Intel Core Ultra HX CPUs with RTX 50-series laptop GPUs, powered by a large external brick.
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX
- 32 GB
- 1,000 GB
- 2.5 GbE
- 3 L
PCPR score
7.2
Good
Best price we’ve seen
$3,800Nov 9
Checked recently. Confirm at the retailer.
R1
The short version
The ROG NUC 16 is ASUS's current 3-liter gaming mini PC, combining Intel Core Ultra HX processors and NVIDIA RTX 50-series laptop GPUs with DDR5 SO-DIMMs, two M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5GbE. Its rear panel adds two HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 2.1 outputs plus Thunderbolt 4, and memory and SSDs remain user-replaceable. The GPU is a fixed laptop part, the case measures 282.5 by 189.5 by 56.5 mm, and the power adapter is external, rated up to 380 W.
Pros
- Core Ultra 9 290HX with GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU in the Best Buy configuration
- User-replaceable DDR5 memory and two M.2 2280 slots, one PCIe 5.0 x4
- Two HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 2.1 outputs plus Thunderbolt 4
- Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5GbE networking
Cons
- Uses laptop-class RTX GPUs rather than desktop cards, with no GPU upgrade path listed
- External 20 V power adapter rated up to 380 W
- Very high street price for the RTX 5080 configuration
Best for
- Compact gaming desks with limited space
- Buyers who want an RTX 50-series system in a small vertical case
SYS1
Configurations
| Configuration | Processor | Graphics | Memory | Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 9 290HX · RTX 5080 · 32GB · 1TB | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU | 32 GB | 1 TB | $3,800 |
J5
What you can upgrade later
Memory
UnconfirmedThe maker doesn’t publish its slot layout. Check before buying more memory.
Browse memoryGraphics card
limitedMaximum card length isn’t published. The 380 W supply limits how far you can go, so a high-end card would need a new PSU.
Browse graphics cardProcessor
UnconfirmedA drop-in upgrade depends on the socket and the maker’s BIOS. Check the board before buying a CPU.
Browse processorJ3
Full specifications
Core
- Processor
- Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
Memory
- Memory
- 32 GB
- Memory type
- DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM or DDR5-6400 CSO-DIMM (2 slots)
- Storage
- 1,000 GB
Fit
- Memory upgradable
- Yes
- M.2 slots
- 2
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7
- Ethernet
- 2.5 GbE
Ports & I/O
- USB4 ports
- 1
- HDMI outputs
- 2
- DisplayPort outputs
- 2
Physical
- Volume
- 3 L
- Weight
- 3.2 kg
Software
- Operating system
- Windows 11 Home
Compatibility notes
- ASUS lists DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM or DDR5-6400 CSO-DIMM memory, with 64GB modules across two slots
- Two M.2 2280 slots: one PCIe 4.0 x4 and one PCIe 5.0 x4, each 1TB to 2TB
- External 20 V power adapter rated 380 W or 280 W depending on model
- Case measures 282.5 x 189.5 x 56.5 mm and weighs 3.2 kg
P1
Where to buy
Best Buy
Seen Nov 9, 2026
$3,799.99
See it at Best Buy- Buy from the maker
ASUS official page
Direct link
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AV1
Video reviews
No verified video reviews yet
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Common questions
Can the memory and SSD be upgraded?
ASUS lists two DDR5 SO-DIMM or CSO-DIMM slots and two M.2 2280 slots, one of them PCIe 5.0 x4, so memory and storage can be changed. The RTX laptop GPU is fixed.
Does it use an external power adapter?
Yes. ASUS lists external 20 V adapters rated at 380 W or 280 W depending on the model, connected through a rear DC jack.
What ports does the ROG NUC 16 offer for displays?
The rear includes two HDMI 2.1 FRL outputs, two DisplayPort 2.1 outputs and one Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort 2.1, according to ASUS.
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