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Everything You Need to Know About ASUS NUC mini PC

ASUS NUC solutions offer industry-leading quality and reliability in a small form factor. Building on the foundation laid by Intel, ASUS NUCs are designed for smart manufacturing or office environments, they’re also ready for gamers.

What is NUC?

NUC stands for "Next Unit of Computing", originally developed by Intel as a compact, high-performance mini PC platform. Designed to deliver desktop-grade power in a small form factor, NUCs are ideal for space-constrained environments like offices, digital signage, edge computing, and home entertainment.

After Intel exited the NUC business, ASUS took over the mantle, inheriting a decade of Intel NUC innovation and engineering excellence. ASUS now leads the future of NUCs, continuing the legacy with cutting-edge performance, reliability, and design.

Why would I choose ASUS NUC (Mini PC) over a regular desktop?

A compact ASUS NUC mini PC on a desk beside a monitor and keyboard.

NUCs save space with a compact design while delivering full desktop-class performance, making them ideal for home entertainment, small offices, or portable workstations—without the bulk of a traditional PC.

Does the size of ASUS NUC affect its performance?

NUCs prove that big performance comes in a small package. With powerful processors, fast RAM, and flexible storage, they deliver full desktop-level performance in a compact, space-saving design—offering both portability and efficiency.

What kind of processors do NUCs use?

ASUS NUCs are powered by Intel® processors, ranging from entry-level chips to high-performance CPUs. Whether you're browsing the web, multitasking at work, running AI workloads, or managing industrial systems, there's an ASUS NUC model built to match your performance needs.

While ASUS NUCs are Intel-based, ASUS also offers a diverse lineup of AMD-powered mini PCs—giving users the flexibility to choose the right platform for their specific use case.

What’s the difference between a NUC Mini PC and a NUC Kit?

While ASUS NUCs are Intel-based, ASUS also offers a diverse lineup of AMD-powered mini PCs—giving users the flexibility to choose the right platform for their specific use case.

What are the product series of ASUS NUCs and what do they stand for?

Product lineup of compact ASUS NUC devices and components.

NUC Pro: Designed for professional environments, this series offers high reliability, 24/7 operation, and enterprise-grade features like Intel® vPro™ support. It’s ideal for business deployments, digital signage, healthcare, and other mission-critical applications.

NUC Rugged: Built for harsh environments, the Rugged series features fanless designs, dust resistance, and extended temperature tolerance. These models are perfect for industrial settings, and indoor digital signage.

NUC Essentials: A cost-effective solution for everyday computing, the Essentials series is optimized for office tasks, home use, and light multimedia workloads. It balances performance and affordability, making it suitable for general-purpose deployments.

NUC Performance: Focused on delivering top-tier computing power, this series includes models with Intel® Core™ Ultra processors and mobiles discrete graphics. It’s ideal for AI workloads in medical, multimedia, and retail applications, offering advanced cooling and connectivity features to support demanding tasks.

NUC Pro AI: This series represents the next generation of compact AI-enabled computing. It’s designed for Copilot+ PC experiences, enabling local AI tasks like image generation, voice assistance, and intelligent productivity features. Ideal for commercial, industrial, and edge AI deployments.

Each series reflects ASUS’s commitment to continuing Intel’s NUC legacy, providing compact, reliable, and scalable solutions for a wide range of industries and users.

Which parts of a NUC can I upgrade?

Certain components in a NUC (Next Unit of Computing) can be upgraded, including RAM, storage (SSD or HDD), and in some models, the Wi-Fi card. This allows you to increase system memory, expand storage capacity, or upgrade to faster Wi-Fi standards. Components like the CPU and integrated graphics are typically soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. Always check your NUC model’s documentation for compatibility.

What kind of operating systems can I run on a NUC?

ASUS NUCs support a wide range of operating systems, offering flexibility for both general users and enterprise deployments.

Mini PC models (L10 SKUs) typically come pre-installed with Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro, making them ready to use out of the box for personal, business, or professional environments.

Barebone Kits (L6 SKUs) do not include a pre-installed OS, giving users the freedom to install the system that best fits their needs. These models support a variety of operating systems, including:

Microsoft Windows: Windows 11 Home, Pro, Pro Education, IoT Enterprise, and Windows Server 2025 (on select models).
Linux distributions: Ubuntu (20.04, 22.04, 23.10, 24.04 LTS), Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Fedora, and openSUSE Leap (on select AI models).
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise: Supported on select Pro and Rugged models for embedded and industrial use.

This broad OS compatibility ensures that ASUS NUCs can be tailored for a wide range of applications—from home computing and business productivity to industrial control, AI development, and edge computing. For details, please refer to http://www.stzgcm.com/support/faq/1052505/

How reliable and durable is an ASUS NUC?

ASUS NUC mini PC on rugged rocky surface, highlighting tough-tested durability and high performance.

Every ASUS NUC undergoes extensive, rigorous testing to withstand the demands of continuous use and the harshest environments. Exceeding industry standards, our meticulous process ensures exceptional durability, outstanding performance, and seamless operation—day after day.

With an impressively low return rate of just 1%, ASUS NUC is built for trust. Engineered for quality beyond expectations, it keeps your business running smoothly while lowering total cost of ownership.

From day one, ASUS NUC delivers consistent, dependable performance and long-term value—providing the powerful, lasting solution your business can rely on.Lean more

What sustainability certifications and ESG standards do ASUS NUC products meet?

ASUS is driving a sustainable future by integrating top-tier ESG standards into every stage of product design and energy-efficient manufacturing. The entire ASUS NUC lineup meets Energy Star certification, while the NUC 14 Essential Mini PC proudly holds the prestigious EPEAT Gold Award—recognizing its outstanding efficiency and eco-friendly design.

Why is ASUS NUC a good choice for business environments?

ASUS NUCs offer enterprise-grade reliability, compact design, and powerful performance. With features like Intel® vPro™, 24/7 operation, and wide OS support, they’re ideal for offices, digital signage, healthcare, and industrial deployments.

Are NUCs suitable for gaming?

Gamer wearing headphoness at desk using compact ROG NUC gaming mini PC for high-performance gameplay.

Yes. The ROG NUC series is built for gaming, with powerful processors and discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics for smooth AAA gameplay. They support up to four monitors, feature Aura Sync lighting, and offer easy, toolless upgrades for RAM and storage. Advanced thermal design ensures efficient cooling, while every ROG NUC delivers reliable performance in a compact form factor.

Where can I buy ASUS NUCs and get support?

ASUS NUCs are available through authorized ASUS resellers and distributors. Support is provided via ASUS’s official website, including drivers, documentation, and warranty services.