ASUS introduces a new range of NUC mini PCs and compact computers at the CES 2026 event in Las Vegas. These small devices include the NUC 16 Pro, the ExpertCenter PN55, and the ROG GR70, which use the latest processors from Intel and AMD. The company also showed a tiny AI supercomputer called Ascent GX10 for developers and researchers. This move follows the decision by ASUS to take over the NUC product line from Intel in early 2024, expanding the brand with fresh hardware and advanced AI capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- NUC 16 Pro uses Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 chips with 180 TOPS AI performance.
- ExpertCenter PN55 features AMD Ryzen AI 400 Series processors for office use.
- ROG GR70 is a gaming mini PC with AMD Ryzen 9 3D V-Cache and NVIDIA RTX 5070 graphics.
- Ascent GX10 delivers 1 petaflop of AI speed using the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell chip.
- New models support modern wireless standards like WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0.
ASUS NUC 16 Pro and ExpertCenter PN55
The ASUS NUC 16 Pro targets business users and creators who need high speed in a small frame. It comes with the Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 processor and Intel Arc B390 graphics. This setup provides 180 platform TOPS, which helps with local machine learning and data analysis. It uses LPDDR5x memory that runs 20% faster while using 50% less power than older versions. The 0.7-liter case includes two 2.5G LAN ports and an active cooling system with two fans to manage heat. It meets MIL-STD 810H standards for durability against heat, cold, and drops.
The ExpertCenter PN55 is a Copilot+ PC designed for office tasks. It runs on the AMD Ryzen AI 400 Series processor with Radeon 800M graphics. The internal NPU provides 55 TOPS of AI performance to handle Windows AI features. It supports up to 96GB of DDR5 5600 MHz memory and can connect to four 4K displays at once. This model is useful for professionals who work with heavy spreadsheets or multiple visual tools.
ROG GR70 Gaming Mini PC
For gamers, the ROG GR70 offers high performance in a small three-liter frame. It is the first ROG mini PC to use the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU. This processor has 16 cores and uses 3D V-Cache to improve frame rates in games. It works alongside NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 or 5060 laptop GPUs. These graphics cards use the Blackwell architecture and support DLSS 4 for better visuals. The system stays cool with triple fans and ROG QuietFlow technology. It will be available by late January 2026, starting at a price of 3,699 SGD in some markets.
Ascent GX10 AI Supercomputer
The Ascent GX10 is a desktop supercomputer for AI development. It uses the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip and 128GB of unified memory. This machine provides 1 petaflop of AI computing speed in a 150x150x51 mm box. It comes with NVIDIA DGX OS and supports popular AI tools like PyTorch and Jupyter. Users can link two GX10 systems to handle larger AI models with up to 200 billion parameters. It includes a 10G LAN port and NVIDIA ConnectX 7 network technology for fast data transfer.
FAQs
Q1: What is the AI speed of the ASUS NUC 16 Pro?
A1: The NUC 16 Pro reaches up to 180 platform TOPS for AI tasks.
Q2: When will the ROG GR70 be available?
A2: The ROG GR70 is expected to launch by the end of January 2026.
Q3: Can the NUC 16 Pro memory be upgraded?
A3: No, the LPDDR5x memory in the NUC 16 Pro is soldered to the board for better speed.
Q4: Does the ExpertCenter PN55 support multiple screens?
A4: Yes, it can run four 4K displays simultaneously through its video ports.
