Review: ASUS NUC 14 Pro Plus Meteor Lake Mini-PC

Introduction

Following Intel's discontinuation of NUCs with thirteenth-generation Core processors, Asus has entered the compact PC market with the launch of the Asus NUC 14 Pro series. This new line, leveraging Intel's Core Ultra silicon, is presented in various configurations to suit diverse user needs. The review focuses on a model housed in an expanded case featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 165H processor, complemented by 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1024GB NVMe SSD. This configuration is designed for upgradability, with easily accessible memory and storage components, making it a flexible option for users looking to future-proof their hardware. Asus's strategy appears to mark a significant shift in the compact PC landscape, previously dominated by Intel. One notable design change in the Asus NUC 14 Pro is the omission of an analog audio output port, a common feature in earlier NUC models. This model incorporates sliding tabs on the underside, facilitating tool-less access to the SSD and DRAM modules, enhancing user convenience for upgrades. The physical design of the Pro and Pro+ models suggests they share a common motherboard, inferred from identical I/O port placements across both SKUs. The Pro+ model's larger 5" x 4" chassis accommodates a 65W thermal solution, supported by a triple 6mm heat pipe and a dual-side exchanger. This configuration not only optimizes cooling but also integrates a prominently positioned Kensington lock at the rear panel for enhanced security. Additionally, Asus has expanded its mini-PC offerings with the introduction of a ROG NUC, succeeding the NUC Enthusiast line. This model incorporates Intel Meteor Lake Ultra 9 and Ultra 7 processors and pairs them with NVIDIA's RTX 4070 / 4060 GPUs, likely in their mobile versions, housed within a 2.5L chassis. This development leverages the well-established ROG brand to potentially absorb and expand upon the NUC Enthusiast product line.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, a first-generation model in the Meteor Lake family, was introduced in December 2023. As part of Intel's latest line, this processor succeeds the 13th generation Core chips, featuring a unique configuration of 16 cores and 22 threads. The architecture includes six Performance cores capable of speeds up to 5.1 GHz, and ten Efficient cores (eight main plus two additional in the Low Power Island) reaching up to 3.8 GHz. That means 6 x 4.8 GHz Intel Redwood Cove P-Cores, 8 x 3.8 GHz Intel Crestmont E-Cores and 2 x 2.5 GHz Intel Crestmont E-Cores.

Additionally, the processor integrates an 8-core Arc GPU operating up to 2.35 GHz and is equipped with a dual Gen 3 AI Boost NPU for enhanced hardware AI workload acceleration. Intel's Meteor Lake aims to enhance CPU and GPU performance while extending battery life beyond the capabilities of the preceding Raptor Lake chips. In collaboration with Microsoft and other partners, Intel has enhanced Windows Defender with AI capabilities, leveraging the NPU to reduce the computational demand on the main CPU cores. The processor also introduces Intel Device Discovery technology for advanced hardware-based remote laptop management and features a dedicated Arc Pro graphics driver tailored for workstations. The processor's architecture utilizes Intel's Redwood P-cores and Crestwood E-cores, offering incremental performance-per-clock improvements over their predecessors, Raptor Cove and Gracemont. A notable design innovation includes a cluster of two Efficient cores on a separate "Low Power Island," which can operate independently to conserve power, thereby improving battery efficiency in devices. Intel employs its Foveros technology in constructing the Meteor Lake processors. This method involves stacking multiple chip components vertically to reduce manufacturing costs significantly compared to larger single-die designs. This approach also helps minimize the impact of defects that might otherwise necessitate deactivation of chip sections.

The Core Ultra 9 185H is equipped with 24 MB of L3 cache and supports a comprehensive range of PCIe 5 and PCIe 4 lanes, facilitating NVMe SSD speeds of up to 15.7 GB/s. The chip includes vPro technology for enterprise security and management, Remote Platform Erase feature for data security, and supports high-speed RAM configurations including DDR5-5600, LPDDR5-7467, and LPDDR5x-7467, comparable to top offerings from competitors like AMD's 8040 series Ryzen processors. Furthermore, it retains native support for SATA III, a standard AMD has phased out in its recent Ryzen iterations, and includes integrated Thunderbolt 4 and Intel CNVi Wi-Fi functionalities.

These new systems, including the NUC 14 Pro and NUC 14 Pro+, are among the first to incorporate the latest Intel Meteor Lake chipsets, indicating Asus's commitment to innovation in this product category. The Core Ultra configurations include Intel Arc integrated graphics and AI Boost technology, enabling the system to handle demanding AI and graphical workloads efficiently. The NUC 14 Pro+ stands out as the more powerful option within the series, configurable up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor. It also features an enhanced cooling system with three heat pipes and improved ventilation, crucial for maintaining performance stability under load. Pricing for the Asus NUC 14 Pro starts at $399, while the more robust NUC 14 Pro+ begins at $875. These price points position them competitively against other mini PCs in the market, such as the GEEKOM A7 featuring a Ryzen 9 7940HS, currently priced at approximately $750. This pricing strategy aligns with what was historically seen with Intel's NUC systems, indicating Asus's intention to maintain a familiar pricing structure while introducing advanced capabilities.