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ROG NUC 16 Gaming Mini PC, AI Desktop | Ultra 9 290HX Plus, RTX 5080 GPU
ASUS

ROG NUC 16 Gaming Mini PC, AI Desktop | Ultra 9 290HX Plus, RTX 5080 GPU

Bottom line: The ASUS ROG NUC 16 Gaming Mini PC is a specs-and-price decision rather than a crowd-consensus one in the graphics cards category, priced around $3,698.94 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 10:15 UTC. Check the specification table below against one or two close alternatives — on price and spec fit, not on star ratings. Another in-stock pick with the same RTX 5080 graphics card: the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G Gaming Trio OC Graphics…, $2,299.99 on Amazon as of (price may vary).

$3698.94

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Buy on Amazon — $3,698.94 Compare to similar graphics cards

By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Backed by ASUS's warranty and support channels

Cons

  • ✗ Confirm socket / form-factor / power-rating compatibility against your build before ordering
  • ✗ Price, stock, shipping and returns are set by the retailer and may have changed since this page was last updated

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored ASUS ROG NUC 16 Gaming Mini PC using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to our editorial and benchmark analysis across the graphics cards category. ASUS's graphics cards lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for graphics cards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

  • NVIDIA RTX-Accelerated AI Graphics: NVIDIA DLSS enhances smooth gameplay and realism, utilizing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU for stunning visuals. Immerse yourself in your favorite titles while streamlining content creation.
  • Hardcore Gaming Power: Engineered for hardcore gamers, the ROG NUC features the advanced Intel ARL-HX Refresh U9 290HX Plus chipsets that deliver exceptional responsiveness and efficiency for intense gaming sessions.
  • Flex to Fit in 3L Size: ROG NUC offers flexible vertical & horizontal placement with a clean, sturdy stand that fits any workspace. Thumb screws enable tool-free access for memory and storage upgrades.
  • Lag-Free Streaming: Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 & Bluetooth 5.4 ensure fast, uninterrupted online performance for competitive gaming, backed by a wide range of I/O ports to support all your essential gear.
  • QuietFlow Cooling: ROG NUC’s three fans and dual Vapor Chamber ensure effective cooling and quiet operation (<4.5 BA), letting you truly hear the game.

Performance Data

View gaming FPS, AI inference throughput, and synthetic scores for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 — the core hardware component in this product. Benchmarks sourced from TechPowerUp, PassMark, and the r/LocalLLaMA community.

Which local LLMs fit in 16 GB?

16 GB holds a 20–27B model at Q4 with a modest context window; 30B-class weights need 24 GB.

  • ✅ 7–9B models (Llama 3.1 8B, Qwen 3 8B) — fits at Q4
  • ✅ 12–14B models (Qwen 3 14B, Phi-4) — fits at Q4
  • ❌ 20–27B models (Gemma 3 27B, Mistral Small) — needs 20 GB+
  • ❌ 30–35B models (Qwen 3 32B, QwQ 32B) — needs 24 GB+
  • ❌ 70B models (Llama 3.3 70B, Qwen 2.5 72B) — needs 48 GB+

Across 5 community runs from 5 sources, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 generates a median 132 tok/s on 7–9B models at Q4 (per Hardware Corner).

Per-model VRAM guide: which GPU for which LLM →

Ready to buy?

ROG NUC 16 Gaming Mini PC, AI Desktop | Ultra 9 290HX Plus, RTX 5080 GPU is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

Buy on Amazon — $3,698.94

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.

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ROG NUC 16 Gaming Mini PC, AI Desktop | Ultra 9 290HX Plus, RTX 5080 GPU
$3,698.94
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