The Asus Mini PC series was recently joined by the PN64, a compact NUC computer based on Intel’s 13th and 12th generation Core processors. It is not much different from the previous models of the company, and the main thing is that the main motif remains the same – a computer that looks like a small square, and is lightweight.
In fact, not much has changed over the years since Intel introduced the first NUC computers, and in fact Asus also strictly maintains the series almost as it is: a black design with a solid appearance that is not particularly noticeable, and a compact size that does not take up much space on the table – 130 mm length by 120 mm width and height of less than 6 cm.
Another thing that hasn’t changed as far as Asus is concerned is that the PN64 comes in a basic configuration, what is known as a ‘computer chassis’ – Barebone. This means that it is actually modular, or semi-modular if you insist, with the board and processor built into it and the user choosing and adding the RAM and internal storage. It’s also quite simple to install the components inside it, as it opens easily after removing four screws at the bottom.
PN64: What happens on the outside
The Asus mini computer is made entirely of plastic, which is a bit of a shame because it could have looked much more luxurious. On the other hand, it is designed to be ‘hidden in the dishes’ because its small size allows it to be placed in hidden corners, or even connect directly to the back of the screen using the VESA adapter included in the package.
It does not lack connections: from the front – or from the side, depending on the direction) – there are no less than three USB connections, two of which are full-size USB 3.2 Gen 2 and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and there is also a combined headphone/microphone connection. On the back is another pair of USB connections, one of which is USB-C but also supports DisplayPort 1.4 display and charging. There are two more HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, a 2.5 gigabit/second network input and a transformer connection. Some of the connections may vary depending on the model, and it is possible to replace some of them and add a VGA connector or even a serial connection (COM) for printers or barcode readers.
PN64: What happens inside
Asus incorporated more ventilation holes in this model, with the sides of the case almost completely perforated and also about a third of the back. These are designed to bring in cold air and disperse the hot air emitted by the fan. Pressing the power button on the front turns on an indicator light, and when it is not busy with work you hardly hear the fan.
The hardware of the PN64 may vary depending on the final configuration, when it can range from a Core i3-1220P with 10 cores or an i5-12500H with 12 cores based on the 12th generation Alder Lake architecture to a Core i7-13700H with 14 cores of the 13th generation Raptor Lake. And if you haven’t noticed yet, these are Intel’s mobile processors, but these are really not in low configurations and they will definitely be enough for strenuous office work and even for playing basic games thanks to the Iris X graphics chipe.
The computer supports up to 32 GB of DDR5 SO-DIMM memory at 4,800 MHz when it has two expansion slots. For internal storage, you can use an M.2 2280 drive in a fast NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 interface and also expand with a 2.5-inch disk in a standard SATA connection. As mentioned, opening the computer is relatively easy and the memory and storage components are immediately accessible when the lower cover is opened.
In terms of connectivity, the Asus mini computers have a WiFi 6e network card that integrates Bluetooth 5.0, which by the way sits on the board with an M.2 connection. The 2.5 gigabit network connection is supported by the I255V chip and the sound card is an ALC3251 from Realtek.
Performence
PN64 brings a whole lot of upgrades to the table, literally. The powerful processors along with support for DDR5 and a very fast NVMe SSD interface also do not fail in the performance tests. The tested configuration includes the Core i7-12700H with 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB NVMe SSD.
In the general test of PC Mark 10 a score of 5,695 points was obtained. Under 3D Mark in the Time Spy test a result of 1,949 points was obtained and in the OpenCL test of Geekbench 5 where it achieved an impressive result for this type of computer at a rate of 18,910 points.
The bottom line
Asus ExpertCenter PN64 is a compact computer with not bad performance at all. It combines everything required for a small and easy-to-use workstation, carrying quite a few connections and ports, including the possibility of modularity and changing the final configuration. However, as the size of the product on the other hand is the price, when it starts from about NIS 2,000 for the basic configuration.