ASUS abandons NUC Extreme modular gaming PC line

ASUS debuted a wide range of products at CES 2024. As for NUC systems, it launched new ROG NUC, NUC Pro, and NUC Pro+ mini PCs. All these systems are proper successors to the last Intel NUC Enthusiast and NUC Pro offerings. But there was no word about an updated model to the Intel NUC Extreme modular gaming PC.

Well, a spokesperson from ASUS has just confirmed to Fudzilla that the NUC Extreme series has reached the end of the line. That is, there will be no more updates to the 7.5-liter modular gaming PC that Intel used to offer. All this means that the Raptor Canyon will not have a replacement.

One of the key standouts of  NUC Extreme systems is that they come with a modular design. Intel offered Compute Elements, enabling memory, storage, and even processor upgrades. That’s something you don’t see in other mini PCs. Also, as they came with beefed-up specs, they were the most powerful systems of the NUC lineup before Intel handed over the lineup.

Of course, ASUS does have alternatives in place, for example, the STRIX G16CHR. It doesn’t have the modular design of the NUC Extreme computers, but it does bring performance-focused specs in a similar form factor. There are also MSI Trident mini PCs (Trident AS curr. $1,499 on Amazon), which are pretty close in terms of size.

It’s also worth noting that ASUS is unlikely to end support for the NUC Extreme lineup. If that holds true, the Raptor Canyon (NUC13RNGI5 curr. $1,467.39 on Amazon) is still a good purchase for those interested in modular systems like it. The system can be configured with up to Intel Core i9-13900K, supports a triple-slot GPU, and can accommodate up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM.