ASUS ROG NUC RNUC15JNK9X489AU 2025, Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5070, Black
MSI Codex CodR2A14NVL5454 2025, Core i5-14400F, 16GB, 1TB SSD, 5060, Black
What Buyers Say
ASUS ROG NUC RNUC15JNK9X489AU 2025, Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5070, Black
The ASUS NUC ROG mini PC receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its compact size, powerful performance, and quiet operation, with many users praising its ability to run demanding games at high settings. However, a few verified reviews highlight serious reliability concerns, including multiple unit failures when connected to docking stations, and one user felt the newer model was a downgrade from its predecessor. Overall, the product is seen as a capable but expensive gaming rig, with mixed opinions on build quality and value.
Pros
- Compact and portable size
- Powerful gaming performance
- Quiet operation even under load
- Easy setup out of the box
- Good I/O with front USB ports
Cons
- Expensive for the specifications
- Reliability issues with docking stations
- Some units fail within a month
- Newer model feels like a downgrade
- Case feels a bit cheap
MSI Codex CodR2A14NVL5454 2025, Core i5-14400F, 16GB, 1TB SSD, 5060, Black
The MSI Codex R2 receives praise for its solid price-to-performance ratio, with users highlighting the speedy i5-14400F and RTX 5060 combo, fast NVMe storage, and quiet operation. However, a few critical reviews note early hardware failure, a poorly designed power button that cats can easily press, and the need to disable a default sleep setting. The mixed feedback results in a moderately positive overall impression, but the small sample size and one negative review lower confidence.
Pros
- Great price-to-performance ratio
- Fast NVMe SSD storage
- Quiet operation
- Easy setup and minimal bloatware
- Solid CPU-GPU combo for gaming
Cons
- Potential early hardware failure within months
- Sleep setting needs manual deactivation
- Fans can get noisy under load
- Only 16GB RAM; not future-proof for heavy multitasking
- Power button easily pressed by cats
Scores
Specifications
| ASUS ROG NUC RNUC15JNK9X489AU | MSI Codex CodR2A14NVL5454 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX★ | Intel Core i5 14400F |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 24★ | 10 |
| Frequency | 2.7 GHz★ | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB★ | 20 MB |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070★ | 5060 |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | discrete |
| VRAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 | GDDR7 |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 32 GB★ | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | mini | tower |
| PSU | 330W | 650W★ |
| Weight | 3.12 kg | 9.66 kg |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 2★ | — |
| USB Ports | 6★ | — |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 | — |
| HDMI | 2x HDMI 2.1 Output | — |
| DisplayPort | 2x DisplayPort 2.1 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7★ | WiFi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4★ | — |
| Ethernet | 2.5GbE | — |
| System | ||
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
Pros & Cons
ASUS ROG NUC RNUC15JNK9X489AU 2025, Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5070, Black
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong cpu (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong port selection (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong ram (91st percentile)91st %ile
MSI Codex CodR2A14NVL5454 2025, Core i5-14400F, 16GB, 1TB SSD, 5060, Black
- Strong social proof (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong gpu (78th percentile)
- Strong storage (69th percentile)
- Below average port selection (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (29th percentile)
Pricing
MSI Codex CodR2A14NVL5454 2025, Core i5-14400F, 16GB, 1TB SSD, 5060, Black offers 2.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 87 overall, wins 8 of 8 usage categories and 12 of 26 specs.