Asus Expert Center PN64 (2023)
A new generation of mini PC brings 13th gen Intel to the micro computing form factor.
"The upgraded 1.45GHz Intel Iris Xe Graphics card did net between six and 15-percent better benchmark scores, over its predecessor… which is worth $10 in our eyes."
$1,028 | asus.com/au
It wasn’t that long ago that we covered the whole gamut of mini PC’s available in Australia, so if you’re interested in today’s best mini computers, get yourself a copy of the June edition of the magazine (APC 520). Asus’s 12th gen PN64 B came in third in that roundup with the barebones models offering great value and solid performance, so the bar was pretty high for the new model.
We got our hands on an early sample of the latest PN64 testing out a model with an Intel Core i5-3500H CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, but while some vendors may bundle components that match this, the device will usually be sold as a baremones unit. This means you’ll get a 13th Gen intel Core i5 with a motherboard, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and all other ports for a MSRP of $809, or the same system with an i7 CPU for $1,079. In our roundup we added $80 for 16GB of RAM, $50 for a 500GB SSD and $260 for a copy of Windows 11 Pro. Which brings us to a final price of $1,199 for the i5 model and $1,469 for the i7 variation. This is only $10 and $80 more expensive than last year’s offering… so we weren’t expecting much of a performance bump.
Unsurprisingly, the 2023 PN64 offered a maximum of just five percent performance improvement over the 12th gen i5 in CPU benchmarking, but there was a little more on offer when it came to GPU performance. The upgraded 1.45GHz Intel Iris Xe Graphics card did net between six and 15-percent
better benchmark scores, over its predecessor… which is worth $10 in our eyes. This still wasn’t enough for it to outperform the less expensive Intel NUC 12 Pro or Mac Mini devices, however, so it’s not going to dramatically change the value proposition here.
Asus hasn’t changed the chassis on the 13th Gen PN64, so you should expect the same 13-by-12-by-5.8cm cube that you got with the previous model. The utilitarian shape and black colouring make it nice and discrete on a desk and the VESA mounting plate will allow you to
attach it to the back of a monitor or to a wall if you’re short on space.
The device has a solid port configuration with two USB-A ports, a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack on the front, for easy access. This is complimented by two HDMI 2.0, a USB 3.2 Type-C, a DisplayPort 1.4 and an Ethernet port arrangement on the rear. Since the device is capable of running two 4K monitors simultaneously, this is a sensible configuration for a modern productivity setup.
The unit has the option of Wi-Fi 6E or wired LAN 2500Mbps network connectivity and you’ll get the latest spec Bluetooth 5 peripheral interface. We didn’t have any issues with fan noise or overly frequent thermal throttling on the i5 unit we tested so there’s definitely no reason why you wouldn’t go for the PN64.
A good value mini PC with a well rounded selection of ports
Joel Burgess
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