ASUS ROG GR8 II
ASUS’ second-generation ROG GR8 II is a nice step up from the tiny machine that was the original GR8. For one, it is quite a bit larger – 4L versus 2.5L – than the GR8, which means that there’s now space for more powerful components.
The first GR8 featured a low-power U-series processor, but this year’s model manages to include a 65W Intel Core i7-7700 chip. That goes a long way toward improving performance, and you also get an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 in there.
All things considered, ASUS’ mini PC pumps out a decent amount of power, and it is quite capable of handling games at 1080p. However, the GPU is actually soldered onto the board, so it’s not upgradeable at all like the other PCs in this shootout.
Having said that, you’ll be able to access the RAM and storage fairly easily, so you can add in more memory and a larger drive if you wish.
That’s not the main concern though, and it’s the 3GB of GDDR5 memory on the GPU that really holds the system back at higher resolutions and graphics settings. You’ll be fine if you stick to 1080p, but you probably won’t want to max out the settings to get a more uid experience in more demanding titles.
This is also an ASUS product, so there’s bound to be RGB lighting thrown in somewhere. On the GR8 II, you get fancy light trails running down the front panel, but these don’t really do much for the design. It supports the ASUS Aura software to synchronize with other compatible gear, but you can turn it o entirely for a more subtle look.
There’s not a ton of USB ports to go around, but there’s enough, and most people won’t nd it wanting. For instance, the two USB 3.0 ports on the front is pretty convenient.
Cooling may be a concern in such a small and enclosed chassis, but the GR8 II runs quite quiet and cool, much to our relief. The last thing you want is a machine that announces its presence loudly every time you put it to work.
Powerful Core i7 CPU.
Not as upgradeable as its competitors.