Eleven years after launching its NUC concept, Intel is abandoning the mini PC market to entrust it to Asus. A change in strategy that could well boost this sector with the arrival of more innovative and powerful models, including for gamers…
It is rare for an industrialist to leave a market that he created himself. Yet this is what Intel has just done by announcing a few days ago that it was stopping designing and producing mini PCs. An announcement that is all the more surprising given that this type of miniature computer has enjoyed growing success in recent years, with many users turning to this ultra-compact format to replace the cumbersome, noisy and energy-consuming towers of yesteryear. And even more surprising when you know the excellent reputation of the models developed by the American giant, the famous NUCs (For Next Unit of Computing, or new generation of computer, in French). A concept launched in 2012 that still serves as an example and the basis for countless variations…
NUC: Intel entrusts its mini PCs to Asus
While not publicly stated, the decision was first shared with Intel’s partners, as recounted. ServerTheHome. Partners who were undoubtedly less surprised than other players insofar as the specialist in chips and other electronic circuits had announced in April 2023 that it was leaving the server market by selling its division to the specialist Mitac. And, this time again, the American giant does not leave the place empty, since it officially declared on July 18 entrust the monitoring and development of NUC to Asus. An original way of helping to sustain this sector by proxy.
The choice of Asus is not trivial. And it is even reassuring. In fact, the Taiwanese manufacturer is a major player in the PC world: because if it is well known for its motherboards and graphics cards, it also knows how to manufacture excellent complete computers, screens and multiple accessories and peripherals (Wi-Fi routers and adapters, network switches, keyboards, mice, controllers, docks, webcams, chargers, batteries, audio headsets, etc.), not to mention smartphones (Zenfone) and portable game consoles (ROG Ally) . Above all, even if it does not really put it forward, Asus already has a nice catalog of mini PCs, with several models with a wide variety of designs and uses, for the home as well as for businesses or creative people. In short, Asus is a serious multifaceted partner on which Intel can really rely. Moreover, the two companies have been working together for many years, and not only in “pure” computing, as evidenced by their recent collaboration in the medical field.
Intel-Asus NUC: a non-exclusive partnership
In its statements, Intel does not expand on the reasons for its decision. But we can guess some of them. First, the need – and even the necessity – to refocus on its core activities, avoiding dispersion, to concentrate on the manufacture of new generation chips for computers and servers, but also for mobile devices and for the ‘IA. Markets in which the American giant has a lot to do at the moment, facing competitors such as AMD, Nvidia, Broadcom or Qualcomm, in particular with the growing demand for solutions for artificial intelligence. Not to mention that the manufacturer must invest massively in new factories, particularly in Europe. Next, and in the same vein, an economic observation, the mini PC sector no longer allowing sufficient margins to be generated against Asian competitors offering a multitude of similar products at very tight prices (see our guide to purchase).
Because contrary to what the abandonment of Intel might suggest at first glance, the market for miniature computers is not dead. On the contrary, over the past few years we have witnessed a proliferation of players, in particular Chinese manufacturers such as Beelink, Geekom, Minisforum, NiPoGi or Trigkey – to name only the most well-known brands –, which are invading the online stores of the such as Amazon or AliExpress with a myriad of varied models at low prices. There really is something for everyone and for all budgets, and this at a time when many users are looking to replace their old towers with desktop PCs that are more compact, more discreet, more energy efficient and now more powerful. .
In practice, as the Santa Clara company explains in its official press releaseIntel promises that Asus will ensure the relay for the realization, the sale and the follow-up of the current products, with processors of the 10e at the 13e generation, while developing new platforms to ensure the future of NUCs. For the time being, Intel promises to provide after-sales service and driver updates, but without specifying the duration of this “guarantee”. Interesting detail: Intel specifies that this agreement is not exclusive, thus inducing the possibility of concluding partnerships with other players.
Mini PC: increasingly powerful and varied models
Similarly, while rejoicing to be dubbed by the American giant, Asus has every interest in not limiting itself to Intel solutions. Moreover, like other mini PC manufacturers, the Taiwanese already offers models based on AMD chips. Chips that are all the more interesting as the latest generations of Ryzen largely compare with their Intel counterparts, even offering better 3D performance thanks to their Radeon-type graphics section. This is particularly the case with the Beelink GTR 7 and 7 Pro (see our test) which use the brand new Ryzen 7 7840HS. and Ryzen 9 7940HS. But also from Geekom, which recently extended its range of mini PCs with its AS 5 and AS 6 powered by Ryzen 5000 and 6000 series (see our test). Particularly well-designed models that have been produced precisely in partnership with Asus, since they are both based on the Taiwanese PN platforms. We can therefore expect this kind of collaboration to grow in the near future and that Geekom and others will benefit from the future generations of NUCs that Asus will develop.
As we can see, far from closing, the horizon of mini PCs seems on the contrary to widen with particularly promising prospects for innovation, whether in terms of design or performance. It is even in this area, and more specifically in 3D graphics, that we expect the most significant advances in the near future. And if Intel has paved the way for ultra-compact computers for gamers with its ranges NUC-Extreme And NUC Enthusiast, other manufacturers are already taking over. This is the case of Minisforum which has just unveiled an ambitious new platform with slightly larger cases and mini-ITX format motherboards capable of hosting the latest generation processors (Intel Raptor Lake HX55 and AMD 7045HX), but also, and above all, real dedicated graphics cards thanks to a PCIE 5.0 x16 connector and an SFX power socket. Enough to compete with the super-powerful towers that players love! And it’s a safe bet that many specialists will in turn embark on this buoyant niche, while developing ever more varied and original mini PCs.