Asus announced the NUC 13 Rugged, a durable portable computer. The compact Asus computers, available in two sizes, are dust-proof and operate without fans.
Taking over the NUC brand, Asus introduces the NUC 13 Rugged mini PC model. The ‘Rugged’ in its name indicates a dust-resistant case. Additionally, it uses a fanless cooling system.
Customers can choose between Intel N50, Atom x7211E, and Atom x7425E chips, with power ratings of either 6 or 12 watts. The device features 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, supports two 4K monitors, and includes two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports.
Asus claims these computers are designed to operate in environments where most others cannot. This is made possible by their silent cooling design, dust protection, and the ability to withstand temperature variations from zero to 50 degrees Celsius.
Internally, there is a SODIMM slot and the capability to install 16 GB of single-channel memory. It also supports 64 GB eMMC storage, an M.2 2280 slot for PCIe x2 NVMe drives, and an M.2 3042 slot.
For network connections, in addition to the two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, Asus offers the Intel AX210 wireless card with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 56.2 support, and the option to install external antennas.
There are two case sizes: a short version (174 x 108 x 26 mm) and a long version (174 x 108 x 36 mm), both with rubber feet approximately 3 mm high. The longer version features passive cooling fins and 12-watt processors. The shorter model uses 6-watt chips and does not have cooling fins, handling temperatures up to 40 degrees. Both versions are designed for 24/7 operation over 5 years, with a 3-year warranty.
