ASUS ROG NUC 16 Intel U9-290HX/ RTX5080/ DDR5 32GB/ 1TB SSD/ Win 11 Home - White
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
ASUS ROG NUC 16 Moonlight White (RNUC16JNK9X289A3) - Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus / RTX 5080 / 32GB DDR5 / 1TB SSD / Windows 11 Home - 3 Years Onsite Local Warranty
The same flagship ROG NUC 16 in Moonlight White. An NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with 16GB of GDDR7 and a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, in a 3.2 kg chassis measuring 282.5 × 189.5 × 56.5 mm. It stands vertically, lies flat, or hides behind a monitor, and a built-in G-sensor detects which way up it is and retunes the fan curve to match.
32GB of DDR5-6400 in dual channel, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with a second M.2 slot free, 2.5Gb Ethernet and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7. Windows 11 Home, and a 3-year onsite local warranty through SourceIT.
RTX 5080 Laptop GPU - the real AI engine in this machine
16GB of GDDR7 and 1,334 AI TOPS with fifth-generation Tensor Cores, FP4 and DLSS 4.5. That figure is where essentially all of this system's AI capability lives. It drives 1440p ultra and 4K high gaming with ray tracing on, and runs local LLM inference, generative image work and AI-assisted video pipelines at a speed no integrated graphics part approaches.
Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus - 24 cores, and a caveat on the NPU
Eight performance cores and sixteen efficient cores, 24 threads total, 5.5 GHz maximum turbo, 36MB Intel Smart Cache, built on TSMC N3B. Note the thread count: 24 cores yield 24 threads, because this generation's P-cores do not run Hyper-Threading. Size per-thread licensing against 24, not 32.
The integrated Intel AI Boost NPU is rated by Intel at 13 peak TOPS (INT8) - below the 40 TOPS threshold Microsoft requires for Copilot+ PC features. This machine is therefore not a Copilot+ PC. At this price point the RTX 5080 does the AI work far faster than any NPU would, but if a Copilot+ badge is a procurement requirement, this is not the machine.
Three fans, a vapour chamber and a dedicated SSD heatsink
Three 102 × 102 × 17 mm fans, a vapour chamber covering 72% of the thermal area, and a separate heatsink for the SSD which ASUS measures at 59°C. ASUS publishes sustained-load acoustics below 38 dB(A), and the chassis is validated to MIL-STD-810H. In a small-form-factor machine pushing a 160W-capable CPU and a full RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, the cooling is the reason the clocks hold.
Plan for the 380W adapter
This configuration ships with a 380W (20VDC, 19A) external power adapter. It is a large brick, and it matters for desk or rack space behind the unit, the load on a shared circuit or UPS, and the fact that it uses the ASUS rectangular DC jack rather than USB-C. Factor it in before committing to a mount or enclosure.
Five displays, and tool-less upgrades
Two HDMI 2.1 FRL, two DisplayPort 2.1 and one Thunderbolt 4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 give up to five 4K displays. DisplayPort 2.1 at UHBR20 carries 8K@60Hz on two outputs. Two DIMM slots and two M.2 2280 slots are reachable without tools, and the second M.2 slot is empty as shipped.
Datasheet - Processor, Graphics, Memory & Storage
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus |
| Cores / threads | 24 cores (8 Performance + 16 Efficient) / 24 threads |
| Max turbo frequency | 5.5 GHz. P-core base 2.7 GHz, E-core base 1.8 GHz, E-core max turbo 4.7 GHz |
| Cache | 36 MB Intel Smart Cache (plus 40 MB L2) |
| Processor power | Intel base power 55 W, maximum turbo power 160 W. ASUS configures cTDP at 45-75 W in this chassis |
| Lithography | TSMC N3B |
| NPU | Intel AI Boost, 13 peak TOPS (INT8). Below the 40 TOPS Copilot+ PC threshold |
| Integrated graphics | Intel Graphics, 4 Xe-cores |
| Discrete graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 16 GB GDDR7, 1,334 AI TOPS. Fifth-gen Tensor Cores, FP4, DLSS 4.5, ray tracing |
| Memory installed | 32 GB DDR5-6400, 2 × 16 GB CSO-DIMM, dual channel |
| Memory slots | 2, tool-less access. Accepts DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM or DDR5-6400 CSO-DIMM |
| Memory maximum | See Sourcing Notes - ASUS publishes conflicting figures (64 GB on the spec table, 128 GB on the product page) |
| Storage installed | 1 TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, with dedicated SSD heatsink |
| Storage slots | 2 × M.2 2280, tool-less. Supports 1 TB-4 TB PCIe 4.0 x4 and 1 TB-4 TB PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe. Second slot empty as shipped |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home |
Datasheet - I/O, Networking, Display & Physical
| Front I/O | 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 × 3.5 mm combo audio jack |
| Rear I/O | 1 × Thunderbolt 4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1, 4 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2 × DisplayPort 2.1, 1 × RJ45 LAN, 1 × DC input (ASUS rectangular jack), 1 × Kensington lock slot |
| Display support | Up to five 4K displays. 8K@60Hz via DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 on two outputs; 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz via HDMI 2.1 FRL |
| Wireless | Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750x (Gig+), Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Wired network | Realtek RTL8125D, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Audio | Realtek ALC3342-CG HD audio codec, 3.5 mm headset combo jack |
| Cooling | 3 × 102 × 102 × 17 mm fans, vapour chamber with 72% thermal coverage, dedicated SSD heatsink. ASUS-published sustained-load acoustics below 38 dB(A) |
| Orientation | Vertical or horizontal, patented removable stand. Built-in G-sensor detects orientation and adjusts thermal profile |
| Durability | MIL-STD-810H validated |
| Power adapter | 380 W external adapter, 20 VDC / 19 A |
| Dimensions | 282.5 × 189.5 × 56.5 mm (11.12 × 7.46 × 2.22 in) |
| Weight | 3.2 kg (7.05 lb) |
| Colour | Moonlight White with illuminated ROG logo |
| Model | RNUC16JNK9X289A3 (White) |
| ASUS part number | 90AS00S2-M00330 |
| Barcode | 199291652873 |
Software & ROG Ecosystem
| Armoury Crate | Hardware monitoring, fan and power profile control, driver and software updates, game library integration |
| GlideX3 | Cross-device screen sharing and screen extension |
| Power Sync | Linked power management with a compatible display over HDMI CEC |
| Aura Sync | RGB lighting synchronisation across ROG peripherals |
| NVIDIA | DLSS 4.5, ray tracing, NVIDIA app and Studio driver support |
In the Box
| Included | ROG NUC 16 system with removable stand |
| 380 W AC adapter and power cord | |
| Safety information, regulatory insert, warranty card | |
| Not included | Keyboard, mouse, monitor, VESA mount plate |
Warranty & Support
| Warranty term | 3 years onsite, local Singapore warranty |
| Administered by | SourceIT and the local ASUS distribution channel. Contact us for the current service process before raising a claim |
| Extended cover | Ask SourceIT for ASUS extended warranty options where available for this model |
Datasheet & Downloads
| ASUS product page | ROG NUC 16 (NUC16JNK) |
| ASUS specifications | ROG NUC 16 technical specifications |
| Processor specifications | Intel ARK - Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus |
| GPU comparison | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPU comparison |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a Copilot+ PC?
No. The NPU is rated at 13 peak TOPS and Microsoft requires 40 TOPS for Copilot+ features. The AI performance here comes from the RTX 5080, which is a different and, for most real AI workloads, far faster answer.
Is the White model identical to the Black one?
Yes, apart from chassis finish. Same processor, same GPU, same memory and storage, same warranty. Only the part number differs (90AS00S2-M00330 for White, 90AS00S1-M00320 for Black).
Why does a mini PC need a 380W power brick?
Because the RTX 5080 Laptop GPU and a CPU capable of 160 W turbo power draw at once under load. The adapter is external and physically large - check you have room for it and headroom on the circuit or UPS.
Can I add a second SSD?
Yes. Two M.2 2280 slots, one populated. The free slot takes a PCIe Gen4 or Gen5 NVMe drive from 1 TB to 4 TB, tool-lessly. Ask SourceIT to supply and fit it before delivery if you would rather not open the chassis.
Does it have 24 or 32 threads?
24. Eight P-cores and sixteen E-cores, and this generation's P-cores do not use Hyper-Threading.
Will the white finish discolour?
ASUS does not publish a UV or yellowing specification for the Moonlight White finish. If the unit will sit in direct sunlight, that is worth weighing - and worth asking us to raise with ASUS if it matters to your deployment.
Sourcing Notes & Points to Verify
SourceIT builds listings from independent sources - the distributor build sheet, the system vendor and the silicon vendor - and prints the disagreements rather than smoothing them over.
| Maximum memory: 64 GB or 128 GB? | ASUS's specification table reads "Max Capacity: 64GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM x 2 or 64GB DDR5-6400 CSO-DIMM x 2", which can be read as 64 GB total or 64 GB per module. ASUS's own product page states "up to 128GB". Intel's silicon ceiling is 256 GB, so the constraint is ASUS's. If the memory ceiling is decisive for you, ask SourceIT to confirm with ASUS before ordering. |
| Processor name | ASUS's global specification page lists the CPU as "Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 290HX"; other regional pages list "290HX Plus". Intel's ARK carries the part as Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus (SKU 245960, Q1'26). We have used Intel's name |
| Power figures | ASUS quotes cTDP 45-75 W for the processor in this chassis; Intel quotes 55 W base and 160 W maximum turbo power. These describe different things and both are printed above |
| Regional SKU suffix | ASUS's global pages list this configuration under suffixes such as ...289A6 and ...2AAAU. The unit SourceIT supplies is the Singapore-channel RNUC16JNK9X289A3 White, ASUS part number 90AS00S2-M00330 |
| Bundled software offers | ASUS has promoted a Game Pass bundle with some ROG NUC configurations. Eligibility varies by region and period and is not guaranteed with this SKU - confirm with SourceIT at time of order |
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