Mini PC – ASUS Announces ExpertCenter PN53

ASUS announced ExpertCenter PN53, a mini PC that harnesses the power of the latest AMD Ryzen™ 6000 series processor with AMD Radeon™ 600M series graphics. PN53 can be specified with up to a Ryzen 9 processor and it offers a triple-storage design that can accommodate various storage combinations. Two PCIe® Gen 4 M.2 SSDs and DDR5 memory support ensure fast boot-up and app loading times. In addition, PN53 includes cleverly designed cooling features, AI-powered noise-cancelation technology for improved communication, and can support up to one 8K UHD or four 4K displays.

The ASUS ExpertCenter PN53 is a small form factor desktop computer designed for business use. It is powered by an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and comes with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 256 GB or 512 GB solid state drive (SSD). The PN53 also has a variety of connectivity options, including Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, and a variety of USB ports. It comes with Windows 10 Pro pre-installed and is designed to be energy efficient, with a low power consumption of just 15 watts. The compact size and low power consumption make the PN53 ideal for use in a variety of business settings, such as a call center or a small office.

PN53 offers up to 34% better single-thread performance and up to a 29% boost in multi-thread performance, versus the previous PN51 model. In PCMark10 Essentials group tests, PN53 showed a 10% improvement in web browsing, videoconferencing, and app start-up times. PN53 also performed 10% better than PN51 in the Productivity test group that measures system performance with everyday office applications, including spreadsheets and writing workloads. [source: Asus]

• • Ultrafast PCIe 4.0 SSD

PCIe 4.0 offers twice the data transfer rate of the prior PCIe 3.0 standard. ExpertCenter PN53 supports one PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD to deliver greater data performance and lower latency.

• • Hyper-fast 2.5 Gbps networking

Next-generation 2.5GBase-T (2.5 G) networking technology delivers speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps, allowing PN53 to handle the most data-intensive tasks at work or in the office.

• • Anti-dust self-cleaning system

This cleaning system keeps the heatsinks clean and effectively ejects dust and other particles to help prolong the lifespan of PN53. The fan is never overworked, so less noise is generated.

• • Extreme cooling

To ensure sustained high-end performance in a compact machine, ASUS designers and engineers fine-tuned every aspect of PN53’s cooling system. The self-cleaning fan module includes flat heat pipes connected to full-sized heatsinks and fan outlets to improve heat dissipation, allowing the CPU to operate at optimum temperatures.

• • Support for four 4K or one 8K UHD display

PN53 can support four 4K displays via its two HDMI® ports, DisplayPort™ (USB-C®) and additional configurable port―so it’s perfect for multi-display installations or video walls in stores, restaurants, hotels, or public spaces. Quad-display support is also useful in office settings, making it easy to extend workspaces. In addition, PN53 can support one 8K display.

• • Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation

Integrated AI-powered noise-cancelation technology includes both input and output noise cancelation for crystal-clear communication. It’s ideal for use in educational, office or home office/small office (SOHO) settings.

• • Smart Fan Control

Exclusive Smart Fan Control technology enables users to tailor fan modes to suit their requirements, all via a user-friendly interface. Quiet mode delivers low-noise performance and Standard mode supports sustained peak performance during data processing.

Like before, there are three models with different Ryzen 6000 CPUs/APUs (Rembrandt, Zen 3+)

• Ryzen 5 6600H

• Ryzen 7 6800H

• Ryzen 9 6900HX

Graphics Specs: RDNA2 graphics with supported resolutions up to:

• 4K (2160×3840) @ 120Hz, 8K (7680×4320) @ 60Hz

• up to four displays/monitors

• Ryzen 5 6600H will have Radeon 660M graphics

• Ryzen 7 6800H will have Radeon 680M graphics

• Ryzen 9 6900HX will have Radeon 680M graphics

The official confirmed ASUS PN53 specs are better than expected:

• Memory: 2 x SO-DIMM DDR5-4800 (Asus says up to 32GB, but there are 64GB DDR5 kits, so we’ll see when it comes out)

• Storage: 1 x SATA 6Gb/s connector for 2.5″ HDD & 2 x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 slots, support NVME

• Wireless Network: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 (2×2)

• LAN: 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps

• Front I/O: 1 x USB 4 Type-C (w/ DP output), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1 x Audio Jack (Line out/ Mic in/ Headphone out)

• Side I/O: 1 x Kensington lock slot

• Rear I/O: 1 x USB 4 Type-C (w/ DP output, PD power input), 3 x USB 3.2 Gen1, 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Configurable Port (options: Display Port 1.4/HDMI 2.1/COM/VGA/2.5G LAN),1 x 2.5G RJ45 LAN, 1 x DC-in, 1 x Padlock ring

• Power Supply: 19Vdc, 6.32A, 120W Power Adapter 150W

• Dimensions: 120 x 130 x 58 mm (0.9L)

• Weight: 900 g (including 2.5″ HDD)

Pricing for these units (from the number of German/Dutch computer retailers) look to be the same still, awaiting US pricing:

Barebones Models:

ASUS PN53-BB566MD – Ryzen5 6600H/no RAM/no SSD/black/without OS
-Mfg Part No: 90MR00S2-M00070
-UPC/EAN Code: 4711081869764
-Price: ~ € 650.00

ASUS PN53-BB768MD – Ryzen7 6800H/no RAM/no SSD/black/without OS
-Mfg Part No: 90MR00S2-M00080
-UPC/EAN Code: 4711081869887
-Price: ~ € 770.00

ASUS PN53-BB969MD – Ryzen9 6900HX/no RAM/no SSD/black/without OS
-Mfg Part No: 90MR00S2-M00090
-UPC/EAN Code: 4711081869788
-Price: ~ € 830.00