Asus Barebones

The ASUS barebones search most often refers to the ASUS NUC Kit line: ready-to-build Mini PCs that ship without RAM, storage or an operating system, so you install your own. The ASUS NUC 15 Pro barebone uses an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, supports up to 96 GB of DDR5 memory and includes Wi-Fi 7. The closest Thinvent alternative is the Thinvent Treo Mini PC, which ships fully configured with an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 64 GB of RAM.

ASUS NUC Kit (Core Ultra 7) vs Thinvent Treo Mini PC

Key differences

• The Thinvent Treo ships with an operating system installed. The buyer can also choose Windows 11 IoT Value, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux Embedded Linux, no OS or DOS.

• The Thinvent Treo ships with RAM and SSD storage installed, up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 2 TB of SSD. The ASUS NUC is a barebone, so RAM and storage are added by the buyer.

• The Thinvent Treo includes dual LAN ports, two 1000 Mbps Ethernet ports, and a VESA mount.

• The ASUS NUC 15 Pro has a higher RAM maximum (96 GB DDR5 against 64 GB DDR4) and includes Wi-Fi 7, which the Thinvent Treo does not offer.

• The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H in the ASUS NUC is a newer processor generation than the 12th and 13th generation Intel Core chips in the Thinvent Treo.

Which one should you choose?

Choose the ASUS NUC Kit if you want a barebone system with the newer Core Ultra 7 processor, 96 GB DDR5 memory capacity and Wi-Fi 7, and you plan to add your own memory, storage and operating system. Choose the Thinvent Treo Mini PC if you want a system delivered with an operating system, RAM and SSD storage already installed, with a choice of operating systems including Linux.

Buy the Thinvent alternative

• Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel i7 12th 1255U

• Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel i5 13th 1335U