Asus announces PN64-E1 Intel Raptor Lake mini PCs with dual Thunderbolt 4 connectors and up to five video outs
With the introduction of the latest PN64-E1 mini PC models, Asus in finally adding Thunderbolt 4 support to its mini PC lineup. The new models integrate two Thunderbolt 4 ports and processor options could include up to an i7-13700H Raptor Lake mobile processor. Additionally, there is now support for dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 X4 storage and up to five video outputs via a configurable port.
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In early 2023, ASUS plans to launch two new mini PC models powered by the latest Intel Raptor Lake mobile processors. The ExpertCenter PN64-E1 will be the flagship model with more powerful components targeted at content creation tasks, but there will also be a more affordable and compact ExpertCenter PN42 mini PC featuring Intel’s N-series processor based on the 12th gen Alder Lake design, which is targeted for daily applications and office use.
Exact specs for these new models have not been revealed by Asus. However, looking at the existing PN64 model, we can expect to see PN64-E1 configurations with up to an i7-13700H mobile processor featuring 24 MB L3 cache, Iris Xe iGPU and performance cores running at 5 GHz plus efficiency cores running at 3.7 GHz. There will most likely be some Raptor Lake-P processor options as well, for the more affordable configurations. Maximum RAM capacity remains at 32 GB DDR5, while the storage side has been expanded to support two M.2 slots with PCIe 4.0 X4 speeds, in addition to the usual 2.5-inch bay.
The provided product pictures reveal a solid port selection that finally introduces Thunderbolt 4 support for the mini PC lineup. Thus we have 2x TB4 ports, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 3.1, 2.5 GbE jack, audio jack with Realtek ALC897 codec, 2x HDMI 2.1 video outputs and a configurable slot that can be populated with either a serial port, VGA out, DisplayPort out, HDMI 2.1 out, or an additional 2.5 GbE jack. Wireless connectivity is ensured via an included Wi-Fi 6E + BT 5.2 card.
Additional features for the PN64-E1 include Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation processing for mics, and an advanced cooling system for reduced noise. Pricing and availability have not yet been revealed.
Buy the Asus PN64 mini PC with Intel Core i7-12700H processor on Amazon
