ASUS ExpertCenter PN64 — Compatibility & Upgrade Guide
| Component | Specs |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-13700H (16-core, 8P+8E, up to 5.4GHz, 55W TDP) |
| RAM Slots | 2x SO-DIMM DDR5-5200, max 64GB |
| Storage | 2x M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 4.0) |
| Display Out | HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a, Thunderbolt 4 |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5GbE |
| Power | 90W external PSU, ~55W TDP |
| Price Range | £450–550 (UK) |
Can You Upgrade This Mini PC?
Yes, both RAM and storage are fully user-upgradeable. The Intel Core i7-13700H delivers strong multi-core performance (16-core) with 55W TDP. CPU and GPU are soldered. Active cooling handles sustained workloads. This is a premium business mini PC.
RAM Compatibility — DDR5-5200 SO-DIMM
Two SO-DIMM slots accept DDR5-5200 modules. Maximum capacity is 64GB (32GB per slot). DDR5-5600 modules work at reduced speeds (DDR5-5200 JEDEC fallback). DDR4 is not compatible.
| Product | Capacity | Speed | Price (UK) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston Fury Impact DDR5 | 32GB SO-DIMM | DDR5-5200 | £150–180 | View |
| Corsair Vengeance DDR5 | 32GB SO-DIMM | DDR5-5200 | £160–190 | View |
| Crucial DDR5 | 32GB SO-DIMM | DDR5-5200 | £140–170 | View |
| SK Hynix Platinum DDR5 | 32GB SO-DIMM | DDR5-5200 | £165–200 | View |
SSD Compatibility — Dual M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0
Two M.2 2280 slots with PCIe 4.0 support (up to 7.1 GB/s per drive). PCIe 5.0 drives are backward compatible but see no speed improvement. Total capacity: 4TB with two 2TB drives.
| Product | Capacity | Interface | Speed | Price (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 Pro | 1TB / 2TB | PCIe 4.0 | 7.1 GB/s read | £80–160 |
| WD Black SN850X | 1TB / 2TB | PCIe 4.0 | 7.1 GB/s read | £75–155 |
| Crucial P5 Plus | 1TB / 2TB | PCIe 4.0 | 6.6 GB/s read | £65–140 |
| SK Hynix Platinum P41 | 1TB / 2TB | PCIe 4.0 | 7.1 GB/s read | £90–160 |
Power Supply & Thermal Management
The 90W PSU supports the 55W TDP Core i7-13700H. Active cooling with a small fan enables sustained high-performance workloads without thermal throttling. Ideal for professional video editing, 3D rendering, and data analysis.
Display & Docking
Thunderbolt 4 port enables high-bandwidth external GPU, storage, and docking solutions. HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a provide dual-display native support. TB4 Alt Mode allows third display. This is the most connectivity-rich ASUS mini PC at this price.
WiFi 6E & Bluetooth 5.2
WiFi 6E (802.11ax) dual-band with up to 9.6 Gbps theoretical throughput. Bluetooth 5.2 for low-latency wireless peripherals. 2.5GbE Ethernet for stable wired connections. WiFi module is soldered and non-upgradeable.
Upgradeability Score
8/10 — Excellent RAM and dual M.2 SSD upgrade options. CPU is fixed. Strong baseline performance means upgrades are optional. Thunderbolt 4 provides future-proof external expansion.
FAQs
Is the i7-13700H upgradeable?
No, the processor is soldered. You cannot upgrade to a faster Intel generation.
How many displays can I connect?
Three displays via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a, and Thunderbolt 4 Alt Mode. Daisy-chaining on TB4 allows more displays with compatible monitors.
Can I use PCIe 5.0 NVMe drives?
Yes, PCIe 5.0 drives work but run at PCIe 4.0 speeds. The motherboard supports up to PCIe 4.0 only.
What is the difference between PN64 and PN53?
PN64 has Intel i7-13700H (vs. AMD Ryzen 7), Thunderbolt 4 (vs. USB-C), and slightly higher spec overall. PN53 uses AMD Ryzen with lower power consumption.
Is this mini PC suitable for video editing?
Yes. The 16-core i7-13700H and dual M.2 NVMe slots with 4K support make this excellent for 4K video editing and color grading.
Recommended Products
These are the products we recommend based on this guide. All links go to Amazon UK where you can check current prices and availability.
| Product | Why We Recommend It | Amazon UK |
|---|---|---|
| Corsair Vengeance DDR4 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 3200MHz | Best overall DDR4 upgrade kit | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston Fury Impact DDR4 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 3200MHz | Reliable alternative with tight latency | View on Amazon UK |
| Corsair Vengeance DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 5600MHz | Top-rated DDR5 kit for gaming & productivity | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston Fury Impact DDR5 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 5600MHz | Excellent DDR5 alternative with XMP support | View on Amazon UK |
| Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe M.2 2280 | Fastest consumer NVMe — ideal for gaming & editing | View on Amazon UK |
| WD Black SN850X 2TB NVMe | Excellent Gen4 speed with heatsink option | View on Amazon UK |
| Crucial P5 Plus 1TB NVMe | Great value Gen4 SSD | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston NV2 1TB NVMe | Budget-friendly with solid reliability | View on Amazon UK |
Prices and availability may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
