ASUS PN42 — Compatibility & Upgrade Guide
| Component | Specs |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel N100 or N200 (4-core, up to 3.4GHz, 6W TDP) |
| RAM Slots | 1x SO-DIMM DDR4-3200, max 16GB |
| Storage | 1x M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0) |
| Display Out | 2x HDMI 2.0b |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Power | 12V 3A adapter (36W), fanless |
| Price Range | £160–220 (UK) |
Can You Upgrade This Mini PC?
Limited upgrade potential. RAM and storage are user-accessible, but restricted to 1 RAM slot and 1 M.2 slot. The ultra-low 6W TDP makes this fanless and whisper-quiet, ideal for silent office deployments, media streaming, or retro gaming. CPU cannot be upgraded.
RAM Compatibility — DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM (Single Slot)
Only one SO-DIMM slot. Maximum capacity is 16GB (single 16GB DDR4-3200 module). Faster DDR4 modules (e.g., DDR4-3600) work at reduced DDR4-3200 speeds. No DDR5 compatibility.
| Product | Capacity | Speed | Price (UK) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston HyperX DDR4 | 16GB SO-DIMM | DDR4-3200 | £35–50 | View |
| Corsair Vengeance DDR4 | 16GB SO-DIMM | DDR4-3200 | £40–60 | View |
| Crucial DDR4 | 8GB / 16GB SO-DIMM | DDR4-3200 | £20–50 | View |
| SK Hynix DDR4 | 16GB SO-DIMM | DDR4-3200 | £40–60 | View |
SSD Compatibility — M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0
One M.2 2280 NVMe slot with PCIe 3.0 (up to 3.5 GB/s). PCIe 4.0 drives work but run at PCIe 3.0 speeds. Maximum storage is typically 1–2TB depending on availability of large PCIe 3.0 drives.
| Product | Capacity | Interface | Speed | Price (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 970 EVO Plus | 250GB / 500GB / 1TB | PCIe 3.0 | 3.5 GB/s read | £25–90 |
| WD Blue SN570 | 250GB / 500GB / 1TB / 2TB | PCIe 3.0 | 3.5 GB/s read | £20–100 |
| Crucial P3 | 500GB / 1TB | PCIe 3.0 | 3.1 GB/s read | £30–80 |
| SK Hynix PC401 | 256GB / 512GB | PCIe 3.0 | 3.5 GB/s read | £20–60 |
Power Supply & Fanless Design
The 36W adapter (12V 3A) powers the unit via a barrel connector. The 6W Intel N-series processor eliminates the need for active cooling—this is a completely fanless, silent system. Perfect for bedrooms, libraries, and recording studios. No thermal management concerns.
Display & Connectivity
Two HDMI 2.0b outputs enable dual-display setup (dual 4K@30Hz or single 4K@60Hz). WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Gigabit Ethernet provide flexible network options. No Thunderbolt or USB-C display output.
WiFi 6 & Bluetooth 5.0
WiFi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless peripherals. Gigabit Ethernet for wired connections. WiFi module is soldered and not upgradeable.
Upgradeability Score
4/10 — Very limited. Only 1 RAM slot, 1 storage slot. Maximum 16GB RAM, ~2TB SSD. CPU is fixed. Best for budget buyers seeking fanless silence; not suitable for users expecting significant future upgrades.
FAQs
What is the difference between N100 and N200?
The N200 is a slightly faster variant of the N100 with marginally higher clock speeds. Both are 4-core Intel Atom processors with 6W TDP. Performance difference is minimal.
Can I upgrade RAM to 32GB or higher?
No. Only one SO-DIMM slot exists, and the maximum module size is 16GB. Total max is 16GB.
Is this suitable for 4K video playback?
The dual HDMI 2.0b outputs support 4K@30Hz. For 4K@60Hz, use external USB-C display adapters if available, or upgrade to a more powerful mini PC.
Can I add more storage?
Only one M.2 slot exists. External USB storage (via USB-A or USB-C) can supplement internal SSD, but internal expansion is limited to replacing the existing drive.
Is the PN42 fanless?
Yes, completely fanless. The 6W TDP Intel N-series processor requires no active cooling, making it silent.
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.
