Picking between two Intel-powered mini PCs shouldn’t require a spreadsheet, but the ASUS NUC 14 Pro and GEEKOM GT13 Pro make it tricky because they compete in the same size and price class, even though — as you’ll see below — they’re actually built around different generations of Intel silicon. If you’re stuck between two browser tabs trying to figure out which box fits your desk, your budget, and your workload, this guide settles it in one read, using specs drawn from manufacturer pages and retailer listings rather than guesswork.
Short answer: the ASUS NUC 14 Pro pairs an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor (Meteor Lake-H, with a built-in AI NPU) with DDR5-5600 memory in a compact, roughly 4.6 x 4.4 x 1.5-inch chassis (2.1 inches for the Tall kit). The GEEKOM GT13 Pro uses an older-generation Intel Core i9-13900H (13th Gen, Raptor Lake-H, no NPU) with DDR4 memory in a slightly smaller, roughly 4.4 x 4.4 x 1.5-inch case. Both include Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE wired networking, and both are sold running Windows 11 Pro. The rest comes down to ports, memory type, and what’s already installed when the box arrives.
Quick Facts
| Spec | ASUS NUC 14 Pro | GEEKOM GT13 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core i9-13900H (i7-13620H option) |
| Generation | Core Ultra Series 1 (Meteor Lake-H) | 13th Gen (Raptor Lake-H) |
| Cores / Threads | 16 cores (6P+8E+2LP) / 22 threads | 14 cores (6P+8E) / 20 threads |
| Graphics (iGPU) | Intel Arc Graphics, 8 Xe-cores, up to 2.25GHz | Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 96 EUs, up to 1.5GHz |
| NPU | Intel AI Boost NPU, ~10 TOPS (part of ~34 TOPS combined CPU+GPU+NPU platform figure) | None |
| Display outputs | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x HDMI 2.1 — up to 4 displays (one 8K or four 4K); HDMI 2.1 TMDS caps at 4K@60Hz | 2x USB4 (40Gbps) Type-C w/ DP Alt Mode, 2x HDMI 2.0 — up to 4 displays (quad 4K or dual 8K), 8K via USB-C, 4K via HDMI 2.0 |
| RAM (as configured) | 32GB DDR5-5600, 2 SO-DIMM slots | 32GB DDR4, 2 SO-DIMM slots |
| Storage slots | 1x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 + 1x M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 (Tall kit adds a 2.5″ bay) | 1x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 + 1x M.2 2242 SATA |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1x USB-A 2.0, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen2x2 20Gbps (data), 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x 2.5GbE, no SD slot | 2x USB4 (40Gbps) Type-C, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1x USB-A 2.0, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x 2.5GbE, 1x SD card reader |
| cTDP range / power adapter | 28W base (20W minimum assured power, 115W max turbo), 120W power adapter | 45W base (35W minimum assured power, 115W max turbo), 120W power adapter |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 4.61 x 4.41 x 1.46 in (Tall kit: 2.13 in high) | 4.4 x 4.4 x 1.5 in |
| Ethernet | 1x 2.5GbE | 1x 2.5GbE |
| Price | Sold as a barebone kit (no RAM/storage/OS); a comparably configured 32GB/1TB unit typically runs ~$750-800 once components are added | ~$659 (32GB/1TB, complete, Windows 11 Pro included) |
Source note: figures above come from ASUS’s and GEEKOM’s official product pages and retailer listings, including Micro Center, CNX Software, Amazon, and Best Buy — see ASUS’s official NUC 14 Pro spec sheet for full processor and platform details. Pricing and regional availability change often, so check current listings before you buy.
Processor and Graphics: Core Ultra 7 155H vs Core i9-13900H
Here’s the biggest correction to make going in: these two mini PCs are not running the same generation of Intel silicon, despite how similar they look on a shelf. The NUC 14 Pro uses Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H, part of the Meteor Lake-H family that introduced Intel’s tile-based chip design and dedicated AI acceleration hardware to the NUC lineup. That Meteor Lake-H architecture splits work across a mix of Performance, Efficient, and Low-Power Efficient cores (6P+8E+2LP, 22 threads total) and pairs it with Intel Arc Graphics — a real architectural jump from the older Iris Xe graphics used in 12th and 13th Gen chips, with 8 Xe-cores clocked up to 2.25GHz. It also adds a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of roughly 10 TOPS on its own, contributing to a combined platform AI performance figure — CPU, GPU, and NPU together — that Intel and ASUS advertise at around 34 TOPS. That NPU matters mainly for Windows Studio Effects, background blur, and any locally-run AI features Microsoft keeps adding to Windows 11; it does nothing for gaming or general desktop speed.
The GT13 Pro’s Core i9-13900H is a fundamentally different chip: a 13th Gen Raptor Lake-H part with 6 Performance cores and 8 Efficient cores (14 cores, 20 threads, no low-power tier) and Intel Iris Xe Graphics — 96 execution units, no Arc branding, no NPU. In raw multi-core throughput the i9-13900H is competitive with, and in some sustained workloads can edge out, the Core Ultra 7 155H, because Raptor Lake-H clocks higher and Meteor Lake-H’s efficiency-first design trades some peak performance for better power scaling. But the i9-13900H has no on-chip AI acceleration, and its Iris Xe graphics are noticeably behind Arc Graphics for anything graphics-adjacent — video encode/decode efficiency, light creative work, and casual gaming at low settings.
Cooling and sustained performance also depend on configurable TDP (cTDP), a spec both companies tend to bury in fine print. The NUC 14 Pro’s Core Ultra 7 155H has a 28W processor base power with a 20W minimum assured power and up to 115W maximum turbo power depending on chassis and cooling profile, and it ships with a 120W power adapter to cover boost states. The GT13 Pro’s Core i9-13900H runs a 45W processor base power with a 35W minimum assured power and up to 115W maximum turbo power, also paired with a 120W adapter. In practice, that means the GT13 Pro’s chip is tuned to run hotter and louder under sustained load in exchange for higher peak throughput, while the NUC 14 Pro leans toward quieter, more efficient operation — worth factoring in if the mini PC will sit on a desk near your ears rather than tucked into a closet.
Which One Should You Buy?
Best for a home server or NAS-adjacent box: The ASUS NUC 14 Pro’s lower cTDP floor (20W), Arc Graphics’ stronger hardware video decode support, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity make it the more power-efficient pick for an always-on box handling Plex, file sharing, or light virtualization. Its higher effective price as a barebone kit is offset by the flexibility of choosing your own RAM and storage.
Best for gaming or GPU-adjacent workloads: Neither machine is a gaming PC, but if you’re picking between these two for light gaming (older titles, cloud gaming, emulation), the NUC 14 Pro’s Arc Graphics with 8 Xe-cores has a meaningful edge over the GT13 Pro’s Iris Xe, especially in titles that benefit from Arc’s media engine and the driver improvements Intel has shipped since launch.
Best for office or general productivity use, out of the box: The GEEKOM GT13 Pro wins here on pure convenience and value — it arrives complete with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro installed for around $659, with four USB-A ports and an SD card reader that make it easier to plug in existing peripherals without buying adapters. If you don’t need the NPU or Arc Graphics, and you want to unbox a working PC the same day, the GT13 Pro is the simpler buy.
| Use Case | ASUS NUC 14 Pro | GEEKOM GT13 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Home server / NAS | Better fit — lower cTDP floor (20W) and Arc Graphics’ stronger hardware video decode support | Runs hotter under sustained load due to higher base and cTDP floor |
| Light gaming | Arc Graphics with 8 Xe-cores gives a meaningful edge | Iris Xe Graphics is less capable for gaming-adjacent tasks |
| Office / out-of-box productivity | Sold as a barebone kit — requires adding RAM, storage, and an OS | Arrives complete with 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro installed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASUS NUC 14 Pro sold as a complete PC or a barebone kit?
It’s typically sold as a barebone kit — meaning you supply your own RAM and M.2 SSD — though some retailers offer pre-configured versions with memory and storage installed at a higher price. Always check the listing before comparing its price directly to a complete system like the GT13 Pro.
Does the GEEKOM GT13 Pro have an NPU for AI features?
No. The GT13 Pro’s Core i9-13900H is a 13th Gen Raptor Lake-H chip with no dedicated NPU, so it can’t run Windows Studio Effects or other on-device AI features that require Intel’s AI Boost hardware. It can still run AI software on the CPU/GPU, just without dedicated acceleration.
Which mini PC has better graphics for light gaming?
The NUC 14 Pro’s Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe-cores) outperforms the GT13 Pro’s Iris Xe Graphics (96 EUs) in most benchmarks, particularly in newer titles and anything relying on Intel’s updated Arc drivers.
Can both mini PCs drive multiple monitors?
Yes. The NUC 14 Pro supports up to four displays across its two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two HDMI 2.1 ports (one 8K display or four 4K displays), with 8K available on the Thunderbolt/DisplayPort-alt-mode outputs. The GT13 Pro supports up to four displays combining its two USB4 Type-C ports and two HDMI 2.0 ports, though the HDMI 2.0 outputs cap out at 4K rather than 8K.
Why does the GT13 Pro use DDR4 while the NUC 14 Pro uses DDR5?
It comes down to CPU generation. The Core i9-13900H (13th Gen) officially supports both DDR4 and DDR5, and GEEKOM chose DDR4 for the GT13 Pro’s configuration, likely for cost reasons. The Core Ultra 7 155H (Meteor Lake-H) in the NUC 14 Pro supports DDR5-5600, which offers higher bandwidth but typically costs more per module.
Which one runs quieter under sustained load?
The NUC 14 Pro is likely to run quieter and cooler over long sessions because its Core Ultra 7 155H has a lower base and cTDP floor (28W base, 20W minimum) compared to the GT13 Pro’s Core i9-13900H (45W base, 35W minimum), which is tuned for higher sustained power draw and, correspondingly, more fan noise.
Does either mini PC include an SD card slot?
Only the GEEKOM GT13 Pro includes a built-in SD card reader. The ASUS NUC 14 Pro does not, so photographers or videographers who rely on direct card transfers will need a USB adapter with the NUC.
Is the price difference between these two mini PCs fair to compare directly?
Not without adjustment. GEEKOM’s ~$659 price includes 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. ASUS typically sells the NUC 14 Pro as a barebone kit without RAM, storage, or an OS, so its street price looks lower until you add those components — at which point a comparably configured NUC 14 Pro often lands in the $750-800 range, depending on the RAM and SSD you choose.
Bottom Line
Both mini PCs are capable machines, but they’re solving slightly different problems. The ASUS NUC 14 Pro is the more future-facing, efficient option, built around newer Meteor Lake-H silicon with Arc Graphics and an NPU — better suited to buyers who want to configure their own memory and storage, care about on-device AI features, or plan to run the box quietly for long stretches. The GEEKOM GT13 Pro is the simpler, faster-to-deploy choice: a complete, ready-to-use system with more legacy ports and a lower all-in price, built around a proven if older 13th Gen chip that still holds its own in raw CPU throughput. If you want the newest platform and don’t mind sourcing your own components, buy the NUC 14 Pro. If you want to plug in and start working today without additional purchases, the GT13 Pro is the better value.
Reviewed and edited by Jason Paik. Spotted an error? Tell us — we verify and correct. See how we create content.