Looking for a little desktop computer to stick next to your TV or use around the house, but want something a little more powerful than an ARM-based TV stick like the MK802 or GK802? Intel’s NUC (Next Unit of Computing) is a computer that measures about 4 and a half inches square, and which packs an Intel Core i3 processor and Intel HD 4000 graphics.
It’s available now from Newegg for $300 and up.
The little computer is powered by an Intel Core i3-3217U processor. It has 2 HDMI ports, 3 USB 2.0 ports and an Ethernet jack. You can connect up to two displays at once, and there’s also support for 7.1 channel audio.
What you don’t get with this little computer is any memory, storage, or operating system. There’s a mini-PCI Express card slot with mSATA support and a second half-sized mini PCIe card slot, so you can add a solid state disk. There are also two memory slots and the system supports up to 16GB of DDR memory.
The NUC measures 4.6″ x 4.4″ x 1.6″ and comes with a 65W power brick, although oddly the power cord isn’t included in the package.
Several companies have also announced plans to sell pre-built computers based on Intel’s NUC design. Velocity Micro will offer a version with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage for $499 and up ($599 with Windows pre-loaded). And Gigabyte has a similar mini-computer which will be available with up to an Intel Core i7 processor as well as support for USB 3.0. No price has been announced for that model yet.
This is seems that good mini computer from intel. Revised version of this mini computer with little changes like new processor, increased RAM, HDD would be great.
I wonder if this will be enough to be able to play games on it… I mean heavy games like the Wither 1/2 and so on…
I really want one of these! Thanks for the head’s up.
Hoping for the next version to be fanless.
Got one and I don’t notice any noise from it and makes a very easy hackintosh / media centre. Check out tonymacx86 for a guide if your interested.
Yes it does make a good hackintosh, but this + storage, ram, an os and the time it takes and you might as well just get a mac mini.
Intel failed with the NUC when they decided to include a fan instead of making the chassis double as a CPU heatsink. If I’m going to spend the extra coin for a smaller design with less processing power, then I at least want it to be silent.
I’d rather build a mini-itx system at this point or just stick with my MicroATX powerhouse that doubles as a gaming rig. The Silverstone case it’s in is large but doesn’t look out of place under my TV.
I wholefully agree with you Andy. Besides shrinking the PC what is so “Next” about the NUC? Many others did that before Intel anyway. Passive cooling would have been a real added bonus.
Removing the OEM from the picture and not passing the savings onto the customer. I think that’s what Intel meant by “Next” 😉
Love your site BTW!
Seems like a lot of money for a computer with no memory or storage.
it’s on par with what other computers with similar form factors cost