Intel is refreshing its NUC line of tiny desktop computers with new models featuring Intel Apollo Lake and Kaby Lake chips. The new versions should offer better CPU and graphics performance than their predecessors, and Intel has also given them a slight makeover with a darker case and a power button that’s been moved from the top to the front.
Earlier this month an Intel NUC with a Celeron J3455 Apollo Lake CPU went on sale for about $230.
Now you can buy more powerful models with Core i3 Kaby Lake chips. Prices start at about $295.
That’s how much Amazon is charging for either the BOXNUC7I3BNH NUC Kit or the BOXNUC7I3BNK NUC Kit.
Both versions feature a 15 watt Intel Core i3-7100U dual core processor with Intel HD 620 graphics, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI and, four USB 3.0 ports, and a USB Type-C port (which can be used as a second display output, among other things, thanks to DisplayPort 1.2 support).
The difference is that the BNH model has room for both an M.2 solid state drive and a 2.5 inch hard drive or SSD, while the BNK version is a shorter, more compact PC that only has the M.2 slot.
Note that Amazon is showing the wrong images for the new mini computers, but Newegg has the right pictures (and is charging $315 for the short and tall versions of the new Core i3 NUC).
Both ship without storage, memory, or an operating system and support up to 32GB of DDR4-2133 RAM.
Later this year Intel will also launch models with Core i5 and Core i7 Kaby lake chips, Thunderbolt 3 ports, and Intel Iris Plus graphics. Some models will also support Intel Optane storage.
via NUC Blog
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Price has not changed in 4 years. I bought DC3217IYE for $280 in Dec 2012. It has been gathering dust for the last 2 years since my son got a hand-me-down gaming rig from his uncle.
Most lines of PC don’t drop below a certain base price, and given that Intel price points for new generations of processors tend to be the same as the previous generation, it’s not surprising that the NUCs don’t vary in price much.
Yep. That’s exactly what you’re paying a premium for. Smaller doesn’t always mean cheaper. In fact, it used to almost always mean the opposite.
As for the power button on the front, it makes it easier to use swappable lids or slide the PC into a compact space without obscuring the power button.
Yes but previously smaller had real world value as it was about portability. Lugging a 3lb laptop through airports had very real value compared to lugging 5lb laptops around. Here it’s almost purely about aesthetics. Though I suppose you could argue that people living in small spaces relying on public transport can find real value in smaller size objects for whatever purpose.
The swappable lids – OK. But I’d bet the percentage of lids actually swapped is minuscule.
Sliding into a compact space – OK. But then make the button capacitive at least. Trying to pull your tiny computer out from the back of the closely fitting shelf you’ve pushed it to the back of while trying to work the button is an exercise in frustration.
Nobody needs added frustration when they are already living in a tiny space and subjected to the schedules of public transport.
It’s not as though Intel just made up this form factor without doing any market research on the issue. The large majority of PC users never open the case. They buy the configuration they need and live with it, so any concept of versatility is wasted on them. Likewise power. Very few users (outside hardcore gamers, which these are clearly not being sold to) will ever need anything beyond a bog standard i3 with Intel graphics, and if and when they do, they will simply buy a new system.
Given that Intel is on its 7th generation of NUCs, they must be doing something right.
I didn’t say it would fail in the market. I was simply commenting that you are paying a good premium for what mostly amounts to pure aesthetics.
Lots of things do great in the market that I would argue against the value of. Muscle cars, heroine and any TV show starring a Kardashian come to mind. Also pancake mix.
What are these for? Intel keeps making them — in part I assume to preserve turf against the ultra low-end ARM systems people play with — so someone’s buying them. But what is the use case? Once you add RAM and storage you’re not far in price from e.g. an Acer Swift 3. And there you get an OS in addition to a screen and a keyboard.
Is it really for tinkerers? I get that it might be fun to plug in components and install one’s fave Arch Linux distro. But then what? Do people really use “home servers”, “media centers” and the like? Why not just plug a laptop into the TV — you can always take it with you later.
Exactly my concern. I mean it’s a neat little thing and the form factor is really small but by the time you’ve added the ram and ssd (and hdd if you have the thick model) you are already paying more than the cost of a full 13″ laptop with a Windows license or the slightly larger 1L form factor with similar specs but a more powerful 35w processor and a Windows license too.
Not every wants or needs a laptop?
Considering that you’ll attach this to a monitor/TV and leave it there, it doesn’t matter if I attach a nuc or a laptop. But as you said, to each his own. But then again, the 1L form factor isn’t much larger than this.
Do people really use “home servers”, “media centers” and the like?
Yes, some of us do. Laptops do have some drawbacks and size is one. I have a couple of different devices tucked back behind my TV, totally hidden. I like a neat setup and have the ability to pay for it. Not saying I would buy Intel’s over priced offering, but I do have something like it.