Intel is updating its NUC line of tiny desktop computers with new models sporting 6th-gen Intel Core i3 and core i5 “Skylake” processors.

The new models look virtually identical to the 5th-gen “Broadwell” models that launched earlier this year, but under the hood they’ve got new chips that should offer a big boost in graphics performance and slightly faster CPU performance.

intel nuc

So far Intel has introduced two models with Core i3 processors and two models with core i5 chips.

The Intel NUC Kit NUC6i3SYH features a 15 watt Core i3-6100U processor, Intel HD graphics 520, support for up to 32GB of DDR4-2133 MHz memory, an M.2 SSD card slot and support for a 2.5 inch hard drive or SSD.

It has four USB 3.0 ports, an SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFI, Bluetooth 4.1, HDMI and Mini displayPort, a headset jack, and support for 7.1 channel audio.

Intel’s NUC Kit NUC6i3SYK is a slimmer model that lacks the 2.5 inch drive bay, but which otherwise has pretty much the same features as the larger model.

The Intel NUC Kit NUC6i5SYH and NUC6i5SYK, meanwhile, have the same basic configuration, but feature 15 watt Intel Core i5-6260U processors and Intel Iris Graphics 540.

Each model measures about 4.5″ x 4.3″ square and supports user-replaceable third-party lids which can add functionality such as NFC, additional USB ports, or other ofeatures. Intel says the new NUC models officially support Windows 8 and later and should work with Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, and OpenSUSE as well.

via FanlessTech

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16 replies on “Intel NUC mini-computers go Skylake”

  1. After owning 2 nucs (ivy i3, Asus chromebox), they are wonderful for office apps and Web surfing. The downside is that they require an external keyboard & mouse & monitor… most people are better suited with a large laptop, or a mid-size gaming box. They are cool, but I don’t ever expect to buy that form factor ever again. My opinion is that external monitors are mainly for gaming and office docking stations.

    2. Most desktops require external keyboards mice and monitors and have for many years.

      1. My point is that if you are going to have a desktop, it should have a great graphics card and 65w+ cpu. It can sit in suspend when not used. The chromebox is great for quickly connecting to the TV for steam streaming… that’s the only use case that I could find for it. I would love to hear another good use case for it.

    3. I have had several laptops for a number of years now as my main computer but recently changed to the NUC with i7, 16GB RAM and a 250GB M2 SSD. And i’m absolutley loving it, I have two monitors hooked up and run Windows 10 on it. I have the machine mounted (VESA) on the back of one of the monitors so it’s literally out of my way. The ac wifi works very well for me too. It may not be the right machine for everyone but for my needs it is spot on. I don’t game a lot but for a quick run of Mushihimesama or Ikaruga it does the job very well indeed.

  2. So do they have hdmi 2.0a and hdcp 2.2? Can they play h265 4k content?

    1. HDMI 1.4b through HDMI port. HDMI 2.0 available through DP. h.265 hardware support.

  3. “The Intel NUC Kit NUC5i5SYH and NUC6i5SYK, meanwhile, have the same basic configuration, but feature 15 watt Intel Core i5-6260U processors and Intel Iris Graphics 540.”

    Typo Brad. Shoud be 615, not 515.

    1. I think that’s not a fanless one? There must be a fan for i5 U-series.

  5. This might be a silly question (I hope no such things as silly questions exist here, though!) but given the fact the news came from FanlessTech.com, are these fanless? Which Core i3 and i5 usually isn’t.

    1. Probably not, but Olivier likes to keep an eye on the NUC space because there are often third-party fanless cases. You might eventually be able to either buy a fanless version of an NUC from a different company or purchase a case that lets you transfer the guts of an off-the-shelf model into a fanless system with better ventilation, a big heat sink, etc…

    2. Nope. But NUCs are easily customizable, and there are numerous fanless chassis available 😉

  7. Intel 540 combined with DDR4-2133 MHz main memory could be quite tasty in such a small form factor…

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