A Deeper Look at 7th-Generation Intel® NUC Kits

With the arrival of 7th-generation Kaby Lake™ processors, Intel® has updated its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) line to provide Intel Optane™ memory support along with integrated Intel Iris Plus™ Graphics 650 and 640 chipsets, which offer 64MB of eDRAM for handling demanding video content. NUC kits are barebone ultra-compact systems that have processors preinstalled and offer you the ability to customize the amount of RAM and storage, as well as which operating system to install. To find out which one works best for your needs, let’s take a look at the different configurations of Intel’s NUC kits.

The high-end unit of the 7th-generation Intel NUC series contains an Intel Core™ i7-7567U processor that sports a stock speed of 3.5 GHz and can achieve speeds of up to 4 GHz while running demanding apps. One step down, the next unit is outfitted with an Intel Core i5-7260U processor, running between 2.2 and 3.4 GHz frequencies. The base model has an Intel Core i3-7100U processor that operates at a fixed speed of 2.7 GHz. All the CPUs feature two cores.

On the inside, the NUC has two RAM slots, which accept DDR4 SO-DIMM chips that total up to 32GB. For storage options, NUC kits come in two style formats, which include an “H” version and “K” version. The H model supports up to two storage drives by offering an M.2 slot and a 2.5" drive bay, while the K variant has an M.2 slot. You can install M.2 SSDs that are 42mm or 80mm long and utilize SATA- or PCIe-based interfaces. With the choices out of the way, let me tell you what’s already provided in the systems.

All the NUCs are armed with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connections to the Internet and speakers. For wired connectivity, four USB 3.0 ports along with Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, and audio outputs are on board. The i3 unit has a USB 3.1 Type-C port with 10 Gb/s speeds, while the i7 and i5 units provide a single Thunderbolt 3 port. Aside from the ports, the NUCs sport a card reader for accepting SDXC memory cards. Other features include a multi-color LED ring along with built-in microphones for Windows 10 Cortana support. Once the NUC is assembled, we’ll examine the benefits of a very small computer.

These systems feature a 4.5 x 4.4" footprint and include a VESA bracket, so you can create an AIO-like computer system. The bracket is compatible with 100 and 75mm patterns on the back of the monitor, and the NUC attaches to this bracket via two screws. Not only that, you can install the NUC behind your TV to make your home entertainment setup smarter.

With a dizzying array of options offered from the Intel NUC lineup, let us know which configuration works best for you and where would you use it by dropping a note in the Comments section, below.