5 New Features In Intel's New NUC That Will Blow System Builders Away

Mini PC Madness

Intel took the wraps off its newest version of NUC, a "Next Unit of Computing" mini PC kit that system builders can use for digital signage, media centers and kiosks.

The Intel NUC NUC6i7KYK features a unique case design with two lids -- users can pick a lid with a skull logo or one that is black -- and has support for third-party lids as well.

According to Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., the NUC kit, code-named Skull Canyon, will start at $650.

Intel system builder partners who currently sell NUC applauded the product's newest features, including better performance and graphics, as attractive to customers with intensive workloads and to enthusiasts.

Following are five features in the new NUC that system builders found particularly impressive.

Better Performance

Skull Canyon has a new processor that contains better performance, Intel said.

Skull Canyon packs a sixth-generation Intel Core i7-6770HQ processor -- a higher-end processor than those in previous NUCs. This processor is in the HQ product line, or quad-core high performance graphics, while other versions were in the U product line, or ultra-low power.

It also features 45W of thermal design power, or the maximum heat the CPU generates when running real applications, making it the highest-wattage processor to be used in the NUC series. The NUC can be configured with up to 32 GB of DDR4-2133 memory.

Better Graphics

Intel has also aimed to wow enthusiasts with a new integrated higher-end Iris Pro graphics 580 chipset.

Intel says the Iris Pro graphics 580 set will give its newest NUC up to 30 times better 3-D graphics than its previous version.

Though the Iris Pro chipset lacks the support for dedicated graphics, it is enough to let users edit photos and videos or play 3-D games with 4K resolution on up to three monitors.

Better Storage

Intel has amped up the storage front for its NUC as well with dual slots -- Skull Canyon offers not one, but two m.2 slots for SSD storage via the SATA3 or NVMe protocols.

The NUC also has a micro-SD slot that can handle up to 512 GB of additional storage.

More Ports

Intel's NUC now contains support for newer ports like Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 and DP1.2. There are also four USB 3.0 ports and a full-sized SD slot.

Thunderbolt 3 is a critical new port for the NUC as it allows customers to use just one cable to connect to storage devices, 4K displays, and high-speed memory devices.

The addition of Thunderbolt 3 also makes the NUC attractive to the enthusiast segment by allowing users to connect to external discrete graphic solutions like the Razer Core.

Pricing And Availability

According to Intel, Skull Canyon will start at $650 and will be available in May. An Intel spokesperson confirmed that this NUC kit would be available in the channel.

While the suggested retail price for NUC is $650, a build with added 16 GB of memory, 256-GB SSD and Windows 10 Home will be almost $1,000.