Next Unit of Computing (NUC) is a small-form-factor personal computer designed by Intel. Its first generation is based on the Sandy Bridge Celeron CPU. Its second-generation central processing unit (CPU) is based on the Ivy Bridge Core i3 and Core i5 processors. Its third generation is based on the Haswell architecture. Its motherboard measures 4 × 4 inches (10.16 × 10.16 cm).
The barebone kits consist of the board, in a plastic case with a fan, an external power supply and VESA mounting plate. Intel does offer for sale just the NUC motherboards, which have a built-in CPU, although (as of 2013) the price of a NUC motherboard is very close to the corresponding cased kit; third-party cases for the NUC boards are also available.
First generation
Sandy Bridge
This UCFF motherboard and system kit are codenamed Ski Lake (DCP847SK) and Deep Canyon (DCCP847DY) respectively.
Second generation
Ivy Bridge
The base UCFF motherboard and kit without Thunderbolt or USB 3 are codenamed Golden Lake (D33217GK) and Ice Canyon (DC3217IY) respectively. The Thunderbolt capable UCFF motherboard and kit are codenamed Campers Lake (D33217CK) and Box Canyon (DC3217BY) respectively. The USB 3 capable UCFF motherboard and kit are codenamed Rend Lake (D53427RK) and Horse Canyon (DC53427HY) respectively.
The stripped-down DC3217BY model has a signature red top cover and no Ethernet. This model, while stocks were still available, generally sold for a deep discount. The absence of Ethernet may be mitigated by using a USB 2.0 to 10/100 fast Ethernet dongle based upon the Kawasaki LSI one-chip adapter (KL5KUSB102, for example), or a similar dongle based upon a Realtek chip; the Kawasaki Logic dongle requires a proprietary driver for MacOS X, whereas the driver for the Realtek dongle is built into MacOS X. The DC3217BY runs MacOS X (10.9, and any of its updates) flawlessly as the processor's HD4000 is fully supported by MacOS X. Of the two video ports, Thunderbolt/Display Port and HDMI, mDP is the most dependable for MacOS X. Sound is not provided by the basic chassis, but may be provided by a generic USB dongle, C-Media, for example. mDP to SVGA or HDMI to SVGA adapters with integral audio output jack can be made to work for audio output with the appropriate updates to the DSDT
Third generation
Bay Trail-M
This UCFF motherboard (DN2820FYB) and system kit (DN2820FYKH) model were codenamed Forest Canyon. The DN2820FYKH product itself is mis-marked DN2820FYK, but the retail package, all retail documentation, and Intel's web site correctly identify this product as DN2820FYKH. The "H" indicates support for internal 2.5" media, SSD or HD. There is no "non-H" version of this product as it does not include an on-board mSATA connector, hence media which is external to the board is mandatory, and hence the "H" version.
This product introduces for the first time a new 12 volt, 3 ampere "wall wart", in place of the traditional 19 volt, 3.42 ampere power brick and its "Mickey Mouse" AC power cord. Four region-specific plug-on adapters, including North America and three overseas countries, are included in the retail package.
These models shipped with the problematic BIOS revision 13, however this revision did not recognise most low voltage SO-DIMMs and would report as having zero capacity. Keyboard escapes for BIOS interfacing had been problematic, legacy booting was not supported, and it had been elected to only include UEFI booting. BIOS revision 48 has been released and resolved the problems, enabling the recognition of most low voltage SO-DIMMs, keyboard escapes and legacy booting.
Bay Trail-I
This UCFF motherboard (DE3815TYB) and system kit (DE3815TYK) models were codenamed Thin Canyon.
Fourth generation
Haswell
UCFF motherboard (D34010WYB and D54250WYB) and system kit (D34010WYK/D34010WYKH and D54250WYK/D54250WYKH) models were designated Wilson Canyon containing Haswell processors were revealed in June 2013.
Fifth generation
Broadwell-U
In early 2015 a new generation of NUCs, powered by 5th generation Intel processors was released and in Q2 2015 the first NUC with Core i7 processor (NUC5i7RYH) will become available. The currently available collection of 5th generation of NUCs include adaptive/smart performance technology and Turbo Boost Technology 2.0.
UCFF motherboard (NUC5i3RYB, NUC5i5RYB and NUC5i7RYB) and system kit (NUC5i5RYK/NUC5i3RYH, NUC5i5RYK/NUC5i5RYH and NUC5i7RYH) models were designated Rock Canyon. UCFF motherboard (NUC5i3MYBE and NUC5i5MYBE) and system kit (NUC5i3MYHE and NUC5i5MYHE) models were codenamed Maple Canyon.
All models include:
- Dual-channel DDR3L SO-DIMM, 1.35Â V, 1333/1600Â MHz, 16Â GB maximum
- One Gigabit Ethernet port
- Internal support for M.2 (either B-Keyed Maple Canyon or M-Keyed Rock Canyon) 22x42, 22x60, and 22×80 SSD card supporting PCIe 2.0 (x1, x2 and x4) and SATA 6 Gbit/s
- Two USB 3.0 connectors on back panel
- Two USB 3.0 connectors on front panel
- Two internal USB 2.0 ports via header
- Up to 7.1 surround audio via mini HDMI and mini DisplayPort
- Headphone/microphone jack on the front panel
Braswell
These UCFF system kit (NUC5CPYH and NUC5PPYH) models, formerly known as Pinnacle Canyon, are based on 5th generation Celeron and Pentium-branded Braswell 14Â nm processor family. There is also the UCFF complete system (NUC5PGYH) model, formerly known as Grass Canyon, which is based on 5th generation Pentium-branded Braswell 14Â nm processor family and comes with 2Â GB of RAM and 32Â GB of eMMC with Windows 10 installed.
All models include:
- One memory channel DDR3L SO-DIMM (204-pin), 1.35Â V, 1333/1600Â MHz, 8Â GB maximum
- One Gigabit Ethernet port
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi (Intel Wireless-AC 3165) and Bluetooth 4.0
- Internal support for M.2 (E-Keyed) 22×30 wireless card supporting PCIe 2.0 ×1, and USB 2.0
- Two USB 3.0 connectors on back panel
- Two USB 3.0 connectors on front panel
- Two internal USB 2.0 ports via header
- Up to 7.1 surround audio via HDMI
- Headphone/microphone jack on the front panel
- Headphone/TOSLINK jack on the rear panel
- SDXC slot with UHS-I support on the side
- CIR Sensor
- According to the Intel Technical Product Specification, these models have fans.
Sixth generation
Skylake-U
UCFF system kit (NUC6i3SYK/NUC6i3SYH and NUC6i5SYK/NUC6i5SYH) models were designated Swift Canyon, containing Skylake processors. UCFF system kit (NUC6i7KYK) models were codenamed Skull Canyon, containing Skylake processors.
All models include:
- Dual-channel DDR4 SO-DIMM, 1.2Â V, 2133Â MHz, 32Â GB maximum
- One Gigabit Ethernet port
- Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (802.11ac), 1x1, up to 867 Mbit/s
- Dual-mode Bluetooth 4.1
- Internal support for M.2 M-Keyed 22x42 and 22×80 SSD card supporting PCIe 3.0 (x1, x2 and x4) and SATA 6 Gbit/s
- SDXC slot with UHS-I support on the side
- Intel HD Graphics 540 video (580 for the NUC6i7KYK)
- Up to 7.1 surround audio via full-sized HDMI and mini DisplayPort
- Intel Wireless Display (Intel WiDi)
Skull Canyon models include:
- USB-C port supporting USB 3.1 Gen 2 (SuperSpeed+), Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort 1.2
- Internal support for a second M.2 M-Keyed 22x42 and 22×80 SSD card supporting PCIe 3.0 (x1, x2 and x4) and SATA 6 Gbit/s
Apollo Lake
These UCFF system kit (NUC6CAYS and NUC6CAYH) models formerly known as Arches Canyon, are based on the 6th generation Celeron-branded Apollo Lake SoC 14 nm processor family.
- RAM: DDR3L-1600/1866 1.35V SO-DIMM
Seventh generation
Kaby Lake-U
Intel seventh generation NUC models, codenamed Baby Canyon and Dawson Canyon, are based on their Kaby Lake-U processors with a TDP from 15Â W to 28Â W. Intel initially launched Baby Canyon models containing HDMI 2.0a and USB 3.1 Type-C ports (with Thunderbolt 3 on i5 and i7 models). Later Dawson Canyon models were released where USB 3.1 Type-C port was replaced with a second HDMI 2.0a port.
Gemini Lake
The UCFF system kit (NUC7PJYH and NUC7CJYH) models, codenamed June Canyon, based on 7th generation Pentium & Celeron-branded Gemini Lake SoC 14 nm processor family.
RAM: DDR4-2400 1.2V SO-DIMM
Note: GPU might be older Gen9 (5xx), instead of Gen9.5 (6xx)
Reception and ecosystem
The NUC was seen by some reviewers as Intel's response to (or adoption of) the Apple Mac Mini format, although it is actually smaller, physically. Given its kit nature, other reviewers have seen it as a more powerful Raspberry Pi, particularly since the NUC boards could be bought without a case. The NUC can also be seen as an extension or continuation of Intel's earlier mobile-on-desktop (MoDT) initiative that was spearheaded by AOpen as early as 2004.
Most of the third generation NUCs come in two case sizes, one with room for a 2.5-inch drive, and one without. The smaller case lacks room for a 2.5" drive still have an internal SATA connector (including SATA power). Some larger third-party cases have appeared that can fit such drives.
The Intel case is actively cooled with a fan. Silent PC Review notes that “The original Intel NUC had "the distinction of being the quietest fan-cooled mini-computer we've come across." The NUC D54250WYK [Haswell-based], with the same cooling system, sounds exactly the same. In normal use, you can't hear the fan until your ear is inches from the unit.†Nevertheless, passively cooled third-party cases have appeared on the market as well. Larger or metallic third-party cases provide lower operating temperatures as well.
A review by The Tech Report of the pre-production 2012-vintage NUC found that the NUC would seize up after a few gigabytes were transferred over wireless, and that the problem could be alleviated by better cooling of the NUC case. Intel later increased the default fan speed for production machines through a BIOS update (downloadable from Intel's web site for "early adopters").
Regarding power consumption, in their review of the D54250WYK with a Haswell i5-4250, Silent PC Review concluded that "An idle power level of just 6Â W and typical use power barely into two digits is very impressive in one sense; in another sense, it's what you find in current Ultrabooks using similar components."
Other companies have subsequently adopted a form factor similar, but not identical, to Intel's NUC. For example, Gigabyte Technology launched their BRIX series, which attempts to differentiate itself using more powerful components, up to the i7-4770R processor, which embeds Intel Iris Pro Graphics.
Operating system support
NUCs support UEFI compatible operating systems, such as Windows, as well as most distributions of Linux. Additionally, they can be used for virtualization with VMware vSphere; multiple NUCs can be used together to create a home lab for learning purposes.
It is technically possible, with some limitations in functionality, to install an unauthorized copy of macOS on a NUC, creating a "Hackintosh". The pre-Haswell Core i3 and Core i5 NUCs will run OS X 10.9 Mavericks well.
References
External links
- Intel: "Intel NUC", accessed 2013-01-20.
