Breaking Inside the Unit
While the Intel Next Unit of Computing looks like a complete and ready to go computer out of the box, you still need a few things to get it running. For our model, we had to install a wireless card, an SSD and system memory.
Opening it up is quite simple – something you can't say with many small form factor computers – and requires removing four Philips screws at the rubber feet.
Removing the bottom of the case shows a solidly constructed design with all the necessary parts accessible right away.
Users that are familiar with laptops will surely recognize the SODIMM slots and the PCIe/mSATA connections on the right hand side.
Another pair of screws to remove and we can take out the entire mainboard and show the top of the NUC and the portion that also acts as the antenna for the WiFi.
Getting our hands on the D33217CK motherboard itself proved to be pretty enticing; that is a lot of hardware in a very small amount of space!
Most of the magic happens under this heatsink and fan assembly courtesy of the Ivy Bridge-based Core i3-3217U processor. The fan is incredibly quiet and I actually thought it was passively cooled until I took it apart after completing our testing.
Two screws released the fan and three more for the heatsink to reveal an impressively designed compact motherboard. There wasn't even room for the BIOS battery as it is enclosed in a loose yellow wrap and plugged into the board via a 2-pin header.
A close up of the board shows us the Core i3-3217U low voltage dual-core processor and the Intel QS77 Express chipset that make the system tick.
After exploring the insides of the Intel NUC it is time to get down to the business of actually building and constructing the computer. And while it's not like building a typical desktop system you do still get some options for customization.
The first thing we need is connectivity and without a dedicated Ethernet port that means wireless data. Along with the NUC Intel sent us a Centrino Advanced-N 6235 mPCIe adapter that can handle 802.11n speeds in the 5GHz range
Installation was easy enough: place it in the socket, screw it down with the single screw and then attach the leads for the WiFi antenna.
Next up is a driver for your OS and storage and again we were provided with an Intel SSD 520 series mSATA unit with a 180GB capacity. Seeing that much storage in such a small "card" still impresses me especially when you see how fast it can go. I had a hard time finding this mSATA drive for sale online anywhere so you might have to go another route but as long as the form factor is right you shouldn't have a problem.
Again, installation was simple and required only a single screw. You can see that the SSD is actually stacked on top of the WiFi card and while that didn't bother me at first it turned out to cause some stability problems that Intel is still looking into today. More on that later.
Finally, we need some system memory. I happen to have a pair of Crucial 4GB DDR3-1600 SODIMMs sitting around that would give this system a total of 8GB of memory – plenty for our purposes.
If you have put memory in a laptop before this has the exact same premise – place it in the slot and then push down to lock in place. Presto, 8GB of memry in a 4-in x 4-in computer.
That's it! The Intel Next Unit of Computing is ready for powering on, operating system installation and then benchmarking. On to the next page!
has anyone tried taking the
has anyone tried taking the wireless card out and plugging a external usb wi-fi adapter in?
i.e. would an little usb adapter cure the overheat w/ network transfers?
Yes, it did.
Yes, it did.
This looks like a precursor
This looks like a precursor to the steam box. This is a lapdesktop. I like it but can’t game. This would be a good streaming box.
Question that I could really
Question that I could really look up but thought I would ask, Did Intel fix the 23.9 frame rate for movie play back in the 3rd gen processors, or do they suffer from the same problem the sandy bridge with 24 frame lock?
Just asking cause I would love to make this computer into my XBMC HTPC machines, that i have around the house…
Based on my understanding
Based on my understanding that is fixed but I honestly haven't tested it.
It’s impressive that you are
It’s impressive that you are getting thoughts from this paragraph as well as from our discussion made at this place.
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“Intel Board Team Creates New
“Intel Board Team Creates New Form Factor” ???
How new?
• ZOTAC ZBOX nano XS AD11 Plus powered by the AMD E-450 1.65GHz APU (dual-core processor)
• • Dimensions • •
• Length: 4.173in – 106mm
• Width: 4.173in – 106mm
• Depth: 1.46in – 37mm
• ZOTAC ZBOX nano VD01 powered by the VIA Nano™ X2 U4025 dual-core 1.2GHz processor.
• ZOTAC ZBOX nano AD12 powered by the AMD E2-1800 1.7GHz APU (dual-core processor)
• ZOTAC ZBOX nano ID61 powered by the by the an Intel® Celeron® Processor 867 dual-core 1.3GHz processor
• • Dimensions • •
• Length: 5in – 127mm
• Width: 5in – 127mm
• Depth: 1.77in – 45mm
It’s new to Intel, at least
It's new to Intel, at least at the board level, and also new in that it is a creation of Intel's team for the barebones chassis as well.
Oh of course, it’s new to
Oh of course, it’s new to Intel, at least at the Intel board level beacause under NUC 4″x4″ Form Factor (or ZOTAC ZBOX nano XS 4.173″x4.173″) is logial Pico-ITX Form Factor 3,9″x2,8″ (10 cm x 7,2 cm) etc. also with QuadCore Processor for the barebones chassis or barebone Pico-ITX Mini-PC as well.
What’s the most practical
What’s the most practical reason for needing two HDMI ports anyway?
Multiple displays without the
Multiple displays without the need for DisplayPort.
I cannot find a downloadable
I cannot find a downloadable version of Windows 8 that can be used for a clean install. All I can find is the upgradeable version. Every review of the NUC glosses over this issue.
Hmm, I guess that’s true. I
Hmm, I guess that's true. I used my TechNet account to get an ISO for installation.
You can get the OEM version of the OS and that will all full installs, right?
Could be an excellent client
Could be an excellent client for digital signage systems.
At $329 it’s overpriced.
If
At $329 it’s overpriced.
If it drops to $299 I’d say not bad. The final product is pretty slick.
You’re in the market for
You’re in the market for something like this, but much cheaper?
Then this is for you:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173044
Same form factor, $229, but with an AMD CPU/GPU. So slower CPU but faster GPU.
This has been available for years. Now it just has an Intel sticker on it. Not really news.
Yes I know of the Zotac
Yes I know of the Zotac boxes, and the surfboard style versions from other manufactures as well.
They are all good products for what they are doing. I’m just happy to see Intel getting into this segment as well.
I personally have more faith in Intel’s R&D when it comes to MOBO design and execution when compared to the other manufacturers. And I’m more than happy to pay a little more for it.
This isn’t a perfect product but if they continue to push the form factor they will refine it to perfection. It’s not that Intel is amazing, it’s just that they have the money to throw into their projects.
And no I’m not an Intel fan boy. All of my systems at this time are AMD based, I’m even typing this from an ITX A8-3870k.
Keep in mind that system you
Keep in mind that system you linked to is a MUCH lower performance configuration than this Intel NUC.
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Agreed… the form factor is
Agreed… the form factor is nice, especially with the VESA mount kit–but its really overpriced considering you still need to add RAM, HDD, and you dont get USB3 or FW. I could live with the lower-spec CPU if I could build a fully functional OS X compatible system for about half the price of a Mac Mini.
My guess is that this is the
My guess is that this is the precurser to the (I Know what your doing mmmmaaa)lower nanometer technology that is being developed at Microsoft. That being the 14 Nm tech.
I maybe wrong but I doubt it. Infact it could or should be the the 14 Nm tech.
This would produce far less heat at the performance level of the current DX11 GPU cards with comparible tolerances in
CPU/GPU point of heat disapation.
Why do they sell the power
Why do they sell the power cord separately for 3$ ?
Are they nuts ?
Maybe they forgot it in the original package… Anyway, they are nuts.
Oh, i have just
Oh, i have just understand.
The plug is different for european customers.
But sell separately is not the best solution.
NUC + external Thunderbolt
NUC + external Thunderbolt connected PCI-E box with Virtu support and a GTX 680 might be a nice lan rig.
I like this, but using the
I like this, but using the board with wired ethernet connection.
Ideal as a small home server, stick windows server 2012 on it. Perfect
Meh. Power up and go quad
Meh. Power up and go quad core Exynos boards available for $50, with all the interfaces you need.
No thanks Intel, this is another one that’s going nowhere.
Ryan,
The table/chart on page
Ryan,
The table/chart on page 1 of this review where it lists specifications says compatible with Linux (Fedora, Ubuntu.. etc). What is the source of this information?
Have you successfully installed Ubuntu on this system? If you did, how do you install drivers, BIOS updates etc.,?
I just ordered this BTW. I am hoping to install Ubuntu.
I agree with orvtrebor, and
I agree with orvtrebor, and I’m glad that Intel is finally jumping into this segment. My main complaint with the Intel barebones is that plastic case seems a little chinsty. I wish they came standard with something more industrial looking, like this: http://www.logicsupply.com/products/ag960
Hey Ryan, were you able to
Hey Ryan, were you able to install Ubuntu in this machine? I’m interested in purchasing this only if Ubuntu works ok and it is happy with the integrated NIC. Thanks
When installing the wifi card
When installing the wifi card does it matter which antenna wire goes to the main or AUX?
Thanks
Does it have the ability to
Does it have the ability to hook up a wireless remote control?
Anyone try it with Mythbuntu?
Will it fit a 2.5″ internal HDD?
Can you install an internal Haugepauge PCIe dual-TV tuner and hook it up to an antenna?