Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing)

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#806258 27-Apr-2013 10:02

TwoSeven:
Shindig: Guys,

What is everyone's plans for their device then?

Well, I'm kind of hoping it will get a good education and when it gets older perhaps become a doctor or a lawyer.

Asian parent? :P

I'd likely use one as a media center too. I'd probably want to wire it in via ethernet rather than wireless though.

freitasm

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#806259 27-Apr-2013 10:03

Here's an interesting benchmark: the Intel NUC with an Intel SSD and my HP Folio laptop with a Samsung SSD. Granted one is a desktop board in a small factor, the other a ultrabook board. But interesting nonetheless.

Intel NUC with Intel SSD:

HP Folio with Samsung SSD:

Jared777

61 posts

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#806261 27-Apr-2013 10:05

Shindig: Guys,

What is everyone's plans for their device then?

Lets start a list of ideas.

Pretty uninteresting, but I just want a small Windows PC plugged into my TV.

Dont have a NUC just yet, but I currently plug my laptop into the TV whenever I want to watch things on a large screen, TV on demand, movies, Youtube. I'd like to replace the constant plugging and unplugging of the laptop. I also like the idea of having it hidden away, (would probably mount it on the back of the TV?) as opposed to my laptop which sits on the floor whenever I use it with the TV.

Speaking of mounting it on the TV, the NUC comes with mounting brackets right? I'm not really familiar with how these sorts of things work. What is it connected to? Is this a practical option?

ushare

483 posts

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#806333 27-Apr-2013 13:02

Jared777:
Shindig: Guys,

What is everyone's plans for their device then?

Lets start a list of ideas.

Pretty uninteresting, but I just want a small Windows PC plugged into my TV.

Dont have a NUC just yet, but I currently plug my laptop into the TV whenever I want to watch things on a large screen, TV on demand, movies, Youtube. I'd like to replace the constant plugging and unplugging of the laptop. I also like the idea of having it hidden away, (would probably mount it on the back of the TV?) as opposed to my laptop which sits on the floor whenever I use it with the TV.

Speaking of mounting it on the TV, the NUC comes with mounting brackets right? I'm not really familiar with how these sorts of things work. What is it connected to? Is this a practical option?

Yip! They sure do :)

Mounted perfectly behind my tv

Benoire

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#806340 27-Apr-2013 13:29

Those who use it for media playback, how do you control it? Wireless keyboard and mouse or remote?

JimmyH

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#806363 27-Apr-2013 14:40

These little units look interesting.

My entertainment network rebuild is proceeding at a glacial pace (other calls on time and money) but this looks like a cost-effective way to fill one of the remaining gaps. I'm thinking of something like the i3 model of this configured with 4GB of RAM and a 40GB or 80GB mSATA. On it I would install:

- the (unused, legit) copy of Win XP I have lying around;
- NextPVR or MediaPortal;
- the USB Freeview terrestrial tuner I have lying around;
- a USB Freeview satellite tuner (purchase circa $100);
- the Hauppauge HD PVR fed by an HD Fury (I already have these) connected to MySky; and
- a small hand-held wireless keyboard with trackpad (circa $60).

It's purpose would be solely to capture content for the network. Recorded material would be offloaded to a NAS, so shouldn't need too much onboard storage. Playback would be largely handled by existing WD units, so it wouldn't need to do that either. Purely a cheap small HD/SD grabbing solution.

MattR

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#806390 27-Apr-2013 15:41

Benoire: Those who use it for media playback, how do you control it? Wireless keyboard and mouse or remote?

I've got a USB IR remote for my NUC (running xbmcbuntu). Sometimes I need to plug a USB keyboard & mouse in (mainly when configuring it).

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Shindig

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#807428 29-Apr-2013 15:00

I am tempted to look at the brackets and install it on the back of my TV.

The little things make the biggest difference.

freitasm

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#807429 29-Apr-2013 15:02

Make sure you have plenty of ventilation. Denpending on the model it may get pretty hot and freeze (as I found out and commented about in the previous page).

ushare

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#811718 5-May-2013 18:52

is anyone having problems with hd audio pass through?

I have a sony avr which is able to decode dts hd and dolby hd too but xbmc is not able to play it when passing through. FPS slows down to 1/3fps with no sound.

Has anyone else experienced this or is it just me? I have intel management engine installed. Also the previous display drivers as the current ones are "faulty".

chevrolux

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#813225 7-May-2013 20:17

What a cool little piece of kit this is. I got one today to use as a wifi controller for a customer. Was it just me or was the best part opening the box?

networkn

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#813246 7-May-2013 20:40

I had a look at them, the product and idea is cool, but the pricing is just too high. By the time you add HDD and OS, it's not much cheaper than any other PC.

CYaBro

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#813293 7-May-2013 21:31

networkn: I had a look at them, the product and idea is cool, but the pricing is just too high. By the time you add HDD and OS, it's not much cheaper than any other PC.

It's not supposed to be cheaper than any other PC, it's about the size, speed and power consumption.

I'm busy installing 13 of these for a client of mine, replacing some older HP SFF units, and they are perfect for the job.
The price per unit worked out about $100 cheaper than replacing with similar spec'd HP SFF units.
However these NUCs have the SSD in them so are actually much faster than the HP SFFs.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

networkn

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#813307 7-May-2013 21:47

CYaBro:
networkn: I had a look at them, the product and idea is cool, but the pricing is just too high. By the time you add HDD and OS, it's not much cheaper than any other PC.

It's not supposed to be cheaper than any other PC, it's about the size, speed and power consumption.

I'm busy installing 13 of these for a client of mine, replacing some older HP SFF units, and they are perfect for the job.
The price per unit worked out about $100 cheaper than replacing with similar spec'd HP SFF units.
However these NUCs have the SSD in them so are actually much faster than the HP SFFs.

Well they are underpowered compared to the HP SFF and have far inferior warranties. I understand they are smaller, and I understand the attraction in that, I have a couple of customers who may buy them as remote workstations. It's also worth noting that you require an HDMI Compatible monitor as the adapters we tried with the monitors we had wouldn't work (3 adapters and 3 monitors. Makes them not retrofitable into some environments.

CYaBro

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#813320 7-May-2013 22:07

networkn:
CYaBro:
networkn: I had a look at them, the product and idea is cool, but the pricing is just too high. By the time you add HDD and OS, it's not much cheaper than any other PC.

It's not supposed to be cheaper than any other PC, it's about the size, speed and power consumption.

I'm busy installing 13 of these for a client of mine, replacing some older HP SFF units, and they are perfect for the job.
The price per unit worked out about $100 cheaper than replacing with similar spec'd HP SFF units.
However these NUCs have the SSD in them so are actually much faster than the HP SFFs.

Well they are underpowered compared to the HP SFF and have far inferior warranties. I understand they are smaller, and I understand the attraction in that, I have a couple of customers who may buy them as remote workstations. It's also worth noting that you require an HDMI Compatible monitor as the adapters we tried with the monitors we had wouldn't work (3 adapters and 3 monitors. Makes them not retrofitable into some environments.

Why are they underpowered?
I compared to an HP SFF i3 model with 4GB RAM and 250GB HDD.
Intel NUC is an i3 with 4GB RAM and a 120GB SSD.

Both the HP and the Intel have a 3 year warranty but the Intel SSD I put in the NUCs have a 5 year warranty and the RAM has a lifetime warranty so I'd say the NUCs have a better warranty.

I've used HDMI to DVI cables to connect to the monitors that don't have HDMI and it works perfectly (You do however have no audio which is the only downside I can see)

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

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