Different types of Intel NUC i5
There are twelve generations of Intel NUC i5 so far. Next, let me introduce the latest generations.
①12th generation Intel NUC i5
The entry model of NUC 12 enthusiast is i5-12500h + arc a550m 8GB. This generation of Intel NUC i5 is a 4p+8e (12c/16t) design, with 18MB cache and a frequency of 4.5 GHz. The basic TDP 45W / MTP is 95w. The latest generation of mini host, on the premise of ensuring performance and providing rich interfaces, makes the body smaller. Its significance is to reduce the space occupied by the host and improve portability. Put 2.5L into the backpack and leave as soon as you say. Large video memory is undoubtedly a blessing for users who need games, content creation, modeling, etc. Target market: users who need portability and portability, game players, VR, e-sports game machines, content creation, scientific research, etc.
②11th generation Intel NUC i5
One of the 11th generation Intel NUC i5 is nuc11pahi5. Its CPU is Intel i5 1135g7, ram is Guangwei 8g DDR4 3200 X2, SSD is Lenovo sl700 Savior m.2 nvme 256g, and HDD is Seagate 500g 2.5 “5700 rpm. Next, let’s talk about the appearance of this Intel NUC i5. In addition to the NUC itself, the power cord of the host is packaged separately. The product includes host, power supply, power cord, VESA hanging board, instructions and certificates. The front of this Intel NUC i5 includes a power button, a 3.5mm audio interface, a usb-a, a usb-c (thunder 3), an SD card slot on the side, an anti-theft lock hole on the other side, and an HDMI, a type-C interface, two usb-a, an RJ45 network cable port, a mini DP, and a power input port on the back. This Intel NUC i5 has good scalability. Unscrew the four screws at the bottom to easily open the NUC. The backplane is connected with the body through a SATA cable, which can install 2.5-inch mechanical hard disk, SSD and memory module. This Intel NUC i5 heat dissipation can completely hold the 1135g7, which is much stronger than the thin and light book with the same CPU. It also supports SSD and HDD at the same time.
③10th generation Intel NUC i5
The 11th generation Intel NUC i5 uses i5-10210u, core display HD 630, geekbench runs a single core 1040, multi-core 42108 uses i5-8259u, core display iris 655 (Apple dedicated core display, the same as MacBook Pro 2018) geekbench runs a single core 940, multi-core 4104, single core performance increases by 8%, and multi-core performance increases by 2%. This Intel NUC i5 graphics chip uses Intel UHD graphics, 300mhz-1.1ghz, the wired network card chip uses Intel i219-v gigabit network card, and the wireless network card chip uses Intel ax200, IEEE wifi6, and Bluetooth 5.0. Its memory type is DDR4, the maximum memory capacity is 64GB, there are two memory sockets, and it also supports dual channel DDR4 2666mhz memory. This Intel NUC i5 has 1 usb3.1 in front, 1 usb3.1 type-C in the back, 2 usb3.1 in the back, 1 thunderbolt, and 2 USB2.0 built in. The advantage of this generation of Intel NUC i5 is that it supports 7.1 channels, lighter telepresence, theater level sound experience, and can be put into a portable backpack for mobile office and entertainment.
Key individual advantages of the Intel NUC i5
Until recently, if you wanted the power and versatility of a desktop, you had to free up enough space on the floor or table to mount a tower. Today, mini PCs like Intel’s NUC (Next Generation Computing Unit) series make ultraportable laptops look big. The Intel NUC i5 is fast enough to be your main PC, but small enough to fit anywhere, and the 2015 NUC features an Intel 5th Gen Broadwell CPU, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and supports high-speed PCIe SSDs. Even better, there’s a Core i7-based configuration, the NUC5i7RYH, running at 3.1 GHz. If you’re willing to buy and install your own RAM, storage, and operating system — which brings our Intel NUC i5 and Intel NUC i7-powered test units up to $670 and $770, respectively — Intel’s mini PC has a lot to offer .
1. Use Cases for Intel NUC i5
The Intel NUC i5-powered NUC5i5RYK is undoubtedly fast enough to be a staple PC for students, business users, and productivity-conscious consumers. By pairing the NUC with a high-resolution monitor (or two), you get all the space-saving benefits of an all-in-one PC, but also keep the monitor for your next upgrade. With a built-in or USB-connected high-capacity drive, the NUC can also be used as a very powerful home theater PC. Retailers with space issues can use the NUC in point-of-sale systems or kiosks.
2. Design of Intel NUC i5
Measuring 4.5 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches and weighing just 1 pound (with storage and RAM installed), the Intel NUC i5 is about the size and shape of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The Intel NUC i7 and some other NUC models are 0.6 inches tall, so they can contain 2.5-inch drive bays in addition to the M.2 slot on the motherboard (for SSDs). At any height, the NUC is small enough to slide into the smallest entertainment center, sit next to a keyboard on a desk, or tether to the back of a monitor using the bundled VESA mount bracket.
While you can easily hide your Intel NUC i5 in a cabinet or behind a monitor, its slim and sexy design makes it a great display in your office or living room. The chassis of the Intel NUC i5 is primarily made of matte silver aluminum with a shiny black plastic cover and a matte black plastic bottom. Small vents dot the sides and back, making the device look like a mock-up spaceship, while the silver power button adds a touch of elegance to the top.
The top cover is easy to remove as we can pry it off without using any tools. Intel does not sell replacement covers on its own. However, the company has provided these specs so any company or individual can create a custom cover with a design and even extra features. At CES 2015, the company showed off some prototype covers, one with a TV tuner and the other with NFC. As of press time, there are no third-party lids for sale, but enterprising consumers can 3D print them themselves.
3. Ports and connections for Intel NUC i5
For such a small computer, the Intel NUC i5 packs a lot of ports. The front face houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, an IR receiver, and two USB 3.0 ports, one of which remains on to charge devices while the system is sleeping. The back has the power jack, Gigabit Ethernet port, mini HDMI and mini DisplayPort connectors, and two more USB 3.0 ports for a total of four ports.
If you want to watch UHD content, the Intel NUC i5 can output to a monitor in Full HD. Using a combination of its video ports, the Intel NUC i5 can also support up to three monitors simultaneously. DisplayPort supports the DisplayPort 1.2 protocol, capable of driving three different 1,920 x 1,200 screens via a splitter or daisy chain. However, the easiest way to use multiple monitors is to connect one monitor to each port, provided you have both mini HDMI and mini DisplayPort cables.
If you don’t want to use wired Ethernet to get online, you can choose to connect using the NUC’s Intel 7265 card, which offers 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The card can also stream video to your set-top box using Intel’s WiDi standard.
4. Parts required for Intel NUC i5 and their cost
Intel only sells the Intel NUC i5 as a base PC, which means it doesn’t have RAM, a storage drive, or an operating system. So, be prepared to spend at least $250 and a few minutes to boot the system. The system has two DIMM slots that can accommodate 1.35-volt DDR3L SODIMMs. You can fill in one or both for a total of up to 16GB. This type of 8GB of memory costs about $55, but cost-conscious consumers can pick up a less-than-ideal 4GB stick for $28.
5.Configuration options
Intel sells multiple versions of the 2015 NUC, each with slightly different options. The base model costs $295 with a 2.1 GHz Core i3-5010U CPU. A version that’s just 0.6 inches taller and has 2.5-inch drive bays costs just $5 more. Our Intel NUC i5 drive test system retails for $369, but there’s also a version with a 2.5-inch drive bay, the NUC5i7RYH, for $379.
We highly recommend buying the NUC with the 2.5″ drive bays as it gives you two storage devices: a roomy mechanical hard drive and a fast M.2 SSD.
6.Power consumption, noise of Intel NUC i5
While slim, the NUC isn’t fanless. It does have a small blower, which is more or less always active in the Core i5 model. At idle, its noise was hard to distinguish from our office surroundings, but at full load it was barely audible at 37 decibels.
Power consumption at idle is just 6 watts, the lowest we’ve seen on a desktop to date. Most laptops draw at least a few more watts, although they also have to power the screen. Load draws up to 33 watts, but only for gaming. Our power meter found that the NUC consumed just 18 watts in the processor benchmark. This is again lower than a regular laptop.
Difference between Intel NUC i5 and Intel NUC i7
The price between a Core i5-powered Intel NUC i5 and a Core i7-powered Intel NUC i7 is about $100. If you plan to use the device for mainstream work or inside a kiosk or signage, the Intel NUC i5 model should provide more than adequate performance while producing less fan noise than its siblings. However, if you want to perform processor-intensive tasks, such as editing large media files or working with large spreadsheets, the added performance of the Intel NUC i7 is well worth the money.
1. Value
If you buy a standard NUC with a 256GB SATA M.2 SSD, 8GB RAM, and an OEM copy of Windows, your $390 Intel NUC i5 will actually cost about $670, while the Core i7 model will cost $100. Paired with 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and a free operating system, the total price for the Core i5 and Core i7 systems drops to $490 and $590, respectively.
The price you pay for the NUC is the combination of small size and big performance, especially if you use a PCIe x4 SSD. If you want an off-the-shelf mini PC with all the parts and software out of the box, you can find systems that cost less with a much slower processor and no SSD. For example, the HP Stream 200-010 mini costs $179, but is half a pound heavier, more than an inch larger on each side, and uses a slow Intel Celeron CPU, 2GB of memory, and a 32GB storage drive.
For businesses, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny Desktop is nearly twice the size and three times the weight of a NUC, but it’s packed with all the parts, starting at $483 for Intel’s fourth-generation Core i3 model with a 500GB hard drive. The Core i5 model with SSD and 8GB sells for over $1,000. The Mac mini also looks big next to the NUC, with a Core i5 model with a hard drive starting at $499. The SSD version starts at $699.
2. Bottom Line
You’ll come for small, attractive design, but you’ll stay for powerful performance. Those who don’t want to go through the hassle of installing their own RAM, storage, and operating system may prefer a larger, more expensive mini PC like the Mac mini or ThinkCentre M83. Serious gamers will want larger desktops or laptops with discrete graphics. But if you’re willing to put in a little effort and need a small desktop for your main PC or home theater, Intel’s Broadwell-powered NUC is the way to go.
3. Installation and Setup
Intel NUC i5 adds RAM and SSD in less than 5 minutes. To access the inside of the system, simply flip the NUC over and unscrew the bottom panel, which is attached by four standard-sized Philips head screws. After that, it only takes a moment to insert the RAM, slide the SSD into the M.2 slot and tighten the screws securing the drive. It takes 10 to 20 minutes to install Windows. Just make sure you have the installer on your bootable USB key and have downloaded the latest device drivers from the Intel website.
4. Performance
With its 1.6 GHz Intel NUC i5, which can be accelerated to 2.7 GHz, the Intel NUC i5 is fast enough for serious productivity tasks like handling spreadsheets, browsing the web, viewing 4K video and even editing video. During testing, the Intel NUC i5-powered NUC took just 1 minute and 8 seconds to transcode a 2:30 movie trailer from 1080p to 720p using Windows Movie Maker, while playing the 4K video in another window. Its Intel NUC i7-powered sibling was only a tad faster, finishing in 1 minute 3 seconds.
Because they both use mobile CPUs, the NUC’s benchmark scores are closer to those of ultraportable laptops than desktops, which use more power, four cores, and typically run at higher clock speeds. However, having a mobile CPU has advantages in desktops. The Intel NUC i5 was consistently cool to the touch throughout our testing, and while it has a fan, it’s also remarkably quiet. However, the Intel NUC i7 makes some fan noise when compressing video.
MORE: Best gaming desktops
Our Intel NUC i5 and Intel NUC i7 test units, both featuring 8GB of RAM and a blazing-fast Samsung XP941 SSD, scored 5,611 and 7420 respectively on Geekbench 3, a composite test that measures overall performance . Both NUCs showed they could handle serious office work, completing our spreadsheet performance test (matching 20,000 names to addresses in OpenOffice) in just 5 minutes and 2 seconds for the Intel NUC i5 model. That’s more than double the ultraportable category average (10:17) and faster than the 7-minute all-in-one category average. The Brix’s time of 4:31 was in between the NUCs, while the Mac mini (6:17) fell behind in that field.
The Intel NUC i5 and Intel NUC i7 completed our file-transfer tests with their ultra-fast PCIe x4 SSDs, including copying a 4.97GB file at 308.8 MBps and 363.5 MBps in 16 and 14 seconds, respectively. These are two of the fastest speeds we’ve seen on any computer, and miles ahead of the all-in-one average (58 MBps) and the ultraportable laptop average (120.5 MBps).
graphics performance
The Intel NUC i5 with Core i5 is powered by the Intel HD Graphics 6000 GPU, while the Intel NUC i7 with Core i7 has faster HD Graphics 6100 “Iris” graphics, and both GPUs are good enough to watch 4K video. On 3DMark Ice Strom Unlimited Strike, a synthetic benchmark that measures overall graphics prowess, the NUC scored 41,369 and 77,084, respectively.
Conclusion
If you want or need a desktop and don’t mind spending 5 minutes setting up your own hardware, the Intel NUC i5 is for you. It’s fast, affordable, and small—and the cheapest Windows PC we know of, and it can support 4K displays at 60Hz. The Intel NUC i5 isn’t for everyone, but it’s sure to appeal to businesses and enthusiasts looking for a simple, quiet, yet surprisingly capable PC.So what are you still hesitating, contact us and order one of your Intel NUC i5.
Introduction to Intel NUC i5 EGLOBAL supplied at cheap price you may like
The operating system supported by this Intel NUC i5 host is windows 10 system. Its processor is equipped with the 11th generation intelligent Intel core i5-1135g7 2.4 ghz-4.2 GHz, 4 cores, 8 threads, and 8MB cache. This Intel NUC i5 memory supports up to dual channel notebook ddr4-2666mhz memory, with a maximum memory of 64GB. Its graphics are the highest equipped with Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics, and the front panel is equipped with 3.5mm headphone / microphone interface. This Intel NUC i5 host has 1 front 1 x Type-C, support Intel® Thunderbolt™ 4 , 4 x USB2.0, 2 x USB3.0, and 1 x Mini DP 1.4, 2 x HDMI 2.0, Support 4K@60Hz. The storage system supports M.2 22 × 80 interface, supporting pcle 4.0 nvme or SATA 3 solid state drives. The supported networks are a RTL 8111F PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC RJ45 Ethernet interface (10/100/1000/2500 Mbps), and has 1 x M.2 2230 2.4G/5G Dual band AC(AX) WiFi/Bluetooth wireless network card. This Intel NUC i5 has a 19v, 120W, AC-DC power adapter. As for its size, the thin version is 135*125*51MM. Intel NUC i5 processing core technology in the new i5 processor, the processors that integrate I3, i5 and i7 are all processed and stored in the CPU, which improves the communication ability of system components. As the first in the world, integrating the graphics processing core into the processor greatly improves the overall compatibility and stability of the system to a certain extent. In terms of image processing, the i5 processor makes the playback of movies more smooth and the playback image clearer, giving users a new experience. Intel NUC i5 has an integrated memory controller. After installing the CPU integrated memory controller, the computer does not need to use the relatively primitive Beiqiao chipset to access memory data. This change greatly reduces the problem of memory delay. In addition, it can also improve the memory performance of the processor and improve the memory bandwidth. Intel NUC i5 thread performance is enhanced. Intel NUC i5 introduces hyper threading technology to simulate two logical cores into two physical chips, so that each processor can use thread level computing. This special setting greatly reduces the idle time of CPU and improves its operation efficiency. In addition, there are four i5 processor cores, which further enhances its threading performance.
