Slashdot Mirror
Intel Updates NUC Mini PC Line With Broadwell-U, Tested and Benchmarked
MojoKid writes Intel recently released its latest generation of NUC small form factor systems, based on the company's new low-power Broadwell-U series processors. The primary advantages of Intel's 5th Generation Core Series Broadwell-U-based processors are better performance-per-watt, stronger integrated graphics, and a smaller footprint, all things that are perfectly suited to the company's NUC (Next Unit of Computing) products. The Intel NUC5i5RYK packs a Core i5-5250U processor with on-die Intel HD 6000 series graphics. The system also sports built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, M.2 SSD support, and a host of other features, all in a 115mm x 111mm x 32.7mm enclosure. Performance-wise the new 5th Gen Core Series-powered NUC benchmarks like a midrange notebook and is actually up for a bit of light-duty gaming, though it's probably more at home as a Home Theater PC, media streamer or kiosk desktop machine.
While the NUCs are overkill for HTPC duty, the PIs are also not sufficiently there either. A PI just has problems keeping up with the user interface (XBMC).
Something like a Chromebox is the sweet spot. Decent enough GPU for video decoding and a CPU that's not ridiculously anemic.
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
I'm excited to nab a Shuttle DS57U. The package is larger but still very small, VESA mountable, Broadwell-powered, and is fanless so you don't need to worry about dust or noise.
While the NUCs are overkill for HTPC duty, the PIs are also not sufficiently there either. A PI just has problems keeping up with the user interface (XBMC).
No, I don't think a NUC is overkill for HTPC. The only reason a Rpi works for HD is because of hardware acceleration for video playback. But throw it a file in a format that doesn't meet the qualifications for acceleration and pbbbbbt! So, no 10-bit h264 or HEVC, let alone if you want to do rendering of subtitles, filtering, or chroma upscaling to improve the picture quality of normal 4:2:0 video.
a nice fanless i7 (haswell) build, with the magic being a heatpipe heatsink case and a 45w i7 chip:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com...
search for streacom fc8 as the case. then, stay under 65w (to be safe) and you can be fully fanless.
for htpc use, there is NO reason to ever have a fan, again. even the i3 has a 35w chip that works just fine for movies and desktop stuff.
--
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
I looked at these NUC, but happily settled on the ECS LIVA. It doesn't have SATA, but the USB3 works and the internal 32 SSD is fast enough. Alot less $$$.
I run mine caseless, and it is really like a x86_64 RPi (even the RPi2 is not fast enough to run even chrome).