NUC & BRIX discussion thread

[Kaido]

Both Intel & Gigabyte have announced new Skylake-powered mini computers:

https://www.gottabemobile.com/2016/01/07/new-intel-nuc-pcs-at-ces-2016-have-more-power/

http://liliputing.com/2016/01/gigabyte-launches-brix-mini-pcs-with-skylake-chips.html

Most interesting of all, Intel is building a quad-core Gaming NUC:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3020...its-building-a-quad-core-performance-nuc.html

More details in March at GDC, with what is looking like a Q2 launch:

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-skull-canyon-gaming-pc-confirmed,30928.html

Ars has a good explanation of the new Intel models:

http://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/20...core-mini-pc-with-iris-pro-and-thunderbolt-3/

For the gaming model, rumor is that it may do a Razer-style Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C external video card. So a tiny computer with a quad-core CPU that you could slap whatever GPU in you wanted...that would be awesome, especially for all of the new VR stuff coming out! The thought is that the mini gaming rig will be based on the new Mini-STX form factor, which is even smaller than Mini-ITX:

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/silverstone-mini-stx-case-form-factor,30924.html

What's interesting is that Gigabyte has updated their BRIX product page with a whole lineup of 6th-generation Skylake chips, but the BRIX Gaming rigs are still on 4th-gen chips:

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/list.aspx?s=47&ck=104

The slightly frustrating thing is that their best gaming rig, the GB-BXi7G3-760, uses a great 2GB GTX760, but only has a laptop CPU. Granted, it's a quad-core i7-4710HQ, but it's not the same as the 3.9ghz desktop i7-4770R chip they put in their BRIX Pro model, which unfortunately only has Iris Pro 5200 graphics. So you can either have a full-power desktop chip, or a full(er)-power GPU, but not both (yeah, they blow air noisily, but just make a new one a few inches higher to accomodate for cooling...it's still a tiny rectangular box!). Maybe the 14nm Skylake chips will help solve that problem...

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5156#ov

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4888#ov

So there may be a revolution in mini-gaming PC's coming, which would be pretty cool! Personally, I rarely build computers anymore...I try to get people to buy Chromebooks (or a Chromebox or Chromebase AIO) & barring that, buy a BRIX. I've setup a handful of engineering stations using GB-BXi7G3-760, which actually works awesome without a Quadro, even with triple monitors! It's going to be an interesting year for miniature gaming hardware for sure...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Thanks! Sounds like fun. Maybe I can finally find a mini-PC without too serious of compromises?

 

[Blue_Max]

I think a NUC with a high desktop processor and best IGP is a perfectly grand idea. I'm surprised no one has made a tiny box housed around an A10-7600 or something. (There was a BRIX with something similar but MUCH lower - I think you bought one, V.L.!)

I'd love one even if it were a little larger than current models in order to accommodate a near-80mm fan to cool the thing silently. House the SSD/lappy drive down underneath the motherboard and leave the entire top 3/4 of space for a tiny mobo centered around its CPU socket and an effective cooler. Case only just big enough to house the whole structure which has a good dust filtered vent system that's easy to clean (even if it requires cleaning more often than your standard desktop...)

Just my $0.02

 

[TeknoBug]

Sooner or later we'll be seeing modular GPU's like those in laptops. I'm tired of giant tower cases to be honest, those PC sticks or the Kangaroo is a step in the right direction for smaller form factor PCs. I love my i3 4010U NUC albeit a bit limited in many cases.

 

[Kaido]

Thanks! Sounds like fun. Maybe I can finally find a mini-PC without too serious of compromises?

Yeah, the Thunderbolt/USB-C interface holds a lot of promise. They've been trying to do that for years, so we'll see if it works in practice this time. What is especially interesting is the idea of a quad-core Skull Canyon rig with an M.2 chip (fingers crossed they can utilize the new 2,500mb/s Samsungs...based on the new Mini-STX layout, I'm hoping they can!) & then just slapping on whatever video card you want. I don't want to say that upgrading your CPU doesn't matter for futureproofing in video games, but we've had fast, solid quad-core chips available for years; GPU progression is really what amps up the game quality, so having a tiny box with a soldered CPU and then just swapping out the GPU in the video card box with a new one sounds mighty appealing!

 

[Kaido]

I think a NUC with a high desktop processor and best IGP is a perfectly grand idea. I'm surprised no one has made a tiny box housed around an A10-7600 or something. (There was a BRIX with something similar but MUCH lower - I think you bought one, V.L.!)

I'd love one even if it were a little larger than current models in order to accommodate a near-80mm fan to cool the thing silently. House the SSD/lappy drive down underneath the motherboard and leave the entire top 3/4 of space for a tiny mobo centered around its CPU socket and an effective cooler. Case only just big enough to house the whole structure which has a good dust filtered vent system that's easy to clean (even if it requires cleaning more often than your standard desktop...)

Just my $0.02

That's my main complaint with the quad-core desktop models (i5 & i7) and the GTX760 models...they are NOISY! Add 2" to the height to make it a cube, stick a silent 80mm in the front & rear, and then a quieter CPU/GPU fan inside. Fortunately, the ones with laptop CPU's & integrated graphics are pretty dang silent & are the ones I prefer to roll out when I do installs.

 

[Kaido]

Sooner or later we'll be seeing modular GPU's like those in laptops. I'm tired of giant tower cases to be honest, those PC sticks or the Kangaroo is a step in the right direction for smaller form factor PCs. I love my i3 4010U NUC albeit a bit limited in many cases.

I would definitely consider a NUC with like an MXM GPU. Not quite full-power desktop, but something you could swap out as desired like in the high-end Sager laptops. That would be cool...more power than just integrated, but without having to do a big external box etc.

 

[you2]

I ended up picking up one of the gigabyte i5-4570R; all i can say is it runs a bit warmer than I would like. When playnig any sort of game (wasteland for example) the system pegs at 80C. Whta concerns me the most if the heat received by the wifi/msata ssd (which seem to run close to 65C).
-
During normal stuff like web browsing the cpu tends to be around 50C and the ssd 55C.
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I think I would find a snapdragon 820 solution faster (cpu is a little slower but GPU is a lot faster) and a lot less expensive; as well as a lot cooler.

 

[Kaido]

I ended up picking up one of the gigabyte i5-4570R; all i can say is it runs a bit warmer than I would like. When playnig any sort of game (wasteland for example) the system pegs at 80C. Whta concerns me the most if the heat received by the wifi/msata ssd (which seem to run close to 65C).
-
During normal stuff like web browsing the cpu tends to be around 50C and the ssd 55C.
-
I think I would find a snapdragon 820 solution faster (cpu is a little slower but GPU is a lot faster) and a lot less expensive; as well as a lot cooler.

I think the noise is what bothers me the most. I like having the more powerful quad-core CPU, but if you're in a quiet environment like an office or a bedroom, it can get pretty noisy. I tend to stick with the dual-core laptop chip NUC/BRIX models in those situations, but they're not quite as nice for power users.

 

[Kaido]

More info on the 5x5 Mini-STX systems:

http://liliputing.com/2016/01/the-f...ds-based-on-intels-5x5-platform-are-here.html

Those look SICK! These have the potential to really kick off Steam machines in the living room...

 

[Essence_of_War]

Still nothing with dual intel nic's, though, right? :/

 

[Blue_Max]

More info on the 5x5 Mini-STX systems:

http://liliputing.com/2016/01/the-f...ds-based-on-intels-5x5-platform-are-here.html

Those look SICK! These have the potential to really kick off Steam machines in the living room...

Not without PCIe it won't. Without enhanced graphics, I just don't see the point. Well.... it's cool...

 

[Kaido]

Not without PCIe it won't. Without enhanced graphics, I just don't see the point. Well.... it's cool...

Per the OP, the rumor is:

Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C external video card

So it would be a tiny PC with a quad-core CPU, but with an optional external GPU chassis for big-boy gaming capabilities. In theory. Intel is being mum on the details:

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/49610/intels-nuc-compute-stick-faster-skull-canyon/index.html

A month ago, Intel teased the community with Skull Canyon, dubbed, "The Most Powerful NUC Ever." I had a chance to handle the product, and can confirm its existence, but I was not allowed to publish pictures. Past confirming its existence and the fact that it is a real product, Intel was not keen on having us disclose any more details. I can say that Skull Canyon looks a bit different from the typical NUC, and if anything has a form designed to support function instead of trying to look like a cube. The product was not finalized, and everything from here on out is pretty much conjecture on my part. By the looks of the product, it should support the latest in storage and transfer technologies, and I would hope that includes Thunderbolt 3.

If Skull Canyon supports Thunderbolt 3, then for the first time we might have an external port capable of supporting external graphics, and manufacturers might have an excuse to produce external GPU enclosures for mainstream consumption. Thunderbolt 3 supports up to 40Gbps, which would provide enough PCI-E lanes for operation (at least 4x lanes), but it is not close to the 128Gbps you can get on a motherboard. However, I would not get too excited. It took months for Thunderbolt 3 motherboards to hit the market since Intel's validation process takes so long, so it might take time for this concept to come to fruition. On the upside, Razer did announce its "Razer Core" for external graphics capabilities over Thunderbolt 3, and I would expect it and any other future external graphics docks to be pricey.

The new NUCs also have a 32Gb/s M.2 slot with a thermal pad, so there's some pretty exciting possibilities for performance in a compact package.

 

[Hugo Drax]

I placed an order for the new NUC Kit NUC6i5SYH. I have watched by the sidelines for years but finally jumped on the bandwagon, it now seems a good value proposition. For 389 dollars you get a nice little powerful box with Iris 540 (64mb edram) Wifi, bluetooth and plenty of connectivity options (usb 3, internal sata for 2.5, SD card slot) displayport support for 4k monitor.

I already have a 256gb Samsung 840 pro laying around so all I had to do is buy the ram. (16gb ram)

I plan on running Ubuntu on it. But it also looks like this little box can be an ESX host as well it supports Vt-d. I will be running Gnu Radio driving my Ettus B200 fpga sdr.

http://www.ettus.com/product/details/UB200-KIT



It looks to be smaller than my 2012 i7 mac mini
Will the M.2 port support those insane performance Samsung 950 pro nvme drives?

 

[Kaido]

I placed an order for the new NUC Kit NUC6i5SYH. I have watched by the sidelines for years but finally jumped on the bandwagon, it now seems a good value proposition. For 389 dollars you get a nice little powerful box with Iris 540 (64mb edram) Wifi, bluetooth and plenty of connectivity options (usb 3, internal sata for 2.5, SD card slot) displayport support for 4k monitor.

I already have a 256gb Samsung 840 pro laying around so all I had to do is buy the ram. (16gb ram)

I plan on running Ubuntu on it. But it also looks like this little box can be an ESX host as well it supports Vt-d. I will be running Gnu Radio driving my Ettus B200 fpga sdr.

http://www.ettus.com/product/details/UB200-KIT



It looks to be smaller than my 2012 i7 mac mini
Will the M.2 port support those insane performance Samsung 950 pro nvme drives?

I'm thinking about getting the same model. I got a 32gb RAM kit & it doesn't work on the GTX760 BRIX :'( but it still needs a good home. As far as the 950 goes, should work fine. The internal M.2 is 22x42 or 22x80 & the M.2 slot supports both NVMe & AHCI SSD's. Per Samsung: (22x80)

M.2 is a specification of form factor for ultra-thin PCs, The M.2 standard allows widths 12, 16, 22 and 30mm and lengths of 16, 26, 30, 38, 42, 60, 80 and 110 mm, Commercially M.2 is popular with width 22mm and lengths 30, 42, 60 , 80 and 110mm. Samsung provides the most popular form factor with 22mm X 80mm model (i.e., 2280) to consider user convenience.

It actually appears supported since last year's model:

http://www.pcper.com/reviews/System...adwell-and-Iris-Graphics/Insides-NVMe-Support

I wish they had a terabyte model out, but I'll probably give the MZ-V5P512BW a try in this one. I'll report back if I go that route.

 

[Kaido]

I placed an order for the new NUC Kit NUC6i5SYH.

My biggest problem is that the 6th-gen NUC's don't officially support Windows 7, which is what I want to run on it (8 & 10 only, although I did find Win7 drivers on their support site when I poked around). Intel did backtrack & say Skylake will support Windows 7, but that doesn't mean they have to release NUC drivers for it as a platform:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3024...o-chips-will-support-windows-7-after-all.html

And even then, I'd have to patch in NVMe support for the Samsung M.2 2280 SSD, so it's a big maybe all around for Win7 support. Plus currently, there is no option for a desktop quad-core & no option for a real video card - I have to go back a couple (noisy) generations to get that. And it's a mixed bag even with Skylake...Intel only goes up to i5 & I want the i7, which Gigabyte offers, but the BRIX Skylake i7 says it only supports a max of 16 gigs of RAM. Supposedly the Skull Trail NUC will be a quad-core beast, but no ETA or info on that. So I don't have an effective way of using my 32gb kit without going to Win10 (Win8 is useless) & I don't have solid manufacturer's support on the 6th-gen NUC for Win7.

Bah

 

[pete6032]

I think a NUC with a high desktop processor and best IGP is a perfectly grand idea. I'm surprised no one has made a tiny box housed around an A10-7600 or something. (There was a BRIX with something similar but MUCH lower - I think you bought one, V.L.!)

I'd love one even if it were a little larger than current models in order to accommodate a near-80mm fan to cool the thing silently. House the SSD/lappy drive down underneath the motherboard and leave the entire top 3/4 of space for a tiny mobo centered around its CPU socket and an effective cooler. Case only just big enough to house the whole structure which has a good dust filtered vent system that's easy to clean (even if it requires cleaning more often than your standard desktop...)

Just my $0.02

Two options:
Zotac Zbox EN760 (i5-4200U, Geforce GTX 860M)
http://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-dual-core-Processor-OS-Barebone-ZBOX-EN760-U/dp/B00KX8OX2K

HP Elitedesk 705 G1 Mini A8-7600B APU
http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-elitedesk-705-g1-desktop-mini-pc-(energy-star)-p-j6d13ut-aba--1

 

[Hugo Drax]

I am running my NUC 6i5SYH with 16gb of ram (Hyper-x DDR4-2133 CL 13) and an 840 PRO 256gb ssd.

Install is idiot proof, took like 5 minutes to install drive, memory and close it up. plop on desk, hook up, stick Ubuntu 15.10 usb, turn on and done.

It is amazingly tiny, smaller than my Mac Mini, it sits on a corner section of it.

Everything works, The Ubuntu install was quick and Wireless/bluetooth work, GPU drivers already installed.

Dragged a VM from my nas and plopped it into the machine and loaded virtualbox and everything works.

Snappy graphics, fast. The case is nice quality aluminum and looks built well.

Amazing how powerful and energy efficient computing has become.

This box can definitely replace a PC for like 80% of people, it has more than enough horsepower and performance,

 

[smakme7757]

I really love these little units.

I've actually got 3 haswell NUCs at the moment. My use case is a little different to most other people. I've got them in a Hyper-V cluster for lab purposes, but theyt are really fantastic. Get one of these* and then you have a NUC with 3xEthernet(1Gps) ports.

So they are great for under the TV or as a small desktop, but also as little servers if one is so inclined

*http://www.startech.com/Networking-...thernet-Adapter-NIC-with-USB-Port~USB32000SPT

 

[Hugo Drax]

I really love these little units.

I've actually got 3 haswell NUCs at the moment. My use case is a little different to most other people. I've got them in a Hyper-V cluster for lab purposes, but theyt are really fantastic. Get one of these* and then you have a NUC with 3xEthernet(1Gps) ports.

So they are great for under the TV or as a small desktop, but also as little servers if one is so inclined

*http://www.startech.com/Networking-...thernet-Adapter-NIC-with-USB-Port~USB32000SPT

Nice, how much CPU does that pull when pushing traffic through it. They pack a punch those NUCs.

Next to my Mac Mini it looks so tiny. A machine that fits in your palm and outperforms a C90 from 1992 which cost millions back then. You tell anyone that such a thing would exist in 92 and they would think your insane.

 

[Kaido]

Nice, how much CPU does that pull when pushing traffic through it. They pack a punch those NUCs.

Next to my Mac Mini it looks so tiny. A machine that fits in your palm and outperforms a C90 from 1992 which cost millions back then. You tell anyone that such a thing would exist in 92 and they would think your insane.

Especially now with the HDMI stick computers & OLED screens. The 2016 LG models are only 2.57mm thick! There are crystal-clear LED projectors that fit in the palm of your hand & throw up a nice big 100" picture on the wall. So much cool stuff available these days, it's crazy!

 

[Kaido]

Bah, got bit by a compatibility issue. Bought a combo M.2/mSATA adapter, but it doesn't fit the Samsung 950! Turns out my adapter has a B-keyed M.2 slot & the 950 Pro uses an M-keyed M.2 slot. My ZTC adapter (which I'm using with a SATA to USB adapter as an external reader) only fits B-keyed drives like the one from the HP Stream Mini.

http://www.amazon.com/ZTC-Thunder-Board-Adapter-ZTC-AD002/dp/B00KFRVVU6/

Now I need to find an M-keyed USB adapter, not a B or B/M (B/M doesn't actually have the M-key notch required, nor the width) adapter. Back to the drawing board!

 

[Blue_Max]

Dang tempting local deal on a used Intel NUC... but it's the skinny type that forces me to buy an expensive M2 SSD

 

[Kaido]

Anyone want a Skylake box with support for (4) 2.5" drives?

http://liliputing.com/2016/01/asus-vivomini-vc65-mini-pc-supports-four-2-5-inch-storage-drives.html

Asus VivoMini VC65: Several configurations available, including a RAID model and a model with storage modules for stuff like an optical disc drive. Includes (6) USB 3.0 ports, HDMI/DisplayPort/VGA, serial port (oooh!), SD reader, and 802.11ac. Internal 2.5" hard drives currently go up to 2TB: ($100)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8HW32J1118

Internal 2.5" SSD drives currently go up to 3.84TB: ($2,000)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX3NX5989

I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this one...

 

[Blue_Max]

Anyone want a Skylake box with support for (4) 2.5" drives?

http://liliputing.com/2016/01/asus-vivomini-vc65-mini-pc-supports-four-2-5-inch-storage-drives.html

Not bad... for those with lots of drives lying around. It's like a Drobo with a NUC combined.

Once you have *four* 2.5 drives in there, you could have a single 3.5" and an m2 or 2.5" SSD for bigger+cheaper storage. [shrug] Seems like an odd choice.

...but I'm always happy to see bigger SSD drives!