Reviews - Intel NUC D54250WYK (22nm Haswell)

[HEXUS]

Haswell-equipped NUC a step in the right direction?

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[Wozza63]

This is where we need small graphics cards that we can put in, would make this an awesome mini gaming machine

[walibe]

This is where we need small graphics cards that we can put in, would make this an awesome mini gaming machine

This is true. It's the only thing holding it back for all out PC replacement. It also makes the Mac mini look rather large with similar specs although a complete redesign of that is on the cards. I think it was many years ago in a Shuttle review that Hexus predicted that regular PCS would fall out of favour to smaller efficient PCs and with these that could one day be the case. More manufactures need to get on board though which will drive down prices.

[ik9000]

This is where we need small graphics cards that we can put in, would make this an awesome mini gaming machine

or if people sorted out whatever politics is stopping them from releasing thunderbolt enabled external GPU enclosures (it has been shown to be possible) it would be problem solved. Mini PC with optional gaming enclosure. Suddenly travelling to a LAN would be sooo much easier.

[b0redom]

I see this has a SATA header. Does it have a SATA power feed too? Pretty pointless if not.

[scaryjim]

I see this has a SATA header. Does it have a SATA power feed too? Pretty pointless if not.

Looks like a black SATA power connector just to the left (in Hexus' pictures) of the SATA drive connector? It probably doesn't come with the cable for it, mind you (maybe you get the cables if you buy the board without the enclosure...?)

[b0redom]

Looks like this + the new Akasa fanless enclosure could be a winning combo for my low end gaming / emulator / HTPC setup then. All I have to do is find somewhere which stocks it!

[DonRosh]

Why not make it a bit larger with normal desktop processors and even larger and PCIe graphics expandabled. Like XL and XXL model.

There's no point in going extra-small and then connect it to 24" monitor or 50" TV.

I'd rather buy a laptop. But my dusty big box next to my TV is quite annoing. Would really apreciate something with similar specs 5 times smaller. Something I could put behind or under my TV.
For laptop specs no cutenes or a tad lover price would not convince me to just buy a laptop and place it on a shelf below my TV.

[Thorburn]

This is where we need small graphics cards that we can put in, would make this an awesome mini gaming machine

I've got one of these and to be honest if you're realistic in your expectations then you can get by in quite a few games. 1080p is pushing it for what is an Ultrabook CPU and GPU, but drop down 1280x720 or 1366x768 and it'll get by in most stuff.

Arkham City gets over 30fps:


Battlefield 4 is playable too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6t1ZB1SD6I

I've got a bunch more gameplay videos on it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...7JI9lPsw8iYEV_

Okay so I don't abandon my desktop system to play on this, but set up as a media centre with some emulators and indie games on it it works beautifully.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Any chance Hexus can run its standard gaming benchmarks to see how it fairs against other IGPs??

[ik9000]

Any chance Hexus can run its standard gaming benchmarks to see how it fairs against other IGPs??

yes, that would be an interesting comparison. +1

[jimbouk]

The only thing I can't forgive: "equipped with mini-HDMI (v1.2) and mini-DisplayPort (v1.2)". There's room on the back for full sized ones, use them. It's not like it's a super thin laptop or tablet without space. Stop being annoying like Apple and use normal connectors.

[Alistair]

Would really like to see how the HD 5000 Graphics would handle video playback using madvr. Can't decide whether to try one of these for my next htpc build or the AMD A10 7850K when it gets released in the middle of the month

[walibe]

I just wish there were i7 versions and I can have a dedicated ripping / windows box alongside my iMac as the full tower sat under my desk just looks out of place and is loud. I may need to gown down the Mac mini path which oddly for an Apple product, isn't as compromised as this is....

External graphics cards are not the way to go, better integrated performance is and right now AMD may have the better offerings.

[ik9000]

I just wish there were i7 versions and I can have a dedicated ripping / windows box alongside my iMac as the full tower sat under my desk just looks out of place and is loud. I may need to gown down the Mac mini path which oddly for an Apple product, isn't as compromised as this is....

External graphics cards are not the way to go, better integrated performance is and right now AMD may have the better offerings.

I entirely disagree. Small on board GPU for travelling (laptops as well as these little boxes) and an enclosure for home, or if you really have to lug it for a one off presentation/LAN session etc. The tech is there, but word on the street is Intel "discourage" people from making products that do it. That's not to say don't improve onboard GPU, but as with discreet cards, the power penalty comes with increasing the capability, and for battery life on the go that is not a good thing to have always running. There comes a point at which it is best to have a moderately capable onboard for 90% of the time, and flex to hook up for more grunt the other 100% of the time. It's like optimus but moving the better GPU offboard. Benefit = upgradability, no hampering of "mobile" GPU limitations, and in theory better portability + power life of the device when used without the external enclosure.

[JGJones]

I'm surprised there's no Thunderbolt connection. It would greatly benefit the system by giving much more expansion possible to it. Yes I know Thunderbolt prices are silly at the moment, but, if Intel want their Thunderbolt to take off, it need pushing. Otherwise it's currently going the way of Firewire.

For example I've often wondered how would the NUC be if I could just plug in a GPU box via Thunderbolt. As it stand, for a typical home user - it'll just be an "Internet box", or a media server/player. Although it might well be a possible streaming Steambox although I think a much cheaper system would just as well since it only need to show the video output.