Intel NUC 4th generation with Core i5 processor - review

Is Intel's tiny NUC computer a miniature desktop replacement or DIY curio?

The fourth generation of Intel's NUC (Next Unit of Computing - whatever the heck that means) has arrived, and the company finally seems to have made some excellent decisions around the little kit that could.

The NUC basically seeks to replace the cumbersome desktop computer with a tiny box, stuffing a variety of ultrabook-size components into its elegant chassis, all ready to be tucked behind your monitor, or even clasped to its back with the provided mounting plate. At just 4.6" x 4.4" x 1.36" it's an incredibly dinky machine.

But sporting an Intel Core i5-4250U dual core 1.3GHz microprocessor, it's no slouch. Add the four USB 3.0 ports and both micro-HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs, a 3.5mm audio jack and even an infra-red control receiver, and you realise it's potentially a versatile offering, too.

And there's something else Intel is going for with the NUC, and that's an attempt to hark back to the days of kit computing - or at the very least, giving users the opportunity to add custom components, as in the PC heyday of the 1990s. To this end, the inside of the case sports two 1.35V SO-DIMM memory slots, a PCI Express half-length connector, as a well as a full size one.

There's even a six gigabit per second (Gb/s) SATA connector in there, although the case Intel ships this NUC board in won't accommodate even the smallest regular hard drives. Hence, you'd need to buy the board on its own, without the case (also possible) in order to attempt such a feat.

Components, however, are sold separately, and this could be the major hurdle for any IT manager thinking of buying a fleet of NUCs into a space-conscious office setup.

The machine itself retails at around £300, but for that you get basically nothing to make it function. Unlike earlier versions, though, Intel has at least decided to include a mains adapter with the fourth generation edition, but for memory, storage and wireless cards, you're on your own.

The two four-gigabyte (GB) DDR3 DIMMS Intel provided with our review machine made it more than speedy enough for the chores we set it, but this amount of memory will also weigh in at more than £100 from most suppliers (it's upgradable to 16GB for those with bottomless pockets).

Add the 180GB SSD hard drive and wireless (and Bluetooth) card we were provided with, and you're suddenly looking at the initial layout of £300 expanding to way over the £500 mark. Not too bad for an ultrabook of equivalent power, but the NUC doesn't occupy that space.

Sure, you could theoretically slip it into your bag to take on the road, but you'll then need to transport a micro-HDMI cable, a keyboard, a mouse and any external storage you may happen to need.

As a result, it's not so much the no-brainer you may have originally considered: we tried carting the whole thing into the office every day on a couple of occasions and it wasn't fun, especially the time we forgot the micro-HDMI and there were no spares lying around. It's BYOD alright, but the D could well stand for disappointment.

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Intel NUC 4th generation with Core i5 processor - review

Is Intel's tiny NUC computer a miniature desktop replacement or DIY curio?

Still, the NUC is an extremely capable performer, even left in just one place. The core i5 Haswell chip is fast, and extremely light on power consumption as well.

It can handle daily tasks with complete ease: open as many browser windows as you like, virtual desktop into the office in multiple sessions - the NUC won't be taxed by any of it.

Even games performed really rather well, the on-board Intel HD 5000 handling most of the stuff we threw at it, despite one or two extremely specific compatibility errors with the hardware (Grand Theft Auto IV, sadly, being among them). But if your typical pleasures are games of two or more years old, you can largely run everything at native with a fair amount of post-production for gorgeous visuals.

It's a good job the Intel i5 microprocessor and the graphics hardware do a fair old job, because these are the only parts of the NUC you're unable to replace, which is another consideration for tinkerers or any organisation on a five-year technology turnaround in the office.

Meanwhile, the wireless capabilities were excellent, working a couple of rooms away from the Wi-Fi router with ease, and Bluetooth had a respectable range of function, too.

It has to be said that the relief in clearing floor space, coupled with the ongoing disbelief that an entire Windows 8-driven fast desktop environment is operating utterly silently from the back of the desk, is a feature to be reckoned with. Apple does an equivalent Mac Mini for £500, too, but the form factor is considerably larger. It also can't be tinkered with in quite the same way.

As with so many things, the NUC i5 appeals to a very specific kind of use case. If your office is small, and you want to buy in mass, and you have access to wholesale purchase of the components you'll need, and require a large enough quantity to make it viable, it could be just what you need.

But beware of considering the machine a compromise between ultrabook and desktop - it's really not so portable in practice, and an ultrabook is probably still your best friend. The customisation angle also feels more trifle than necessity.

But for footprint alone, the NUC i5 is still a very special creation. A more than robust office machine, an excellent media centre and a worthwhile gaming device on the side, it could occupy almost any role in the home, office or inbetween, with minimal physical fuss. Just remember that this versatility will cost you a few more bucks.

Pros

Tiny footprint for a desktop-quality device
Customisable component loadout
Low power use

Cons

Relatively expensive for specs
Processor cannot be upgraded
Not particularly portable

Score

4/5