Intel NUC as it is. Broadwell based Intel NUC5i5RYH review: new NUC is better than the old two

11.05.2019 Iron

Flaws

A comment

I installed ubuntu 18 on it. All drivers were installed automatically. The memory was selected on the intel website. It loads a little slow in my opinion.

Complain Did the review help? 0 0

A comment

To pack the drivers for the seven (All ports are 3.0, by default there is no firewood for them in the 7th), you must use Windows 8.1 or 10, there are no problems.

Complain Did the review help? 0 1

Flaws

A comment

1. Bought for the office, they justify themselves, there is enough performance. I am very pleased with the opportunity to independently stick more operatives, and install an SSD.
2. I took myself one of the same for home as a media center (but the one with Intel), a full-fledged HDMI port and a digital optical output for connecting the receiver were very useful. TV at home is just FullHD, I don’t need 4K, so it’s more than a good machine for my purposes!

Complain Did the review help? 12 10

The most important thing is that in the description there is not a word about the HDD height limit of 9 mm, you can’t put a 1-2 TB screw in and you had to bend the iron in the sled to push the screw under the cover. Although the box directly and clearly states that there is such a restriction.

Enter the HDD height limit of 9 mm in the description.

Flaws

A modest description of the characteristics on the site can fail.A comment

I will fight for the installation of Win 7 x32 on this crumb.

Complain Did the review help? 8 13

It does not take up space, in combination with an SSD it is a fairly fast machine for the office, with a pentium on board, of course, it is faster, but also more expensive.Flaws

USB drivers

In recent years, tablets and laptops have become increasingly popular over conventional desktop systems. But sometimes they cannot provide sufficient performance and functionality for little money. And the PCs themselves are not mobile enough and take up too much space.

Therefore, there was a need to create computers that would be both compact and, at the same time, allow you to use most of the functions without restrictions. A minicomputer from Intel called the Next Unit of Computing () is one of those. The company really considers such systems to be the future of computers, and not at all the next implementation of the concept of nettops, monoblocks or anything like that.

What is NUC

NUC is essentially a kind of personal computer form factor. The device is a small box-case, usually measuring 10 by 10 cm. Despite their small size, they are absolutely not inferior in power to most PCs. NUC is convenient to use as a home multimedia center, for use at work and at home at the same time, and even for games. It can easily be placed next to a keyboard on a desk, or attached to the back of a monitor using the included VESA bracket.

Working with a mini PC will require connecting a keyboard, mouse and screen - this can be done in a matter of minutes. At the same time, the prices for such devices, depending on the configuration, are quite affordable: they start from 3-4 million rubles.

What are these devices capable of?

As described above, the NUC is capable of doing everything that modern PCs can. At the same time, the entire line of Intel processors from mobile processors Atom to professional Core i7. Intel NUC can display an image on the monitor in resolutions from Full HD to 4K, depending on the power of the device. The NUC comes standard with several USB ports (version 3.0 with support for fast charging), an HDMI output for connecting a screen and audio, an input for memory cards, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, an audio input (7.1 support is available), and DisplayPort ports are also present. that can be used to connect multiple monitors. There is also an Ethernet input, through which you can use a network LAN cable for data transfer and Internet connection.

After connecting all the necessary components and installing the OS, the NUC works like a full-fledged personal computer. At the same time, unlike the same laptops, the mini-PC from Intel practically does not heat up. Many NUC models have a built-in ventilation system, but there are kits without using a direct fan that also show excellent temperature indicators under high load. And the use of such a cooling system, coupled with the use of SSD media, makes the NUC absolutely silent - the most comfortable use.

What are the benefits of using such a system?

Being quite small and portable enough, the NUC is great for those who travel frequently. The device will appeal to those who like to select components individually: the kit, in fact, comes with a case, motherboard and processor, RAM modules and a drive are purchased separately - all this, although it requires purchase costs and installation time, but allows you to choose and configure it yourself device for your own use. NUC can be attached to back cover your monitor and TV - it will neither make noise nor overheat, and most importantly - take up a minimum of space. This is a great option for offices and home users. The development of online services and cloud technologies makes it possible to abandon bulky computers with noisy hard drives and a bunch of fans. Based on the NUC, you can also implement, for example: a solution for a conference room, a video surveillance system, an automated retail kiosk, an information panel (for a restaurant, airport, store).

The use of such a device allows you to practically get rid of wires that are so annoying and unpleasant to the eye: the connection to the Internet is carried out via Wi-Fi, with peripheral devices– via Bluetooth. You just need to connect the display and power. It is especially pleasing to note, given the increase in prices for public utilities that Intel NUC has low power consumption (12 Wh) - almost 3 times less than laptops, and 20 times more economical than PCs.

What's Included

Usually, in addition to the mini-PC itself, the box contains a power supply, a mounting cover and a set of bolts. For full-fledged work devices will have to purchase a SO-DDR RAM module, an mSATA (or 2.5 ”SATA) form factor drive. Therefore, just unpack the device and immediately start using it will not work. The latest generation device is a black and silver parallelepiped with rounded edges. By the way, the top black cover is decorative and can be used for branding or applying other information or decoration: engraving, thermal printing, stickers and many other options. On the side faces are various ports and ventilation slots. Power is connected to the NUC through a special socket, located among other connectors on the back of the case.

What technologies are supported by Intel NUC

The mini-PC uses its own Intel® HD Graphics for image processing, which is built into the processor - thanks to it, you can easily work with photos, videos and even play on the NUC (the same World of Tanks will comfortably run in FullHD resolution). As described above, the devices have a DisplayPort input, with which you can connect up to 3 monitors at the same time. Also responsible for sound. own system Intel® High Definition Audio- some models are equipped with connectors for connecting acoustics / microphone, some use audio transmission via HDMI. At the same time, 7.1 surround sound is also available, which is very convenient when using the NUC as a home theater.

The device works with full versions of the OS - from Windows 10 to Ubuntu and Linux. Wireless connectivity uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and Intel® Wireless Display 6.0 technology.

Conclusion

- This high performance in a small, attractive package. If you need a small desktop system for your main PC or home theater, then the Intel NUC with the latest processor solutions is a great option. This is an ultra-convenient option for both productive and mobile device, which is suitable for both corporate solutions, retail outlets, and for the home. small size, a minimum of wires and ease of use will allow you to find a lot of options for using the Intel NUC.

Everything flows, everything changes, but the passion for miniaturization remains constant. At first, computers were room computers, since they occupied huge areas and worked at a speed slightly higher than a simple adding machine. Then they moved into the category of outdoor, somewhat reminiscent of their appearance ordinary household refrigerator. But progress did not stand still, and they quickly began to fit under an ordinary table. In this capacity, they often remain to this day. But as it usually happens, not all users dream of a large PC, because now the fashion for powerful laptops has come, since putting a box ATX form factor(the standard for motherboard dimensions is 305 × 244 mm), developed back in 1995, many do not raise their hands. The race for miniaturization demanded new "heights", and manufacturing companies responded by developing their own mini- and microcomputer formats. This is how Mini-ITX, Nano-ITX, Pico-ITX and other UTX, ETX and XTX appeared. did not stay away and Intel, which produces its mini PCs based on its own 4×4-inch (approximately 100×100 mm) UCFF board, the first models of which appeared at the beginning of this decade. These Mini PCs are called NUC (Next Unit of Computing). And if at first it was planned to use them in various digital kiosks and as a small auxiliary computer, now these kids have already begun to confidently win their place on the tables of office workers and ordinary home users. And what is encouraging, this impulse (or breakthrough) was picked up by some of the leading manufacturers of computer equipment, starting the production of mini-PCs of this form factor.

At present, Intel has launched the seventh generation of these indispensable assistants. model Intel series NUC 7 includes more than 15 models and kits, as well as two motherboards for DIY enthusiasts. They are processor based. Intel Core i3, i5, i7 of the latest generation, which have absorbed all the best that is on this moment: full support Thunderbolt technology 3, new Intel Iris and Iris Plus graphics, support for Intel Optane storage technology and many other technical solutions that make the Intel NUC mini PC full computers capable of replacing the usual boxes with ATX boards in the office and at home.

This review will look at two mini PCs made by Intel, which essentially differ only in the processor used. One of them has Intel processor Core i3-7100U (NUC7i3BNHXF) and the other is Intel Core i5-7260U (NUC7i5BNHXF), but both have more than just support for modern technology data storage - Optane, and installed modules made using this technology.

The mini PC comes in a small box, done in Intel's usual bluish-blue colors. On the front side there is an image of the device and a large inscription indicating that the mini-PC belongs to the Intel NUC family. The model name is indicated in the left upper corner. It is not entirely correct, because the box contains not NUC7i5BNH, but NUC7i5BNHXF. The situation is similar with a computer based on the i3 processor. Probably boxes for new computers from this series are not ready yet. This, of course, will be corrected for mass sales, but in any case, you should pay attention to the sticker (in our case, it is located on the bottom side of the package) where the product model, serial number, etc. necessary information which the buyer rarely pays attention to.

On the left side of the package it is indicated that this PC is based on an Intel Core i5 processor (or i3 for the second device); has integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics with support for 4K resolution (in the case of the i3 processor, the integrated graphics are Intel HD Graphics 620); has Windows 10 Home OS preinstalled; that the PC RAM is based on 4 GB DDR4-2400 modules; that in addition to a 1 TB hard drive, it has a 16 GB Intel Optane memory module; and also has all the necessary ports for connecting external devices.

On reverse side The packaging of the Intel NUC 7 indicates the standards supported by the mini-PC and it is separately emphasized that, unlike many similar devices, this device has a manufacturer's warranty of 3 years, which is a lot in our age of rapidly outdated moral computer technology.

On the right side of the box, the back side of the Intel NUC 7 mini-PC is shown, from which the buyer can evaluate the number and range of connectors for connecting external devices.

The box contains both the mini PC itself and a metal mounting plate for mounting the Intel NUC 7 to the wall (all necessary screws are included), very good block power supply from a reliable manufacturer FSP with a set of plugs for different types connectors and of course all the necessary instructions for use and connection. Nothing extra. Network adapter FSP065-10AABA works in networks alternating current from 100 to 240 V with a frequency of 50-60 Hz and provides an output voltage of 19 V at a current of up to 3.43 A (i.e. almost 65 W). Separately, it should be said about the installation panel for mounting the mini-PC to the wall. This makes it possible to completely free the table from the computer, fixing it and the monitor on the wall, and connect the keyboard and mouse wirelessly. This is the future of office and home computing, and it's already knocking on the door.

SpecificationsIntelNUC7 models NUC7i5BNHXF and NUC7i3BNHXF

	ModelNUC7i5BNHXF	ModelNUC7i3 BNHXF
CPU	Intel Core i5-7260U (4M Cache, 3.4GHz)	Intel Core i3-7100U (3M Cache, 2.4 GHz)
operating system	Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
GPU	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 (1 GB)	Intel HD Graphics 620
		1×4 GB (DDR4, 2400 MHz) (maximum - 32 GB). Two SO-DIMM sockets
		2.5" SATA III HDD up to 1TB (WDC WD10JPVX-22JC3T0) 16 GB Intel Optane module installed in M.2 socket
Wireless interfaces		Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with Bluetooth 4.2 (Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265)
Interfaces	1 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) 1× DisplayPort 1.2 (USB-C) 1×Infrared receiver 1×Audio Jack (L+R+mic)	1× DisplayPort 1.2 (USB-C) 1×RJ45 LAN (Ethernet 10/100/1000Mbps) 1×Infrared receiver 1×Audio Jack (L+R+mic)
card reader

Unlike the design of the sixth generation, the new Intel NUC 7 is focused primarily on desktop use and the power button is therefore moved from the top to the front panel, which is illuminated with dim LEDs during operation, which only decorates this device. This front panel also houses USB 3.0 and 3.1 connectors, which many consumers will use to connect a keyboard and mouse; as well as an Audio Jack connector, which is required to connect a headset. In other words, all the minimum required connectors are placed on the front panel and are always in the direct access zone.

On the left side of the case, discreetly (although the necessary signatures are present) is an SD card reader (SDXC) and Kensington Security Lock, which directly indicates that this mini PC is primarily intended for office use. This lock is not any reliable protection against targeted theft, but often saves from "passing".

The image shows the back panels of both Intel NUC 7s, with the top one on an Intel Core i3 processor and the bottom one on an Intel Core i5 processor. They almost do not differ from each other. Both have connectors: for power supply, HDMI output for connecting a monitor, RJ45 LAN for connecting to a network, two USB port 3.0. The only difference is that a PC based on an Intel Core i5 has a Thunderbolt 3 port with a connector type-C, while its less powerful counterpart has a Type-C connector in its place USB support 3.1/DisplayPort 1.2. Therefore, the buyer of the older version should pay special attention to the purchase of a cable for this connector (not included in the package), since according to the specification, the Thunderbolt 3 port supports data transfer up to 40 Gb / s, while USB 3.1 only up to 10 Gb / s. Therefore, in order to successfully implement all the capabilities of the device, the buyer will need to make the right choice of cable for the port he has. Above the connectors in the case of these mini-PCs there are holes for forced ventilation, but not from the entire board (they are located on both sides of the case), but exclusively from the processor.

At the bottom of the Intel NUC 7, in addition to four rubberized feet, which are necessary to ensure stability and reduce slippage when it is placed on the table, there are technical stickers that indicate the model, its serial number, by whom and when it was produced.

The case is not protected from curious users. If you unscrew the screws that secure the rubber feet, you will immediately have access to the installed hard drive. This will allow, if necessary, it is easy and simple to replace it at home. Fortunately, no serious knowledge on the part of the user is required for this.

Under the hard drive is the Intel NUC 7 mini-PC motherboard, which has a double-sided mounting and is only 4 × 4 inches in size. It is fixed on a metal chassis, which is inserted into the case, which allows you to freely remove it if necessary. Access to memory modules is completely free, which is convenient for replacing or expanding them. To replace or expand the RAM, the Intel NUC 7 provides two SO-DIMM slots, which allows you to expand it from the standard 4 to a maximum of 32 GB. It is unlikely that anyone will decide to replace the Intel Optane module made using the most modern 3D XPoint technology, which is installed in the M.2 slot and has a form factor 2280.

The processor is located on the back of the motherboard. Depending on the model, either an Intel Core i3 or the latest generation Intel Core i5 is installed, supporting all the latest technological innovations. The processor is covered by a small but efficient and at the same time quite quiet radial-type fan manufactured by Delta Electronics BSB05505HP-SM with a diameter of 55 mm. The cooler supports fan rotation control via PWM and in its essence is very similar to models used in modern laptops.

Intel Optane

Intel is known for its love of innovation, especially when it comes to SSDs. Talk about a new generation of devices has been going on for a very long time, and not so long ago, the first products for the consumer market under the Intel Optane brand appeared, based on the 3D XPoint technology jointly developed by Intel and Micron. It's not NAND or DRAM. If you do not go into the nuances, then it is distinguished from the first by a higher speed and significantly increased wear resistance, and from the second by an increased data storage density. One of the main strengths of 3D XPoint memory is its longer durability, which experts say is about 20 times higher than that of current flash memory chips. type MLC NAND. The only thing that keeps this technology from conquering the market computer components- Very high price and therefore, Intel currently produces only one type of module for the consumer market with a capacity of 16 and 32 GB, designed for installation in the M2 socket (2280 form factor). Since the price of new types of memory is very high, Intel decided to follow the already beaten path and position the new drives not as a replacement for full-fledged SSDs, but as a kind of accelerator for installed drive. In fact, such an SSD is a huge cache for a much slower regular hard drive or even another SSD. We saw the same approach when first SSD- some manufacturers have released hybrid solutions that combine the capabilities of HDD and SSD. Some traditional disk manufacturers have used flash memory as a cache to read data quickly. Then Intel released the Z68 chipset with support for Smart Response technology, which used the SSD as a cache for any HDD, but using the capabilities of its proprietary driver. Subsequently, HDD manufacturers, trying to catch the outgoing SSD train, released new models of SSHD drives with write support. Now history is repeating itself, and Intel is releasing a cache for SSDs and HDDs based on a new generation of flash memory. Most likely, after a fairly short period of time, due to the development of this technology, new Optane products with low production costs will appear on the market. As a result, such devices will be able to seriously compete with the current generation of SSDs, which, in turn, will displace classic HDD drives from the user segment.

At the moment, two models have been released for the consumer market with a capacity of 16 GB (one 3D XPoint memory chip) and 32 GB (two 3D XPoint chips). Each of the models complies with the NVM Express 1.1 specification and uses only two PCI-Express lanes out of four possible. It is worth noting that the controller for Intel Optane is an internal development of the company, but we may still see it in similar solutions from Micron - QuantX. According to the technical specifications, the declared durability of the models is 100 GB of recorded data every day for 5 years.

A few words about how this technology works. So, Intel Optane technology is supported on Intel motherboards with 200 series chipset and above with 7th generation Intel Core processors. In this case, the UEFI BIOS of the board must be updated to latest version, that is, include the UEFI driver Intel RST 15.5 and higher. Since this technology can only work through a driver in UEFI, it will not work in the usual Legacy BIOS mode. Declared support for Windows 10 64-bit with installed driver Rapid Storage Technology version 15.5 and higher. In addition, the HDD or SSD drive, which will be accelerated using Intel Optane must be marked under GPT and have a few MB of free space for storing metadata. The Intel Optane module itself must be installed in an M.2 slot connected to the AHCI controller built into the chipset. After connecting, installing all necessary applications(this could be like separate utility, or just the RST driver) and activating the Intel Optane mode, the system will change the SATA controller mode in UEFI to Optane or RST (depending on the UEFI shell), and a new combined Optane Volume array will appear in the system, equal in volume to the accelerated drive.

In fact, all these installation steps are similar to activating the Intel Smart Response feature, but the process of how these technologies work is somewhat different. It should be noted right away that the 16 GB Intel Optane caching technology differs from the 32 GB version. If the former uses caching at the block access level, then the older model uses file caching in parallel, which allows you to achieve more impressive results by transferring only the most necessary files. The caching principle itself remains the same - at the moment the Intel Optane mode is activated, the driver transfers the data for loading the OS to the Optane Memory drive and places its metadata on the drives, after which the system reboots. The user will immediately notice the effect of acceleration, however, transferring, not copying, implies that if at some point the Optane drive fails, the system will no longer be able to boot, and the data on the accelerated drive will be difficult to recover. Subsequently, the driver will monitor the most frequently loaded data and copy it to the Optane caching drive. If in the case of block access, the decision to cache a particular block occurs instantly at the time of the I / O request, then in the case of file caching, the driver intelligently manages the cached data and caches them when idle. This, for example, allows you to exclude caching of video and other large files. In this case, the driver gives priority to the data requested by random access, since sequential operations reads are mainly for large files.

If we talk about testing this technology, then everything is not so clear. Synthetic tests can show completely opposite results, since caching algorithms are unpredictable. Yes, you can certainly get very high results, as in the first picture. At the same time, after a short period of time, the result can be quite the opposite.

It should also be noted that the strange point is that disabling / enabling Intel Optane technology does not always work correctly. Sometimes the utility shows that the technology is inactive, although in fact the newly minted combined drive is present in the system. However, all this can be attributed to the dampness of the software, since the drives themselves entered the market quite recently and have just appeared on sale.

Since the Intel NUCs that we received have 16 GB modules installed, the utility has statistics on cached data and the ability to quick reset cache is not available.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the release of Optane Memory is a good attempt by Intel to revive the somewhat stagnant market for SSD and HDD drives. If more capacious and, most importantly, affordable models appear in the future, which can be used not only as an intermediate caching solution, but also as the main drive, then the company may be able to gain a foothold in this market even more strongly. On the other hand, a very strict framework for the requirements for the hardware and software of a PC for installing this type of media nullifies its advantages. And the gain in caching speed is not so obvious, especially in comparison with the latest generation of high-speed SSDs.

UEFI BIOS

By itself, the UEFI BIOS used in these models is quite functional. Of course, there are no overclocking settings here.

According to the BIOS, idle temperatures are around 44 and 53 C (Core i3-7100U and Intel Core i5-7260U respectively), but it is possible to control the built-in fan using PWM.

There are some settings related to power consumption, booting from drives, and even infrared and TV.

Hardware stuffing

Intel NUC Mini PCs come with preinstalled system Windows 10 64-bit. In addition, on those devices where Intel Optane modules are already installed, they are activated by default, the user does not need to go through all the steps to connect them. In general, such a computer is ideal for leisurely work in the office or at home, because its characteristics are similar to modern laptops.

As mentioned earlier, received by us Intel models NUCs are based on Intel Core i3-7100U and Intel Core i5-7260U processors. These processors can be found in laptops, and their performance is enough to work with modern office applications and even play some popular games. Recall that the processors of this family are characterized by improved power consumption without switching to a new one. technological process. Since the Intel Core i3-7100U is the youngest in the line, it has a very modest power consumption, but at the same time it has a good integrated graphics core - Intel HD Graphics 620. The older model of the Intel Core i5-7260U processor has a more powerful graphics core- Intel Iris Pro.

At peak load, the processors heat up to 65 and 72 C, and the cooling system works almost silently. However, the cooling system is designed for even more powerful processors so she does a great job.

But in fact, it only seems so at first glance. In reality, under prolonged stress load, the cooling system of these mini-PCs does not cope with the task. The output of hot air towards the cables is not a very good solution. If we assume that the Intel Nuc will be suspended behind the TV, then at some point the cooling system will pick up so much dust that it will work at the limit. Given the lack of throttling in the younger model, this can lead to disastrous consequences. However, these are only assumptions, time will put everything in its place.

conclusions

In general, according to the characteristics, the Intel NUC models we reviewed are an excellent solution for replacing an office PC. It has all the modern interfaces, including wireless connectivity, a decent processor performance and an ultra-compact design. On the other hand, such a computer is not yet able to compete in price with monoblocks, because often a monoblock has more productive processors, and its cost, even taking into account the monitor, may be lower. That is why, with great care, the new generation of mini-computers can be positioned precisely as a replacement for the traditional PC.

On the other hand, we can confidently say that the new models are a worthy successor to the Intel NUC series of compact computers. The device has a balanced set of extensions and features with a very small volume. It is also so quiet that it can even be used in a child's room. Yes, since the device is very limited in size, it initially does not have the same upgrade options that the vast majority of PCs have. But in everyday life, at home or at work, we do not need super-supercomputing power or exotic capabilities that we best case We use it once a year, if we ever use it at all. Therefore, such a “baby” is of considerable interest to both the average user and entrepreneurs who want to have small and reliable devices in their offices.

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The task is to substantiate positive points in favor of choosing this Mini PC. In my opinion, this is the most powerful baby computer, thanks to the Intel® Core™ i5 4250U processor Comparison with other processors from Intel found. In general, I want to say that the Intel NUC D54250WYKH is a computer of the future (which has already arrived), a full replacement for an ordinary desktop computer.

Specifications and configurations:

CPU
Intel® Core™ i5 4250U (1.3 GHz, boostable to 2.6 GHz, 2 cores, 3 MB Smart Cache)
Memory
2 SO-DIMM sockets support up to 16GB DDR3L (1600/1333MHz 1.35V) memory modules (Note: 1.5V DDR3 memory modules are not supported)
Graphics adapters
Intel® HD Graphics 5000
1 HDMI* 1.4a; 1 x Mini DisplayPort*1 1.2, UHD support
Ability to connect 4K displays and multiple displays
1 x Mini HDMI* 1.4a
Audio subsystem
Intel® HD Audio2 via Mini HDMI 1.4a port
Mini DisplayPort 1.2 output supporting 8ch digital audio (7.1)
Intel HD Audio via analog stereo jack (microphone in/headphone out/speaker out)
Connecting Peripherals
4 Hi-Speed USB 3.0 ports (2 on the back, 2 on the front)
2 additional Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports via internal header
Storage System
Built-in support for 2.5-inch. hard drives or solid state drives(thickness up to 9.5 mm)
Network Connectivity
Ethernet port 10/100/1000 Mbps
Wireless antenna (integrated into the chassis)
Frame
Aluminium, silver color, black faceted top cap
Dimensions: 116.6 x 112 x 51.5mm
Power adapter

Additional features
Intel® Visual BIOS Interface
Windows* 8.1 and Logo 8
Compatible with Linux OS*
VESA mounting bracket (supported sizes 75 x 75 and 100 x 100 mm)
Half-length mini PCIe* card slot
Active cooling system with low level noise
Support for Kensington Lock
Replacement within the extended warranty period (3 years)
Included in delivery
Intel® NUC Board D54250WYB Installed in Chassis
VESA mounting bracket with mounting screws
Power adapter DC-DC, 19 V, 65 W
Power cable supply options: type B, E, G and without cable
Intel Core i5 sticker
Integration guide
Guarantee
Three Year Limited Warranty
I found more detailed specifications here and.
Various options Next Unit of Computing (NUC) can be seen in this document.

Package.

The system is packaged in a secure cardboard box. By the way, please note: when buying a new NUC, it must be soldered in an electrical box. The box is decorated in traditional blue colors, and at a distance the NUC can be confused with the packaging from box processor Intel.
I have always liked Intel's boxes for their beauty and great information content. Marketers did their best: reading the inscriptions on the NUC D54250WYKH packaging, one gets the impression that there are many items in the box, and not just one "system pack". Moreover, the absence of the Russian language in the design of the packaging only adds to the mystery.

Here are some of them:
New chassis accommodates 2.5" HDD or SSD - New building Accommodates 2.5" HDD or SSD.
The Shape that Fits the Future - Shape that fits the future.
The Flexibility you want in an ultra-compact powerhouse - Desired flexibility in an ultra-compact powerhouse.
On one of the end sides there is a technical sticker that indicates the product code (BOXD5420WYKH), place and date of production, as well as the contents of the box and what's needed (what is needed).

In the "what you need" category, the manufacturer offers to get: power cable, laptop-type RAM, m-sata HDD and optional wifi adapter. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the M-Sata hard drive. .
By the way, the information sticker can be easily re-glued to any other surface.

Appearance.

It's time to open the package. And then a surprise awaits us: the box opens with music (Intel audio logo), just like a gift card.

The box contains a photoresistor and a simple music "tweeter" circuit (a sensor is triggered when opened). I admit, the first thing I wanted to do was to tear this electronics out of the box and install it on one of the apartment doors, for example, in the toilet))).

Intel NUC D54250WYKH looks like a square box and easily fits in the palm of your hand. The sides of the case are made of aluminum, the thickness of which is about 3mm. Due to this amount of metal, the weight of the Intel NUC D54250WYKH is 580g (without a hard drive, RAM, wi-fi).

Plastic cover and bottom weigh little and perform only a decorative function. The gloss on the lid is almost mirror-like, very easily soiled, and smearing this surface is as easy as shelling pears. I managed to leave traces before I even took the first photo of the cover.

On top cover There is a power button and a power led indicator.
I repeat: the body is made of aluminum. It is non-separable, the edges are rounded, and the surface is rough. Along the entire perimeter of the "armored" case there are various slots for connecting various interfaces. Since the shape of the hull is a square, it is difficult to determine the purpose of the sides. I will conditionally call one of the sides "rear" because of the presence of a connector for the power supply and a slot for the exhaust of the cooling system. On the same side are connectors Mini HDMI 1.4a, Mini DisplayPort 1.2, connector for regular network with RJ45 connector and 2 USB 3.0.

We turn the case 180 degrees and look at the conditionally "front" side. It contains 2 USB 3.0 pieces, a 3.5 jack connector, combined for headphones (speakers) and a microphone. On the "front" side, under a plastic cap, there is an infrared port (IR).

Please note that the computer does not have USB 2.0 (usb 2.0 is available, but only inside and more on that later), so it will be difficult to install an operating system other than Windows 8 and Linux.
On the other sides of the Intel NUC D54250WYKH case ("sidewalls") there are slots for ventilation of the insides of the computer. On one of the two "sidewalls" there is a Kensington lock connector. .

I designated all four end sides conditionally, because they have the same dimensions and do not have protruding parts. Perhaps you, the reader, will call them differently, and of course you will be right.
The last side of the hull not examined is the bottom. The bottom cover is removable and held by 4 bolts. The cover itself is made of matte plastic, the bolts are in rubber recesses. Rubber bands simultaneously serve as the legs of the case.

The information sticker on the removable cover does not have Russian letters, but the main thing is clear to us: the model, voltage and current are indicated.
The main highlight of this computer is the ability to mount it on a VESA-mounted monitor. A special bracket for mounting the Intel NUC D54250WYKH on the monitor is present.

All the fun is inside!

First of all, I got the Intel NUC Kit, which means that this assembly still needs to be completed. You need to insert RAM, hard drive and wi-fi module. To access inside, you need to unscrew the four bolts on the bottom cover, the same fastener holds the "chassis" for a 2.5" hard drive (thickness is not more than 9.5 mm). Without bolts, the "chassis" can be easily removed and access to the motherboard to install the remaining computer modules .

On the back of the "chassis" for the hard drive there is a thermal pad to remove heat from the SSD hard drive M-Sata disk.

I propose to remove the motherboard from the "body" and inspect it in more detail. The board in the case is held by four bolts, which are unscrewed along with the cover, and two more need to be unscrewed. The board is removed diagonally, it is necessary to start from the side of the unscrewed bolts. I did not immediately manage to remove the motherboard, so I turned the case over and the board fell out by itself.
What I liked about the D54250WYKH motherboard is that it is designed to be installed not only in your case, but it can be installed in a regular ATX. All the necessary pads for connecting buttons, lights and interfaces are present on the board: front panel, usb panel, audio panel (on the processor side). Please note that USB 2.0 is present in the system, which means that windows 7 will be much easier to install from a USB flash drive.

The reverse side of the motherboard is half occupied by cooling the processor. The radiator is small, but copper, covered with a plastic casing.

Under the radiator is the "heart" Intel computer NUC D54250WYKH, namely the Intel® Core™ i5-4250U processor, northbridge and southbridge on the same substrate.

The north bridge has long merged with the processor, and the south bridge has so far moved to only one textolite with it. Soon this "droplet" will flow into a large crystal and future computers will be single-chip. Perhaps, marketers under the phrase The Shape that Fits the Future meant not only the dimensions of the case, but also the structure of the processor.
Crystalline north bridge swam to the processor with the first generation of Intel Core, and the south swam on the fourth generation. Soon the motherboard will only serve as a pin expansion board.
Complete set and external power supply.
Before turning on the computer, you should familiarize yourself with the contents of the box. Apparently, the budget of advertisers ended with the design of the box, and Intel decided to save on everything else.

The NUC cannot boast of a wealth of investment: only the most necessary is available. In addition to the power supply and mounting under the VESA standard bracket, paper products are included: a core i5 logo sticker, a call to install MAffee, a reminder of what you need to assemble the computer from (mainly from Intel products) and instructions for assembling the computer (designed in pictures and it also contains Russian)
Attention!!! The kit does not include a 220V cable from the power supply. There are no drivers on any media in the kit: they are offered to be downloaded from the site http://downloadcenter.intel.com
Power supply from Intel NUC D54250WYKH FSP model: FSP065-REB. Characteristics of his 19th century direct current 3.42a. The plug (plug) corresponds to the dimensions of 5.5mm * 2.5mm and it matches the size of the DNS or ASUS power supplies, which will be easy to replace in case of loss or failure thereof.

UEFI (bios) .

It was not so easy to start this computer. I had to look for a cable mini HDMI and the hardest part was finding RAM with 1.35v support. It was not available in the dns store and I had to ask a friend to check all the RAM available in his warehouse. And a miracle happened! Not only did I come across a RAM that can work at a voltage of 1.35 with the declared 1.5, but it also turned out to be AMD R334G1339S1S-UGO. Compatible turned out to be something that logically should not be compatible.

But I found out that if the RAM is not suitable or there is no RAM, the power button blinks 3 times and then a pause of 2 seconds follows.
It's time to turn on this "system". On the very first picture before entering the BIOS there are hints: F2- bios entry F7- update bios, F10- download selection. First of all, I was interested in what BIOS settings the manufacturer provided.
By default, we first get into the information menu. All information about the system is posted here: processor, memory, BIOS version, fan operation report, computer component temperatures report, system voltage report. The only thing you can do in this window is to choose what to boot from or go to the Advanced menu.

I forgot to mention: all control can be done with the mouse or keyboard. For the keyboard, there are Hot Key tips at the bottom of the screen.
Advanced menu.
The Main menu provides detailed information about the processor and RAM. Here you can also change system time and choose start window when entering bios.

The next Devices menu is broken down into submenus.
Devices-USB - this menu allows you to manage separately USB ports: Enable, disable, disable automatic device detection.

Devices - SATA - this menu allows you to manage the settings for the operation mode of ports for a hard drive. 2 modes are available: AHCI and RAID.

Devices - Video - this menu allows you to configure the video card. Few modes, more or less desired setting IGD Minimum Memory (the minimum value of the allocated RAM for the needs of the video card), by default it is 32 MB, all other options are highlighted in red (it is intuitively clear that this is not a recommended value). So that the system does not automatically blunt with memory allocation, I set the value to 128mb, although it is possible that 512mb should be set for a large screen resolution.

Devices - Onboard Devices - this menu allows you to disable devices integrated into the system: sound, sound via HDMI / Display Port cable, microphone, LAN card,

Devices - PCI - this menu controls the timeout for PCI-e bus. Why is it? I don't know.

Cooling-Performance Monitor- fine tuning operation of the cooling system. In my opinion, this is not a mandatory option, because the system does not heat up even at full load. Perhaps these settings will be required when connecting another cooling system... The same system operation graphs are displayed in the main tab.

Performance - Performance Dashboard - this menu allows you to overclock the system. Despite the fact that the menu is present and there are processor control levers, only the option to adjust the operation of the video card is available. For now, I'll leave everything as default, and I'll try to tweak the settings at the very end of testing. Since I'm afraid that without the Clear CMOS button, I can finally bring it to a non-working state.

Security is a bookmark for those who see spies and enemies around. The password can be set to change BIOS settings and to the hard drive. The information will be securely protected.

Power - in this menu you can manage the energy efficiency of the system. I tried to disable everything as much as possible. In an ultrabook, such energy savings are needed, but in a system unit I don’t consider it necessary: I need maximum performance.

Boot - setting the choice of boot priority. UEFI - to boot Win8 or Linux, Legacy - to configure XP/Vista/7/Linux

Benchmarks and games.

After making sure everything is connected, I installed the operating Windows system 8 64bit. Installation proceeded normally additional actions not required. All drivers installed automatically except sound adapter. Going to the intel website in the support section, I used the automatic driver search service. Thanks to this, I installed the drivers on sound card, and the rest of the driver did not update. At first glance, the system works quickly, the computer does not heat up and does not make noise.
More detailed information the CPU-Z program will show the components of the system unit:

In order to convert dry numbers into results, I will run them in the 3D Mark 11 benchmark. In this program, it is very convenient to get general idea performance in games different settings games: minimum, average, high.

I was hoping that minimal settings would show comfortable performance in 3D mark, but the result suggests that modern graphics for the NUC will give in with great difficulty.
A similar situation is observed in the program Unigine Valley Benchmark 1.0. No normal performance even with minimum settings programs (Basic).

It became clear to me that installing powerful and demanding games is useless. I hope that the "folk" games: Wot and Warface will be tough. Tanks run comfortably on minimum settings, FPS up to 50. Warface runs comfortably on medium settings.

Conclusion:

A long time ago, I had a passion to collect as small as possible system unit and hang it behind the monitor, but prerequisite while it was the performance of an average computer. Intel NUC D54250WYKH cannot boast of good performance.
It seems to me that the manufacturer did not bring out in vain standard VGA 15pin connector, as a rule, the HDMI / Display port connector has modern monitors that support FHD resolution and it's no secret that to work in this quality you will need additional resources computer. On monitors with low resolution it will be more comfortable to play.
Most likely, if you put the memory at a speed of 1600, and not 1333 like mine, it will add performance. RAM will affect the operation of the system and the video card, but I doubt that the performance will increase noticeably. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to squeeze more "juice" out of this innovative product, most likely due to the small variety of components in the capital of Primorsky Krai.
Estimated price Kit Intel NUC D54250WYKH 13000r

Pros:
+ Stylish design.
+ Intel Reliability
+ Ultra compact size.
+ Quiet operation.
+ Low power consumption.
+ Modern technologies.
+ Acceptable price.
+ Cool packaging
+ External power supply

Minuses:
- Poor performance
- RAM only 1.35v

Thank you for your attention.

Intel NUC as it is. Broadwell based Intel NUC5i5RYH review: new NUC is better than the old two

What is NUC

What are these devices capable of?

What are the benefits of using such a system?

What's Included

What technologies are supported by Intel NUC

Conclusion

Intel Optane

UEFI BIOS

Hardware stuffing

conclusions

Specifications and configurations:

Package.

Appearance.

All the fun is inside!

UEFI (bios) .

Benchmarks and games.

Conclusion:

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