Intel NUC - Next Unit Computing Sneak Peek

by Marco Chiappetta — Tuesday, September 11, 2012, 06:46 PM EDT

We’re still making the rounds at the Intel Developers Forum, and are minutes away from jumping into the large technology showcase, but wanted to make a quick pit stop here to post up some cool pictures of Intel’s “Next Unit of Computing”, or NUC, for you SFF enthusiasts.

If you’re unfamiliar with NUC, it’s essentially an ultra small form factor platform that Intel has in the works, currently built around a Core i3 processor. We’re told that NUC hardware featuring all of Intel’s processor families, spanning from Atom to Core i7, is likely, but this first iteration aims right for the middle of the market with the Core i3.

With NUC, Intel is producing a 4”x4” motherboard, complete with a Core i3 processor and PCH. The company is also sourcing a tiny enclosure to accommodate the mobo, but we’re told Intel will not be selling full systems. NUC will be sold to partners as a barebones configuration; OEMs will be responsible for memory, storage, and any other components, like a Wi-Fi controller, for example. We should also note the enclosure will include Wi-Fi antennas certified with four Intel Wi-Fi controllers at launch, so there’s no need for clunky external antennas.

The motherboard you see pictured here has a Core i3 processor, 7-series PCH, dual SO-DIMM slots and a pair of mini-PCIe slots. I/O on the motherboard consisted of a pair of HDMI outputs, three USB ports (one front, two back), an RJ45 LAN jack, and a DC power port. There will also be a version, however, that ditches one of the HDMI outputs in favor of a Thunderbolt connector.

We don’t have final pricing, but Intel’s goal with this platform is to allow partners to offer full systems in the $399 range. We’re hoping to have a NUC setup in-hand soon for testing and will fill you in on additional details as we have them.

Tags: Intel, SFF, Core i3, NUC

Marco Chiappetta

Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com