Intel Broadwell NUC NUC5i7RYH With Iris Graphics Mini-PC Review

Name: Intel NUC5i7RYH With Iris Graphics Mini-PC Review
Brand: Intel

by Marco Chiappetta — Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 12:43 PM EDT

The Intel NUC5i7RYH looks much like previous-generation NUC systems. The sturdy, metal enclosure is about 4” square and this particular model is a little over an 1.9 inches high. And the front and back are loaded up with various ports and I/O.

The top of the NUC5i7RYH’s enclosure is a glossy, black plastic, with the power button situation in the front-left corner. The top of the system is easily removable, and with this generation of NUC, Intel has incorporated pass-throughs inside the rig, so partners can customize the lids with additional functionality. For example, NUC systems with NFC built-in are coming, and we’ve also heard rumblings of a unit with a TV tuner built into the lid. Of course, simple colors and different textured lids are also a possibility or you could 3D print your own if you’ve got the equipment.

The NUC5i7RYH is precisely 115mm x 111mm x 48.7mm and the top edge features an angled diamond-cut. On the front, you’ll find a couple of USB 3.0 ports. The blue one is standard fare, but the yellow one offers charging capability, even when the system is off. There is also a combo headphone / microphone jack on the front, along with an infrared sensor, which can be used in a conjunction with a media center remote (or other IR device).

The back of the rig is home to a power input jack, mini-DisplayPort, a wired network jack, two more USB 3.0 ports, and a mini-HDMI port. We should mention that this little system can be used with 4K displays and both display outputs can be used simultaneously. Not visible is the system’s built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 controller. Also note that the Wi-Fi controller supports Intel WiDi wireless display technology, so wirelessly casting images out to WiDi compatible display is possible with the NUC5i7RYH.

Along either side and the top of the rear there are cooling vents for pulling in or exhausting air from the system as well.

Tags: Intel, core i7, SFF, mini-PC, NUC, Iris, nuc5i7ryh

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