The mini-PC market is booming with a slew of ARM-powered Android bare-bones boards – and Intel clearly wants in on the fun, albeit with an x86 twist.
As previously discussed on TG Daily, Intel has been showcasing its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) which is powered by a Core i3 Ivy Bridge processor paired with Intel HD 4000 graphics.
According to AnandTech, Santa Clara’s NUC should begin rolling out to various online retailers such as Amazon and Newegg in early December, with prices pegged to start at around $300.
As Brad Linder of Liliputing points out, that $300 will get you a barebones computer which includes a case, motherboard, processor – and not much else. Meaning, you’ll still have to add your own memory, storage, OS and power cable.
Currently, there are two iterations of Intel’s NUC : One model with 2 HDMI ports along with Gigabit Ethernet and another with just one HDMI port, no Ethernet jack and a Thunderbolt port.
Both models inlcude 2 memory slots, 3 USB 2.0 ports, a half-height mini PCIe slot, and a full-height mini PCIe slot with mSATA support.
The biggest downside to Intel’s NUC? The $300 base price tag – which makes it significantly more expensive than device like the Raspberry Pi and potentially limiting its adoption in the bare-bones market.
Remember, you’ll have to buy or supply your own your own memory, storage, OS and power cable – making the final price somewhere closer to $400 or so, sans OS.
