Intel NUC for graphic design

[Ianf1]

Hi has anyone tried using a NUC for graphic design here is what I am thinking about. How well does it handle 2 screens? The main programmes used are corel draw acrobat pro and outlook. We also use microsoft office to open customer files.

The main reason is reduce power consumption for the inevitable rolling blackouts. The other alternative is get a laptop.

 

[Jola]

I just got an i5 NUC for use as a HTPC.

Doesn't work properly with Windows 10, graphics and audio drivers don't work.

Will install Windows 8.1 today.

Mine is kitted out with 16GB RAM, 500GB mSata SSD, 500GB Hard Drive, wifi/BT.

Seems quite nice, but have not completed all my tests yet, and have not tried two displays.

Look at the user reviews on Amazon, there are 100's. I'm sure somebody has tried two displays.

But basically, it's just a PC, so can do anything a notebook can do.

BTW the Power Supply is 19v, so it won't work directly off a car battery.

But it should work off a Kensington car charger, has 19v output, will test that.

Note : It has 4 USB3 ports, should be fine with a Wacom tablet.

 

[Maverick Jester]

I suppose it depends on how heavy the workload will be, and how high the resolution of the monitors will be. Apparently these things support up to three monitors.

 

[Ianf1]

Thanks Jola I see amazon ship these to SA so that is another supplier to consider. Our monitors connect through VGA connections would we also need to get new monitors, or are there convertors?

 

[kayvee]

The 5th gen Broadwell units should be shipping soon with big improvements particularly in the graphics department.

HDMI/DisplayPort outputs.

 

[Jola]

Thanks Jola I see amazon ship these to SA so that is another supplier to consider. Our monitors connect through VGA connections would we also need to get new monitors, or are there convertors?

The unit has mini-HDMI and mini-Displayport outputs.

Should be no problem to get a mini-Displayport to VGA adapter, and I am sure that you could rig up a mini-HDMI to HDMI to VGA connector (note two steps) as well.

I have a mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter, and also a mini-displayport to HDMI adapter. Both work.

 

[Jola]

Make sure that you order the H model that has space for a 2.5" drive.

 

[Jola]

The 5th gen Broadwell units should be shipping soon with big improvements particularly in the graphics department.

HDMI/DisplayPort outputs.

The current one (4th Gen i5) has the Intel HD 5000 graphics.

Should be enough for my HTPC application.

 

[Ianf1]

The 5th gen Broadwell units should be shipping soon with big improvements particularly in the graphics department.

HDMI/DisplayPort outputs.

This what makes buying computers frustrating, do you know when this will be released?

 

[Sparhawk]

BOXD54250WYK

Intel Next Unit of Computing Kit- Intel 4th Generation Core i5-4250U 1.7GHz Dual Core Processor, 2 x Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Slots (Max 16GB supported) Low Voltage
Intel HD Graphics 5000, Integrated Gigabit Ethernet, Headphone/Microphone jack on the front panel
2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1 x Full Length mini-PCI-e slot for mSATA, 1 x Half-Height mini-PCI-e slot for Wireless, 1 x mini-HDMI, 1x mini-Displayport1.2, Antenna for Wireless and Bluetooth pre-assembled

and

BOXD54250WYKH

2.5" SATA Support

Intel Next Unit of Computing Kit- Intel 4th Generation Core i5-4250U 1.7GHz Dual Core Processor, 2 x Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Slots (Max 16GB supported) Low Voltage
Intel HD Graphics 5000, Integrated Gigabit Ethernet, Internal support for 2.5¨ HDD or SSD (up to 9.5mm thickness), Audio jack on the front panel
2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1 x Full Length mini-PCI-e slot for mSATA, 1 x Half-Height mini-PCI-e slot for Wireless, 1 x mini-HDMI, 1x mini-Displayport1.2, Antenna for Wireless and Bluetooth pre-assembled

 

[Sparhawk]

if this is what you are looking for then they are already in country. if you are a reseller speak to your preferred disti, if consumer speak to your preferred reseller.

 

[Sparhawk]

BOXNUC5i3RYH INTEL NUC KIT - i3-5010U; with M.2 & 2.5'' Drive support
BOXNUC5i3RYK INTEL NUC KIT - i3-5010U; with M.2 Drive support

this is 5th Gen for i3 codes, in country at select distis already

BOXNUC5i5RYH INTEL NUC KIT - i5-5250U; with M.2 & 2.5'' Drive support
BOXNUC5i5RYK INTEL NUC KIT - i5-5250U; with M.2 Drive support

this is i5 5th Gen, eta is around WW10 so early / mid march

 

[Maverick Jester]

The 5th gen Broadwell units should be shipping soon with big improvements particularly in the graphics department.

HDMI/DisplayPort outputs.

No. Broadwell is the process shrink- it will be moderately improved, not massively. Those improvements will come with Skylake. Currently, the NUC's already ship with DisplayPort and HDMI, and HDMI 2.0 as well as DisplayPort 2.0 will only come with Skylake.

This what makes buying computers frustrating, do you know when this will be released?

You're gonna wait a while, and Broadwell is nothing to really get excited about- it's the tick release. Don't wait for Broadwell, the Haswell-based devices are still more than capable.

 

[kayvee]

Mentioned just to make OP aware a later version was imminent, if he was not aware of it. 's'all. There is an integrated graphics improvement, processor not so much, agreed.

 

[Ianf1]

Thanks for the replies has anyone used these in an office?

 

[Maverick Jester]

Mentioned just to make OP aware a later version was imminent, if he was not aware of it. 's'all. There is an integrated graphics improvement, processor not so much, agreed.

Yip, not saying that there aren't improvements, but given that he will have to wait until Q2 at least, it's not worth it for a tick update. He'd be better off waiting for Skylake, but that will only be around next year.

 

[kingrob]

I just got an i5 NUC for use as a HTPC.

Sjoe, massive overkill!

I'm running the Intel Celeron NUC and it ran XBMC + Windows 8.1 like a champ.

Then I did a clean install of Windows 10, all drivers installed flawlessly and been using it for the last three months. Windows 10 can now play MKV files, so there's no more use for XBMC or VLC, just use Media Player.

It also runs Office 2013 fine, web browsing is great with Internet Explorer 11.

Other nice thing of the Celeron NUC is that it uses a full HDMI port, so no extra mini cable to purchase, and it already has a wifi card installed.

All I had to get, was a RAM dimm and a 2.5'' hard drive, couldn't be happier.

 

[Jola]

Yes, it does sound as if the Celeron NUC is better value.

But the i5 is cool

And I may also use it for other stuff.

BTW, I couldn't get W10 drivers that would work on the Intel HD 5000.

 

[kingrob]

BTW, I couldn't get W10 drivers that would work on the Intel HD 5000.

The key to any Intel NUC is to perform the BIOS updates as soon as they are released. Mine is now on 0048!

I'm using my Windows 8.1 64-bit drivers with Windows 10 Preview Build 9926, absolutely no problems.

 

[Budza]

How much was the Celeron version, and what RAM and HDD did you get?

Lekker looking things

/Comparing to an upgraded HP Microserver...