Thursday, January 2nd 2020
Intel's Frost Canyon NUC 10 Mini PC is now Available
Intel's latest NUC (Next Unit of Computing) series of Mini PCs, based on the 10th generation of Intel "Core" processors, is now available for purchase. Dubbed Frost Canyon, this NUC series is featuring Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake CPUs at its base. All of the available configurations are based around the Intel Core i7-10710U processor, Intel i219-V Gigabit Lan, Bluetooth 5.0 and Intel WiFi 6 AX200 networking module. Configurations are varying by the amount of pre-installed RAM and storage and the option of whatever you want OS pre-installed or not.
The NUC 10 supports up to 64 GB of DDR4 memory, while the storage options include space for one 2.5 inch SSD/HDD in smaller variants or two 2.5 inch SSD/HDD drives in taller variants, with one NVMe M.2 SSD slot available in both versions. Pricing starts at $679 for the base models, while higher-end configurations cost upward of $1,295. Additionally, it is worth pointing out that all CPUs inside the new NUC are configured to run at 25 W of TPD, regardless of the model. This will result in higher performance compared to 15 W versions of processors found in most laptop solutions.
Source:
Tom's Hardware
The NUC 10 supports up to 64 GB of DDR4 memory, while the storage options include space for one 2.5 inch SSD/HDD in smaller variants or two 2.5 inch SSD/HDD drives in taller variants, with one NVMe M.2 SSD slot available in both versions. Pricing starts at $679 for the base models, while higher-end configurations cost upward of $1,295. Additionally, it is worth pointing out that all CPUs inside the new NUC are configured to run at 25 W of TPD, regardless of the model. This will result in higher performance compared to 15 W versions of processors found in most laptop solutions.
25 Comments on Intel's Frost Canyon NUC 10 Mini PC is now Available
The $1200 config is just sick. So somehow they've managed to put 64GB of RAM in that, while Dell and Lenovo are unlikely to offer more than 32GB in mini towers...
"10th gen" (still 14nm lol) OptiPlex Micro will have that option too.
It's better this way, with Intel focusing on casual and professional clients. IGP in this is perfectly capable for such.
Ice Lake offers a batter IGP (offering higher resolution), but that needs 10nm. Well, this is not a mobile PC, but does it make it a desktop? These NUCs are in a slightly different category.
The important part is that the large noisy boxes are finally disappearing. :) Not really. Intel is already positioning these NUCs for edge computing, which is the natural evolution of cloud that you're referring to. That's the idea that will dominate the next decade (together with things like oneAPI).
Even when buying for personal use and considering a DIY mITX, you'll pay around $900 (assuming a decent case, like In-Win Chopin, and something like 3400G/i5-9400).
That would still result in a PC 5x larger and much heavier, so you'll miss on the main selling point of these NUCs: they don't take up space. And that makes them a bargain.
Thin clients.
You'll say that most people don't need extra power and would rather trade off for size, but honestly, I have more desk space than they do because the machine sits on the floor, and while they don't complain about needing extra power, they *do* complain about being unable to do things, slowdown, random hangs while the machines catch up, etc. I use their machines and find plenty of ways in which they make the basic office tasks they're doing, more difficult than they need to be as a result of a lack of horsepower. And again, all of their machines are several years newer than this one, which was not a monster machine when it was first installed either.
It's not that they wouldn't benefit from the extra power a larger machine will have almost by default - it's that they're the kind of people who are content to keep struggling with an inefficient system because that's less scary than moving to an efficient one.
It may well be the way things are going, but I daresay this is because in most offices, the people buying hardware are simply cheaping out and buying short-lived, easily replacable solutions, rather than investing in hardware that can remain in situ for longer without requiring replacement.
Not sure why they're not dropping Iris Plus Graphics 640/655 into these 10th gens (aside from the G* series).
I know a fruit company that does the same thing...
Iris would make these chips much bigger.
It is for this reason I think that some of the folks at Intel have lost touch with reality, it's customer base or both. :kookoo::rolleyes:
The nucs purpose is htpc or conference rooms, they work great mounted to a wall running teams or playing media.
You'd need around $800 to build a similar system using basic mITX case, mobo and a $200 desktop 35W SoC.
Windows 10 Pro OEM is ~$140.
10710U is not available in retail. I have no idea how much it costs. Intel's "recommended" price (whatever it means here) is $443.
800+140+243 = 1183
Intel asks $1295, so it's very much in line with normal OEM margin (if not smaller).
I'm not saying this has great value compared to a DIY mITX. But the price is adequate, expected.
Also, mITX isn't really a "similar form-factor". It's just the closest thing easily done with DIY x86.
www.newegg.com/zotac-zbox-mi526-u/p/N82E16883218071
www.newegg.com/p/N82E16856158065
www.newegg.com/gigabyte-brix-gb-bri7-8550-bw/p/N82E16856164116
www.newegg.com/p/N82E16856501025
The above only need ram and a drive and you're off and running.
www.newegg.com/hp-prodesk-405-g4-6vc52ut-aba-business-desktops-workstations/p/N82E16883997233
This one is on par with the NUC spec wise and is a faction of the cost.
www.newegg.com/p/1VK-0053-00315
And for $680 this one is far more appealing. An OEM copy of 10 Pro is not $140 for manufacturers. It's not even that for resellers. Very true :kookoo:
You're a PC builder. You should know better. Don't give up so easily. :) Much larger, small RAM, small SSD. It's even worse than the mini stuff listed above.
2400GE is really slow for 35W. It's far from bad, but 10710U is much better in single-core. It'll be more responsive.
Anyway, adding RAM and SSD space will move it to the $800 I've mentioned earlier. But yeah, Windows Pro is "free" here. We're not talking about how much Intel pays for thousands of keys.
You said you can make something better for 2/3 of the price. So I'm asking how you'd make it. Single piece. :)
Proper System Builder license is $143 on Amazon at the moment:
www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00ZSHDJ4O/
You said:
[ICODE]I can build a much more capable system in a similar form-factor for 2/3 that cost [/ICODE]
Systems you mentioned are either much slower (N5000, seriously? :D) or much larger (HP ProDesk).
You came into this thread storming, but having absolutely no idea how much NUCs cost.
You've just added a link to the MSI Cubi, which costs $780 with a VERY SLOW Pentium N5000, 16GB RAM and a SATA 1TB SSD
www.newegg.com/p/1VK-0053-002U0
The Intel NUC 10 has 64GB RAM, NVMe 1TB and a SoC that's at least few times faster.
N5000 will be unresponsible running Windows 10. It's not a general use PC. Irrelevant. You said you can build something equivalent for $680. And you're not running a multibillion company. You don't have access to licensing deals Intel has.
Yes, Intel can get a Win 10 Pro license for $50, maybe less. But that $100 difference is not to be given away. It's their profit for running this business. That's the whole point.