Intel NUC 13 Extreme Sets New Standard for Mini PC Gaming Performance

[btarunr]

Today, Intel launched the new Intel NUC 13 Extreme Kit (code-named Raptor Canyon) and Intel NUC 13 Extreme Compute Element, which combine to make the most powerful Intel NUC ever built. The NUC 13 Extreme features unlocked 13th Gen Intel Core desktop processors and space for new triple-slot, 12-inch graphics cards to unleash even more performance for enthusiast gamers and content creators.

"This year marks the 10-year anniversary for our impressive lineup of Intel NUC products, and the Intel NUC 13 Extreme (code named Raptor Canyon) is an excellent representation of how far we've come. Our first ever NUC demonstrated a breakthrough in the miniaturization of a small desktop PC into an ultra-small PC form factor. While much larger than our tiniest mini-PC, our latest Intel NUC 13 Extreme sets a new bar for how to pack stellar gaming performance in a form factor that is 70% smaller than a typical 50L gaming tower. Along with the epic performance you expect from an Intel NUC product, we also deliver exceptional product quality and feature density in a completely modular and customizable design," said Brian McCarson, Intel Vice President and General Manager of the Intel NUC Group.



The Intel NUC 13 Extreme pairs an optimized thermal design with off-the-charts performance and never-before-seen features. The redesigned chassis optimizes airflow to reduce noise and throttling during intense gameplay and heavy workloads, all while maintaining the signature compact NUC footprint.

The modular Intel NUC 13 Extreme achieves incredible speed with up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 desktop processor with eight Performance-cores (P-cores) and 16 Efficient-cores (E-cores), 32 threads and up to an incredible 5.8 GHz max turbo frequency.

The NUC 13 Extreme includes all the additional features and connectivity gamers need, including:

• Support for up to 64 GB dual-channel DDR5-5600 MHz SODIMMs.
• Support for PCIe Gen5 x16 new triple-slot 12" graphics cards.
• Support for up to three PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs (M.2 2280).
• Intel 2.5 GbE (i226-V) / 10GbE (AQC113) LAN.
• Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E.
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
• Six USB 3.2 Gen2 rear ports.

The Intel NUC 13 Extreme is expected to be available first in China with a release to wider audiences during the fourth quarter of 2022, with more rolling out through early 2023. Prices for the Intel NUC 13 Extreme Kit will range from $1179 to $1549, and $760 to $1100 for the Intel NUC 13 Extreme Compute Element depending on the configuration, and will allow users to customize their memory, storage and operating system to suit their needs.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Chaitanya]

Wtf, I guess NUC extreme is where NUC form factor goes to die.

 

[Valantar]

"Sets new standard for mini PC gaming performance" - except that there are quite a few ITX cases out there that fit standard motherboards and PSUs and have more GPU clearance than this. But hey, those don't count, right?

Wtf, I guess NUC extreme is where NUC form factor goes to die.

Nah, it's just where Intel tries to compete with SFF gaming cases and fails miserably by not doing basic research. The rest of the NUCs (maybe except the Enthusiast line, which is also kinda silly) are fine.

 

[Daven]

It’s a box alright.

 

[bonehead123]

Wtf, I guess NUC extreme is where NUC form factor goes to die.

Yea, and mainly from stuffing all that upper-end hardware into a case with very limited cooling capabilities, mesh panels notwithstanding.....

 

[dgianstefani]

At 13.82 Litres, this is almost exactly the size in volume of the Sliger SM570 - 13.83 Litres, a case that supports a 240 mm radiator and four 120 mm fans, with standard ITX and SFX L PSU support. https://www.sliger.com/products/cases/sm570/

What's the benefit? A laptop cooling fan for 125 W CPU? SODIMM memory in a desktop form factor? Good luck.

The 12VO PSU and dual thunderbolt 4 is nice, but there needs to be more for the price IMO.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Wtf, I guess NUC extreme is where NUC form factor goes to die.

Hey, maybe it’s just big-boned.

 

[Valantar]

Yea, and mainly from stuffing all that upper-end hardware into a case with very limited cooling capabilities, mesh panels notwithstanding.....

The main issue is their harebrained idea of orienting the "motherboard" PCIe-card-alike the same as a regular PCIe card rather than putting the cpu and everything else on the back of it, which would have let them cool it far more efficiently. It's entirely proprietary anyway, so why not design it optimally for its purpose?

 

[Chrispy_]

IT'S NOT MINI.

This thing is enormous, there's no "new standard" here, and if there was, it would be absolutely trounced by dozens of SFF cases like the NCase M1 or Dan A4 that beat it to market by 9+ years.

NUC is "next unit of computing" and if this were a unit of volume, the original NUC was 116.6mm×112.0mm×39.0mm = 0.51 Litres.

This overpriced, locked-down, pre-built, proprietary, Intel vanity project is 15L in volume, which means IT'S THIRTY TIMES TOO BIG TO BE A NUC.

This is closer to an mATX SFF as sold by Dell/HP/Lenovo etc - i.e. the most unexciting and underwhelming form factor on the planet. It's a proprietary board with proprietary risers, proprietary PSU, bugger all software support and Intel's history of miserable parts availability and tortoise-paced warranty handling. Buy it as a curiosity because you are bored and have money to burn, but don't say you weren't thoroughly warned!

Edit:
I just checked the dimensions of my HTPC. That's a Silverstone case which takes an MATX board, ATX PSU, has 3x120mm cooling fans, 1x5.25" external DVD bay, 1x 3.5" HDD, and 2x 2.5" SSD. Total volume, 21L. I can use standard motherboard, CPU, cooler, GPU, RAM, PSU, fans, drives. If I wanted a larger GPU I could swap to the Fractal Node 202 and downgrade to an mITX board in exchange for full-length GPUs up to 2.5 slots.

 

[zlobby]

Yeah, new standards for the definition of 'mini'...

 

[n-ster]

I mean the normal NUC hasn't disappeared, the fact they are still doing compute cards is pretty cool!

 

[Vayra86]

Not Ultra Compact

yep.

 

[Valantar]

Not Ultra Compact

yep.

Nobody's Ultimate Computer?
Normal, Underwhelming Compactness?
New Unnecessary Crap?

 

[BArms]

People who build PCs don't like a pre-built PC. I'm shocked, shocked I tells ya.

 

[Valantar]

People who build PCs don't like a pre-built PC. I'm shocked, shocked I tells ya.

There are plenty of good SFF prebuilts out there - just look at Zotac's offerings, or Corsair's One. Or any system integrator could offer something better at competitive or better pricing with one of the many available SFF cases that beat this both in size, cooling and component compatibility.

 

[Redwoodz]

How funny is this. Intel creates a new form factor which they design to be smallest, and now they have upgraded it to even bigger than before. But then you have to do something with the nuclear reactors they are sending out.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Their enthusiast line is still small enough and good enough and worth a look. The basic NUCs are boss. This sort of nonsense means someone is huffing plastic vapors off burnt 4090 connectors in the back room.