Intel continues to refine and update its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) mini-PCs , which take much of the hardware from its Ultrabook line and package it into a tiny square chassis. The major updates for this year’s NUCs include the latest seventh-generation Intel Core processors and support for Optane memory.
Intel’s Optane memory , co-developed with Micron, is a non-volatile memory technology that’s faster than flash but denser than DRAM. It doesn’t replace standard RAM in these NUCs, which have two familiar SO-DIMM sockets for up to 32GB of DDR4 at 2133 MT/s. Instead, Optane is meant to offer speedy storage, possibly in an M.2 format , to provide fast boot times and application launching.
This year’s NUC models offer a number of processor and storage options. The top of the line NUC7i7BNH is powered by a Core i7-7567U , a dual-core processor with a max turbo clock of 4.0GHz and a 28W TDP. Intel’s Iris Plus Graphics 650 IGP runs the display.
