Second Generation Intel NUC with Infrared Sensor & SATA/USB3

[DanB_DE]

These new NUCs are looking very interessting:

http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/tech-new ... ly-haswell


No 24P Bug, IR already on board, msata SSD & SATA HDD or ODD, i3 or i5, USB 3.0 HDMI & DP.
Nice Plattform

What do you miss ?

[makryger]

I will say that the accessory options for Intel CIR headers have been disappointing... same could be said for their htpc header. They need to just sell or bundle their own thing. You are, if course limited in internal storage to the msata cards, if that bothers you. I wonder what cases there are available?

[DanB_DE]

Hi, I am not shure if i get your msg right,but these new NUC dont need a extra CIR HW, the Sensor is already on board. Also an extra SATA connector.(plus msata)

[foxwood]

Hi, I am not shure if i get your msg right,but these new NUC dont need a extra CIR HW, the Sensor is already on board. Also an extra SATA connector.(plus msata)

With a slot loading Bluray drive using the SATA port, and network tuners and storage, this looks like a nice home for a HTPC - as long as you can do Audio over HDMI. There doesn't seem to be an option for TOSLink/Optical out.

I wonder how much it'll cost, though. The current NUCs aren't all that interesting when you see the pricetag.

[TromboneKenny]

These new NUCs are looking very interessting:

http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/tech-new ... ly-haswell

No 24P Bug, IR already on board, msata SSD & SATA HDD or ODD, i3 or i5, USB 3.0 HDMI & DP.
Nice Plattform

What do you miss ?

I too wonder if the cases are going to be different for this generation of NUC. Onboard SATA is nice, but where would you put the additional drive? Or maybe it's intended for some sort of SATA/eSATA pass-through?

I also wonder if the 2nd generation NUC will drive the costs down on the first. I'm looking at about $400 out-the-door right now on the ethernet model NUC and a 120GB SSD, power cable. That seems excessive for what you get, but if msata SSD prices keep dropping and the NUC costs drop, that could be a sweet little system for around $250-300, IMO.

[adam1991]

minimum HTPC requirement: optical drive, OS drive, storage drive.

Doesn't look like this fits the bill.

[Shackleford]

I picked up a NUC, I love it.

[r_egan]

Shackleford, which model did you buy? Are you using it as a HTPC? How much ram, which SSD, etc. did you go with?

[Shackleford]

Shackleford, which model did you buy? Are you using it as a HTPC? How much ram, which SSD, etc. did you go with?

DC3217IYE with 8Gb RAM and 128Gb Plextor. Running InfiniTV 4 USB with a 2Tb USB drive for recording. Handles everything with ease.

[TromboneKenny]

minimum HTPC requirement: optical drive, OS drive, storage drive.

Doesn't look like this fits the bill.

Yeah, but with network tuners and network storage this could still fit the bill. Especially if you're looking for small/quiet footprint, or an extender-like secondary system. An optical drive isn't a requirement for me right now.

[shortcut3d]

I pre-ordered the NUC DC53427HYE i5vPro model to replace my 2011 Mac mini HTPC. I ordered it with 16GB Mushkin Blackine 1600MHz 9-9-9, Intel Wireless-N Wifi Bluetooth 4.0 combo, and 240GB Intel 525 Lincoln Crest SSD. This is about as reliable and high performance part list I could come up with for the NUC. This model is release tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see how things come together.

I recently stopped recording to an internal 2TB WD20NPVT drive in the Mac mini and use a Synology DS411slim NAS setup as an iSCSI target.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, it looks like my order was canceled. The best I could tell for availability would be mid-July.

[Shackleford]

There is also a version made by gigabyte with usb 3.0 now. The brix http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6856164003

[shortcut3d]

There is also a version made by gigabyte with usb 3.0 now. The brix http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6856164003

Found the Gigabyte BRIX i7-3537U in stock at www.ncix.com. Hopefully, it will arrive next week.

I compared the performance of the 2011 Mac mini i7-2620M with the i7-3537U (found in many ultra books) on Geekbench. Both processors are around 9000 +/- 100. So power will definitely not be a problem and should be capable of meeting my needs. Why get rid of the Mac mini? Unfortunately, bootcamp holds it back too much. I decide I need to go pure Windows for UEFI and AHCI at a minimum.