What is the best Intel NUC mini PC in 2020? Which one should you buy? What is the purpose of your buying – home, office, game or entertainment? Intel offers a few different NUC configurations, many of which don’t come with memory, storage, or an OS. But for people who want a prebuilt PC with Windows 10 already installed, we recommend the model with a quad-core Intel Core i5-8259U processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB solid-state drive. Every NUC has four USB ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, a microSD port, and an HDMI port. That amounts to the same power you’d get from something like an ultrabook or a comparable business laptop for about half the price (though you do need to provide a monitor, keyboard, and mouse).
Why should buy Intel NUC mini PC? The Intel NUC is a powerful mini PC with features to upgrade entertainment, gaming, and productivity, including a customizable board that is ready to accept the memory, storage, and operating system that you want. Whether saving space on your office desk, powering digital signs, or using in the conference room to streamline meetings, the Intel NUC has the performance and versatility to get the job done.
Why should you buy Intel NUC mini PC?
Pint-sized Power
The Intel NUC is a mini PC with the power of a desktop, packing features for entertainment, gaming, and productivity in a 4×4 form factor.
Energy Optimized, Media Savvy
With Intel NUC, you get an immersive media experience and responsive interaction while consuming a small amount of power relative to a full-sized PC.
Flexibility for Future Growth
Due to its portable size and ease of installation, the Intel NUC makes it easy to add devices and scale up rapidly based on changing productivity needs.
Intel Remote Keyboard
This free app enables you to easily use your smartphone or tablet as a keyboard and mouse, improving your HTPC or entertainment experience.
Intel HD Graphics
Exceptional clarity makes for an exceptional visual experience. Enjoy gorgeous HD visuals with no extra graphics card required.
Intel Unite
Easily create and manage a secure content sharing and collaboration platform for your organization with the Intel NUC and Intel Unite software.
Intel NUC mini PC video review
Intel NUC mini PC comparison
| INTEL® NUC 10 PERFORMANCE MINI PC – NUC10I5FNHJA | INTEL® NUC 8 MAINSTREAM-G MINI PC (NUC8I5INH) | INTEL® NUC 8 HOME – A MINI PC WITH WINDOWS* 10 – NUC8I5BEHFA | INTEL® NUC 8 BUSINESS MINI PC – NUC8I7HNKQC WITH WINDOWS* 10 | |
| Status | Launched | Launched | Launched | Launched |
| Product Collection | Intel® NUC Mini PC with 10th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors | Intel® NUC Mini PC with 8th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors | Intel® NUC Mini PC with 8th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors | Intel® NUC Mini PC with 8th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors |
| Launch Date | Q4’19 | Q2’19 | Q1’19 | Q3’18 |
| Supported Operating Systems | Windows 10, 64-bit* | Windows 10, 64-bit* | Windows 10, 64-bit* | Windows 10, 64-bit* |
| Board Number | NUC10i5FNB | NUC8i5INB | NUC8BEB | NUC8i7HNB |
| Board Form Factor | UCFF (4″ x 4″) | UCFF (4″ x 4″) | UCFF (4″ x 4″) | UCFF (5.5″ x 8″) |
| Socket | Soldered-down BGA | Soldered-down BGA | Soldered-down BGA | Soldered-down BGA |
| Internal Drive Form Factor | M.2 and 2.5″ Drive | M.2 and 2.5″ Drive | M.2 and 2.5″ Drive | M.2 SSD |
| # of Internal Drives Supported | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lithography | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| TDP | 25 W | 15 W | 28 W | 65 W |
| DC Input Voltage Supported | 19 VDC | 19 VDC | 12-19 VDC | 19 |
| Pre-Installed Operating System | Windows 10, 64-bit* | Windows 10, 64-bit* | Windows 10, 64-bit* | Windows 10, 64-bit* |
| Processor Included | Intel® Core™ i5-10210U Processor | Intel® Core™ i5-8265U Processor | Intel® Core™ i5-8259U Processor | Intel® Core™ i7-8705G Processor |
| Warranty Period | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Board Chipset | Mobile Intel® HM175 Chipset |
Other Information
| INTEL® NUC 10 PERFORMANCE MINI PC – NUC10I5FNHJA | INTEL® NUC 8 MAINSTREAM-G MINI PC (NUC8I5INH) | INTEL® NUC 8 HOME – A MINI PC WITH WINDOWS* 10 – NUC8I5BEHFA | INTEL® NUC 8 BUSINESS MINI PC – NUC8I7HNKQC WITH WINDOWS* 10 | |
| Embedded Options Available | No | No | No | No |
| Description | Other features: 16GB Intel® Optane™ Memory M.2 module pre-installed, 1TB HDD, Windows® 10 x64 Home, includes far-field quad array microphones | Other features: 16GB Intel® Optane™ Memory M.2 module + 1TB 2.5″ HDD, or 256GB M.2 SSD, and Windows® 10, 64-bit Home pre-installed, includes SDXC card slot | Other features: 16GB Intel® Optane™ Memory M.2 module pre-installed, 1TB HDD, Windows® 10 x64 Home, includes Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps) and DP 1.2 via USB-C; also includes microSDXC card slot, dual microphones | Other features: 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB RAM, Windows® 10 x64 Pro pre-installed, includes 2x Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) via rear USB-C ports, SDXC card slot and front USB-A and USB-C ports w/ USB 3.1 Gen 2 |
Memory & Storage
| INTEL® NUC 10 PERFORMANCE MINI PC – NUC10I5FNHJA | INTEL® NUC 8 MAINSTREAM-G MINI PC (NUC8I5INH) | INTEL® NUC 8 HOME – A MINI PC WITH WINDOWS* 10 – NUC8I5BEHFA | INTEL® NUC 8 BUSINESS MINI PC – NUC8I7HNKQC WITH WINDOWS* 10 | |
| Included Storage | 16GB Intel® Optane™ Memory, 1TB HDD | 1TB HDD, or 256GB M.2 SSD | 16GB Intel® Optane™ Memory, 1TB HDD | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| Included Memory | 16GB Intel® Optane™ Memory + 2x 4GB DDR4-2666 | 8GB embedded or 8GB embedded + 16GB Intel® Optane™ | 16GB Intel® Optane™ Memory + 1x 4GB DDR4-2400 | 2x 8GB DDR4-2400 |
| Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type) | 64 GB | 8 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory Types | DDR4-2666 1.2V SO-DIMM | LPDDR3-1866/2133 | DDR4-2400 1.2V SO-DIMM | DDR4-2400+ 1.2V SO-DIMM |
| Max # of Memory Channels | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Max Memory Bandwidth | 42.6 GB/s | 34 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |
| Max # of DIMMs | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| ECC Memory Supported ‡ | No | No | No | No |
Graphics & Processor
| INTEL® NUC 10 PERFORMANCE MINI PC – NUC10I5FNHJA | INTEL® NUC 8 MAINSTREAM-G MINI PC (NUC8I5INH) | INTEL® NUC 8 HOME – A MINI PC WITH WINDOWS* 10 – NUC8I5BEHFA | INTEL® NUC 8 BUSINESS MINI PC – NUC8I7HNKQC WITH WINDOWS* 10 | |
| Processor Graphics ‡ | Intel® UHD Graphics | Intel® UHD Graphics | Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 655 | Intel® HD Graphics 630 |
| Integrated Graphics ‡ | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Graphics Output | HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) | HDMI 2.0b, Mini-DP 1.4 | HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) | 2x Mini-DP 1.2, 2x Thunderbolt 3, F+R HDMI 2.0a |
| # of Displays Supported‡ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Discrete Graphics | Radeon™ 540X, 2GB GDDR5 | Radeon™ RX Vega M GL graphics |
Expansion Options
| INTEL® NUC 10 PERFORMANCE MINI PC – NUC10I5FNHJA | INTEL® NUC 8 MAINSTREAM-G MINI PC (NUC8I5INH) | INTEL® NUC 8 HOME – A MINI PC WITH WINDOWS* 10 – NUC8I5BEHFA | INTEL® NUC 8 BUSINESS MINI PC – NUC8I7HNKQC WITH WINDOWS* 10 | |
| PCI Express Revision | Gen3 | Gen3 | Gen3 | Gen3 |
| PCI Express Configurations ‡ | M.2 slot with PCIe X4 lanes | M.2 slot with PCIe X4 lanes | M.2 slot with PCIe X4 lanes | Dual M.2 slots with PCIe x4 lanes |
| Removable Memory Card Slot | SDXC with UHS-II support | SDXC with UHS-I support | microSDXC with UHS-I support | SDXC with UHS-I support |
| M.2 Card Slot (storage) | 22×42/80 | 22×80 | 22×42/80 | 22×42/80, 22×80 |
| M.2 Card Slot (wireless) | 2230 |
I/O Specifications
| INTEL® NUC 10 PERFORMANCE MINI PC – NUC10I5FNHJA | INTEL® NUC 8 MAINSTREAM-G MINI PC (NUC8I5INH) | INTEL® NUC 8 HOME – A MINI PC WITH WINDOWS* 10 – NUC8I5BEHFA | INTEL® NUC 8 BUSINESS MINI PC – NUC8I7HNKQC WITH WINDOWS* 10 | |
| # of USB Ports | 7 | 6 | 6 | 13 |
| USB Configuration | 2x front (Type-A, Type-C) and 3x rear USB 3.1 Gen2 (2x Type-A, Type-C); 2x USB 2.0 via internal headers | 2x front and 2x rear USB 3.1 Gen2; 2x USB 2.0 via internal headers | 2x front and 3x rear USB 3.1 Gen2; 2x USB 2.0 via internal headers | F: USB3, 2x USB 3.1g2 (Type A and C); R: 4x USB3, 2x Thunderbolt3 (USB3.1g2); INT: 2x USB2, 2x USB3 |
| USB Revision | 2.0, 3.1 Gen2 | 2.0, 3.1 Gen2 | 2.0, 3.1 Gen2 | 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 Gen2 |
| USB 2.0 Configuration (External + Internal) | 0 + 2 | 0 + 2 | 0 + 2 | 0 + 2 |
| USB 3.0 Configuration (External + Internal) | 2B 2F + 0 | 2B 2F + 0 | 2B 2F + 0 | 1F, 4R, 2i |
| Total # of SATA Ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Max # of SATA 6.0 Gb/s Ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Audio (back channel + front channel) | 7.1 digital (HDMI mDP); L+R mic (F) | 7.1 digital (HDMI); L+R+mic (F) | 7.1 digital (HDMI mDP); L+R mic (F) | 7.1 digital; L+R+mic (F); L+R+TOSLINK (R) |
| Integrated LAN | Intel® Ethernet Connection I219-V | Intel® Ethernet Connection I219-V | Intel® Ethernet Connection I219-V | Intel® Ethernet Connection i219-LM and i210-AT |
| Integrated Wireless‡ | Intel® Wireless-AX MAC | Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 + Bluetooth 5.0 | Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 + Bluetooth 5.0 | Intel® Wireless-AC 8265 + Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Integrated Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Consumer Infrared Rx Sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Additional Headers | CEC, 2x USB2.0, FRONT_PANEL | CEC, 2x USB2.0 | CEC, 2x USB2.0, FRONT_PANEL | CEC, 2x USB2.0, 2x USB 3.0, FRONT_PANEL |
| # of Thunderbolt™ 3 Ports | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| RAID Configuration | 2.5″ HDD/SSD + M.2 SATA/PCIe SSD (RAID-0 RAID-1) | 2x M.2 SATA/PCIe SSD (RAID-0 RAID-1) | ||
| S/PDIF Out Connector | TOSLINK |
Advanced Technologies
| INTEL® NUC 10 PERFORMANCE MINI PC – NUC10I5FNHJA | INTEL® NUC 8 MAINSTREAM-G MINI PC (NUC8I5INH) | INTEL® NUC 8 HOME – A MINI PC WITH WINDOWS* 10 – NUC8I5BEHFA | INTEL® NUC 8 BUSINESS MINI PC – NUC8I7HNKQC WITH WINDOWS* 10 | |
| Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported ‡ | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) ‡ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility ‡ | No | No | No | No |
| TPM | No | No | No | No |
| Intel® HD Audio Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intel® Rapid Storage Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) ‡ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intel® Platform Trust Technology (Intel® PTT) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What is the best Intel NUC mini PC in 2020?
Intel® NUC 10 Performance Mini PC – NUC10i5FNHJA
- Intel® Core™ i5-10210U Processor (6M Cache, Up to 4.10 GHz)
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 51mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 10 Performance Mini PC – nuc10i7fnkpa
- Intel® Core™ i7-10710U Processor (12M Cache, Up to 4.7 GHz)
- M.2 SSD Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 38mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 10 Performance Mini PC – NUC10i3FNHFA
- Intel® Core™ i3-10110U Processor (4M Cache, Up to 4.10 GHz)
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 51mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 8 Mainstream-G Mini PC (NUC8i5INH)
- Intel® Core™ i5-8265U Processor (6M Cache, Up to 3.90 GHz)
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0b, Mini-DP 1.4 Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 51mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 8 Mainstream-G Mini PC (NUC8i7INH)
- Intel® Core™ i7-8565U Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.60 GHz)
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0b, Mini-DP 1.4 Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 51mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 8 Enthusiast, a Mini PC with Windows* 10 – NUC8i7BEKQA
- Intel® Core™ i7-8559U Processor
- M.2 SSD Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 36mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 8 Home – a Mini PC with Windows* 10 – NUC8i5BEHFA
- Intel® Core™ i5-8259U Processor
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 51mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 8 Home – a Mini PC with Windows* 10 – NUC8i3BEHFA
- Intel® Core™ i3-8109U Processor
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
- 117 x 112 x 51mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 8 Enthusiast Mini PC – NUC8i7HVKVA with Windows* 10
- Intel® Core™ i7-8809G Processor
- M.2 SSD Internal Drive Form Factor
- 2x Mini-DP 1.2, 2x Thunderbolt 3, F+R HDMI 2.0a Graphics Output
- 221 x 142 x 39mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 8 Business Mini PC – NUC8i7HNKQC with Windows* 10
- Intel® Core™ i7-8705G Processor
- M.2 SSD Internal Drive Form Factor
- 2x Mini-DP 1.2, 2x Thunderbolt 3, F+R HDMI 2.0a Graphics Output
- 221 x 142 x 39mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 7 Business Mini PC – NUC7i3DNHNC with Windows* 10 Pro
- Intel® Core™ i3-7100U Processor
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- Dual HDMI 2.0a, 4-lane eDP 1.4 Graphics Output
- 115 x 111 x 52 mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 7 Business Mini PC – NUC7i3DNKTC with Windows* 10 Pro
- Intel® Core™ i3-7100U Processor
- M.2 SSD Internal Drive Form Factor
- Dual HDMI 2.0a, 4-lane eDP 1.4 Graphics Output
- 115 x 111 x 36 mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 7 Essential Mini PC – NUC7CJYSAL with Windows* 10
- Intel® Celeron® J4005 Processor
- 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- 2x HDMI 2.0a Graphics Output
- 115 x 111 x 51mm Chassis Dimensions
Intel® NUC 7 Home Mini PC – NUC7i5BNHXF with Windows* 10
- Intel® Core™ i5-7260U Processor
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
Intel® NUC 7 Enthusiast Mini PC – NUC7i7BNHXG with Windows* 10
- Intel® Core™ i7-7567U Processor
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
Intel® NUC 7 Home Mini PC – NUC7i3BNHXF with Windows* 10
- Intel® Core™ i3-7100U Processor
- M.2 and 2.5″ Drive Internal Drive Form Factor
- HDMI 2.0a; USB-C (DP1.2) Graphics Output
Intel NUC mini PC – buying guide
Users and reviews insisted to consider below features before buying Intel NUC mini PC.
Price and value
Mini PCs are smaller than desktop PCs, but their size doesn’t make them cheaper—on the contrary, cramming everything into a small box is an engineering task you’ll pay a small premium for. Expect to pay between $600 and $800 for a mini PC capable enough to last you the next few years.
Processor
A mini PC needs a processor powerful enough to handle basic Web browsing, light photo editing, and any office programs you use. With the exception of our budget contenders, all the PCs in our test group have a eighth-generation Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor.
Memory
We recommend at least 8 GB of RAM for browsing the Web and handling basic productivity tasks. You can upgrade the RAM if you decide you need more. We were lenient on this component for budget models, which usually cap out at 4 GB of RAM, but you can often upgrade that to 8 GB or even 16 GB for $100 or less. Any less and a computer feels far too sluggish for even basic tasks.
Storage
A spinning hard drive can bog down an otherwise speedy computer, so a solid-state drive is requirement here. At least a 128 or (preferably) a 256 GB SSD should be available as a standard feature or as an upgrade. Budget picks can (and usually do) come with less, but you should still be able to add more storage later if you need it.
Wireless features
Every mini PC should come with both 802.11ac wireless networking and Bluetooth so you don’t have to waste USB ports by adding dongles for your wireless keyboards and mice or for Wi-Fi.
Preinstalled operating system
For our main pick, we decided we wanted Windows 10 installed, but we have a DIY option for people who use Linux or already have a copy of Windows (or don’t mind spending around $100 on one). Our Mac pick comes with macOS.
Size
There’s no specific size requirement for mini PCs, so we came up with our own. After we looked at general size trends, we decided a mini PC should be under 8 inches by 8 inches and no more than 3 inches in height. (Any larger, and you might as well get a mini-ITX computer, which has more room for expansion.) Because mini PCs fit almost anywhere, many clever mounting options are available. If a model has a VESA mount, you can hide the mini PC behind a monitor or underneath a desk.
Ports
A good mini PC comes with at least four USB ports. A great mini PC tosses in a USB Type-C and/or Thunderbolt port and an SD card reader. The ports should be split between the PC’s front and the back so you can access at least a couple of them without messing around at the back of the computer. A mini PC should have at least one DisplayPort 1.4 port or an HDMI 2.0 port, but it’s better to have two DisplayPort connections or one DisplayPort and one HDMI port for dual displays.
Ease of upgrades: You should be able to upgrade the memory and storage on any mini PC without much technical know-how.
Warranty: Most mini PCs come with at least a one-year warranty, but the best come with a two- or three-year warranty. The policy should cover any defects as well as tech support over the phone, chat, or email.
We considered the following features, but they didn’t change our recommendations.
Lack of bloatware: Nobody wants bloatware preinstalled on their PC, and it’s annoying for people who can’t figure out how to remove it. A mini PC free of manufacturer cruft is more desirable.
Low heat and noise: Like laptops, mini PCs cram a lot of power into a small case. While you won’t need to worry about burning your legs with a mini PC, you do need to make sure the case regulates temperature so it doesn’t overheat. Due to the system’s size, you might hear the fan kick on more often than with other computers, so it’s important the fan’s sound isn’t too annoying.
Power consumption: None of these mini PCs are power hungry since they all use low-power desktop and laptop processors, so a mini PC shouldn’t draw much power even when it’s working hard.