Intel Hades Canyon NUC (review) has just about everything you’d want in a desktop, thanks to a single chip that houses Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7 CPU and AMD’s RX Vega M GPU. This is one of the first devices to use that hybrid processor, the product of a “frenemy” deal between Intel and AMD. It lives up to the meaning behind the NUC acronym: it’s the “next unit of computing.” How much is Intel Hades Canyon NUC price?
It’s easily the smallest VR-capable PC that marries together an Intel quad-core processor with integrated, ‘discrete-class’ AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics into a single chip. With all that power under its belt, this gaming PC easily smashes through Full HD gaming with most modern titles and performs like a productivity champ. Discover more on Intel Hades Canyon NUC review. What are the Intel Hades Canyon NUC specs?
Intel Hades Canyon NUC specs
Here are the Intel Hades Canyon NUC specs –
- CPU: 3.1GHz Intel Core i7-8809G (quad-core, 8MB Cache, up to 4.2GHz)
- Graphics: Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics (4GB HBM2 VRAM), Intel UHD Graphics 630
- RAM: Kingston HyperX 16GB DDR4 (3,200MHz)
- Storage: 118GB Intel Optane SSD 800P Series (NVMe), 512GB Intel SSD 545s Series (M.2 SATA)
- Ports (front): 1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2, 1 x USB-A 3.1 Gen 2, 1 x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, SD card reader, HDMI 2.0a
- Ports (rear): 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 4 x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0a, 2 x mini DisplayPort, 2 x Ethernet, optical audio out
- Connectivity: Intel Wireless-AC 8265, Bluetooth 4.2
- Weight: 2 pounds (0.91kg)
- Size: 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.54 inches (22.1 x 14.2 x 3.9cm; W x D x H)
Compare Intel Hades Canyon NUC models
| PCMark 7 | PCMark 8 (Creative Accelerated) | 3DMark 11 | 3DMark (Sky Diver) | ATTO (top reads/writes) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Hades Canyon NUC (3.1GHz Core i7-8809G, AMD RX Vega M GH) | 7,421 | 5,761 | E16,636 / P13,219 / X3,159 | 24,082 | 1.47 GB/s / 599 MB/s |
| Intel Skull Canyon NUC (2.6GHz Core i7-6770HQ, Intel Iris Pro 580) | 6,130 | 5,634 | E5,105/ P3,085/ X844 | 7,797 | 2.5 GB/s / 1.5 GB/s |
| Gigabyte Aero 15X 2018 (2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H, NVIDIA GTX 1070 Max-Q) | 6,420 | 6,558 | E18,920 / P15,130 / X6,503 | 30,270 | 2.4 GB/s / 1.5 GB/s |
| HP Omen 15 (2.8GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GTX 1060) | 6,727 | 6,436 | E14,585 / P11,530 / X4,417 | 20,659 | 1.7 GB/s / 704 MB/s |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus (2.8GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GTX 1080) | 6,030 | 7,137 | E20,000 / P17,017 / X7,793 | 31,624 | 3.4 GB/s / 1.64 GB/s |
| Razer Blade Pro 2016 (2.6GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ, NVIDIA GTX 1080) | 6,884 | 6,995 | E18,231 / P16,346 | 27,034 | 2.75 GB/s / 1.1 GB/s |
| HP Spectre x360 (2016, 2.7GHz Core i7-7500U, Intel HD 620) | 5,515 | 4,354 | E2,656 / P1,720 / X444 | 3,743 | 1.76 GB/s / 579 MB/s |
Intel Hades Canyon NUC review
Design
Designed as an exercise in cramming as much compute performance into as small a space as possible, the Hades Canyon is barely recognisable as a NUC. The original 4in x 4in square of Intel’s Next Unit of Computing motherboard layout is nowhere to be found, replaced instead with a wide angular box adorned with a light-up skull decal that glows blue and pinkish-red when the system is powered on – and which, thankfully, can be switched off.
Weighing in at just over 2KG, it’s surprisingly heavy for a mini-PC (especially one with no heatsink) and the 222mm width makes it one of the widest entries in this particular category. The upside to this, of course, is that it has allowed Intel to cram it full of ports – which we’ll come to shortly.
Hardware
While its predecessor was already impressive, what makes the Hades Canyon NUC stand out is its combination of CPU and GPU power. It would have been unthinkable in a machine this size a few years ago, and it’s still noteworthy today. Intel claims it’s the smallest VR capable machine on the market, and we’re inclined to believe them. Other compact VR desktop systems, like HP’s, are significantly larger.
Under the hood, which you can access easily by removing the top of the case, you’ve got easy access to all of the internal ports. That includes space for two M.2 SSDs, two DDR4 RAM slots (supporting up to 32GB), and two SATA connections (Intel Hades Canyon NUC specs). Like all of Intel’s NUCs, it’s a barebones box, so you’ll have to buy your own RAM, storage and OS to get going. That’s at least another $500 on top of the machine’s $999 price tag, but it’s within the price range of similar mini-desktops ( Intel Hades Canyon NUC price ).
Another thing worth mentioning: the NUC’s power adapter is comically large. It’s almost as heavy as the device itself. That makes sense, given how much power is going through this little box, but it hinders portability significantly.
Intel Hades Canyon NUC ports and features review
Where the Hades Canyon really excels, though, is its connectivity. Its front panel includes no fewer than three USB ports – one USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, one USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 and a USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 – alongside an analogue headset port, a full-size SD card slot and an HDMI port. This latter port can be used simultaneously alongside the HDMI, two mini-DisplayPort, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports at the rear to drive a total of six independent displays. That’s even more than the QuietPC Mini Multi Display PC, which is specifically designed as a digital signage system.
The twin Thunderbolt 3 ports are worth a second look, too. Based on the standard that is set to form the heart of USB 4, the Hades Canyon Thunderbolt 3 ports combine USB 3.1 Gen 2 and DisplayPort connectivity with power delivery and PCI Express lanes on a single cable terminated in a USB-C connector. This also means that the Hades Canyon is fully compatible with external graphics card housings, in case the on-chip Radeon graphics aren’t doing the trick, or simply used to add high-speed external storage should you fill up the two M.2 slots.
Those who are a little underwhelmed by the performance of the Hades Canyon do have an alternative option to investigate: its bigger brother, the NUC8i7HVK. Marketed by Intel as being “VR-ready”, it switches to a faster Core i7-8809G with Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics processor for improved general-purpose and graphics compute performance, albeit for a 130 premium over the model reviewed. In this context, the front-facing HDMI and USB ports make perfect sense, providing an easy way to connect and disconnect a virtual reality headset without needing to start fiddling around the back of the chassis.
Intel Hades Canyon NUC performance review
The ‘discrete-class’ Radeon RX Vega graphics are every bit as impressive as Intel and AMD promised. We can play all our favorite games, including Far Cry 5 and Warhammer: Vermintide 2, at a steady 60 frames per second (fps) with high-quality graphical settings and a 1080p resolution.
Even more impressive is that the little PC holds it own through Overwatch and Hitman at 1440p with HDR active on a Samsung CHG70 QLED gaming monitor. The only title to give us some measurable difficulty is Assassin’s Creed Origins, but it still runs at a completely playable 40fps with high quality settings and a 1080p resolution.
- 3DMark: Sky Diver: 24,315; Fire Strike: 8,525; Time Spy: 3,102
- Cinebench CPU: 851 points; Graphics: 151 fps
- GeekBench: 5,152 (single-core); 17,191 (multi-core)
- PCMark 8 (Home Test): 4,276 points
- Total War: Warhammer II (1080p, Ultra): 28 fps; (1080p, Low): 60 fps
- ME: Shadow of War (1080p, Ultra): 37 fps; (1080p, Low): 89 fps
Outside of gaming, the Intel Hades Canyon NUC runs like a champ through all our regular web browsing and word processing, as well as our image and video editing needs. For those multi-monitor fans, the Intel Hades Canyon NUC can also drive up to six screens.
Compared to comparable notebook hardware in the 15-inch Microsoft Surface Book 2, the Intel NUC almost wins the complete race in both processor and graphically intensive tests. A full-on gaming laptop like the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming manages to close the gap a little better, but for the most part the Hades Canyon stays on top.
Meanwhile, a gaming PC with actual desktop parts, like the Asus ROG G20CI, proves to be tougher competition. While the NUC manages to score better in the processor tests, the integrated graphics just can’t keep up with a Nvidia GTX 1080 – then again, neither could the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64.