How this Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit (NUC8I7HVK) review will help you? The Intel NUC8i7HVK kit with an 8th gen Intel Core i7 processor with Radeon RX Vega M graphics has the power for riveting virtual reality in the smallest VR-optimized kit available. Intel’s Core i7 processors offer surprisingly good performance in an incredibly small package.
The Intel® NUC NUC8I7HVK mini PC is agile in games and applications, and it offers the connectivity to satisfy true enthusiasts. Just be ready to shell out some serious cash for the privilege of owning one. You’re also on the hook for storage, memory, and an operating system. And with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, front and rear HDMI ports, and six USB 3.1 ports, you have enough connectivity for your peripherals now and in the future. Reveal more in Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit (NUC8I7HVK) review.
Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit (NUC8I7HVK) specs
| Screen Size | 1 |
|---|---|
| Processor | 3.1 GHz Intel Core i7 |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Drive | Flash Memory Solid State |
| Graphics Coprocessor | RadeonTM RX Vega M GH Graphics |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 32 GB |
| Wireless Type | 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 5 |
| Brand Name | Intel |
|---|---|
| Series | BOXNUC8I7HVK1 |
| Item model number | BOXNUC8i7HVK1 |
| Item Weight | 6.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 10.8 x 7.8 x 4.8 inches |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 10.8 x 7.8 x 4.8 inches |
| Processor Brand | Intel |
| Processor Count | 4 |
| Hard Drive Interface | eSATA |
| Hard Drive Rotational Speed | 7200 RPM |
| Optical Drive Type | None |
| Voltage | 120240 volts |
Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit
| INTELNUC PRODUCT | INTELNUC KIT NUC8i7HNK (65 WATTS) | INTELNUC KIT NUC8i7HVK (100 WATTS) |
|---|---|---|
| PROCESSOR | 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8705G Processor with Radeon RX Vega M GL Graphics | 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8809G Processor with Radeon RX Vega M GH Graphics – Unlocked! |
| PROCESSOR SPEED | 3.1GHz Base Clock, 4.1GHz Turbo | 3.1GHz Base Clock, 4.2GHz Turbo |
| MEMORY | Dual-Channel DDR4 2400+ SODIMM Up to 32GB | Dual-Channel DDR4 2400+ SODIMM Up to 32GB |
| GRAPHICS | 4GB Radeon RX Vega M GL | 4GB Radeon RX Vega M GH |
| AUDIO | 7.1 Digital Audio, 3.5mm Front Headset Jack, 3.5mm Rear Speaker/TOSLINK Combo Jack | 7.1 Digital Audio, 3.5mm Front Headset Jack, 3.5mm Rear Speaker/TOSLINK Combo Jack |
| PERIPHERAL CONNECTIVITY | 2x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C, 5x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x LAN, 2x Mini DisplayPort, 2x HDMI 2.0b | 2x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C, 5x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x LAN, 2x Mini DisplayPort, 2x HDMI 2.0b |
| STORAGE | 2x M.2 22×80 SSD NVMe and SATA | 2x M.2 22×80 SSD NVMe and SATA |
| NETWORKING | Intel Wireless-AC 8265 M.2 22×30 Card, Intel Wired i210-AT and i219-LM | Intel Wireless-AC 8265 M.2 22×30 Card, Intel Wired i210-AT and i219-LM |
Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit (NUC8I7HVK) review
Design
At just 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches, it’s notably bigger than the Kangaroo Plus Mobile Desktop (4.9 x 3.2 x 0.5 inches) but much slimmer and shorter than the Alienware Alpha (7.9 x 7.9 x 2.2 inches). It’s a fraction of the size of a game console and will barely make a dent on your desk.
Hardware
Each configuration comes equipped with a different combination of Intel processor and AMD GPU. Inside the NUC8i7HVK is the 100W Core i7-8809G, which houses a quad-core, eight-thread mobile CPU and Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics.
The processor is equivalent to Intel’s 45W H-series mobile CPUs (complete with active integrated graphics that can handle video playback and other basic tasks), though its power requirements differ slightly. The actual power consumed varies depending on CPU and GPU loads, as Intel designed the package with a shared power budget and uses what it calls dynamic tuning to allow each component a greater ability to reach its max boost. As mentioned previously, it’s overclockable, with stock settings of a 3.1GHz base clock and 4.2GHz Turbo. Intel says that it’s gotten up to 4.7GHz when overclocking (Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit (NUC8I7HVK) review).
Linked to the processor by eight PCIe lanes is the Vega M GH, which runs at a 1,063MHz base clock and 1,190MHz boost clock. The GH variant of Vega M comes with 24 compute units and 4GB of HBM2 memory, along with a slightly faster memory bandwidth of 204.8GB per second. It also supports output to six 4K displays simultaneously, with up to five at 60Hz and the sixth at 30Hz. Like the CPU, you can overclock the Vega M GH and the HBM2 memory.
Backing this star CPU-GPU pairing is a whole array of equally powerhouse technology. Two M.2 slots can take SATA 6Gbps or x4 PCIe Gen 3 (AHCI or NVMe) drives in either a 42mm or 80mm length, with the option to run two drives in RAID 0 or RAID 1. An Intel Wireless-AC 8265 card handles both 802.11ac 2×2 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. Two SO-DIMM sockets accept up to 32GB of DDR4/2,400MHz RAM at 1.2V, and support overclocked DDR4 RAM. There’s even a beam-forming, far-field, quad-mic array included this time around (Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit (NUC8I7HVK) review).
Ports
Despite its small size, the NUC 8 Performance-G kit is absolutely loaded with ports. The mini PC features two USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port, an SD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack up front, as well as a front-facing HDMI port for easy VR setup.
In the back, you’ll find four USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, two Ethernet ports and an optical audio jack. You’ll also find two mini DisplayPort 1.2 ports, as well as an HDMI port, giving you plenty of options for connecting to your monitors.
The NUC 8 Performance-G kit is a bare-bones system, meaning all you get out of the box is the PC’s Intel Core i7-8009G/AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH hybrid chip. You’ll have to supply your own memory, storage and operating system.
For the purpose of this review, Intel supplied us with a 512GB Intel 545s series SSD ($139), an Intel Optane SSD 800P ($115), two units of HyperX 8GB DDR4-3200 RAM ($94 each) and a new copy of Windows 10 ($119). Naturally, costs will vary based on what you decide to put into your NUC, but the price of those parts combined with our $999 review unit totals out to about $1,400 for a fully configured system.
Intel NUC 8 Performance-G kit (NUC8I7HVK) Gaming Performance review
The new NUC’s big calling card is its 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 with Radeon RX Vega M processor (also known as Kaby Lake G), which combines a traditional Intel CPU with discrete AMD graphics, all within a single chip.
This design is meant to provide desktop-gaming-grade performance within a mobile-size CPU, and if our time with NUC is any indication, it succeeds strongly on that front. Our NUC turned in comparable performance to what you’d get out of an entry-level, Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti-powered gaming tower, and it even handled a bit of VR.
Intel’s PC ran our Hitman benchmark (1080p, max settings) at an impressive 59 frames per second, besting Lenovo’s compact Legion Y720 Cube desktop (52, Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti) but falling short of our 87-fps gaming desktop average.
The NUC tied the Legion on our Grand Theft Auto V test (1080p, max settings), with both PCs turning in a highly playable 33 fps while trailing our 82-fps average.
Intel’s tiny desktop can handle virtual reality, but don’t expect an optimal experience. The NUC scored a 4.6 out of 11 on the SteamVR Performance Test, netting it a “medium” grade. This means it’s capable of churning out VR, but not recommended for the highest-fidelity experience.
In synthetic tests, the NUC scored a 8,451 on the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark. That puts the NUC above the Legion (6,166), but way below our 14,070 average.
Overall Performance
The Intel Core i7-8809G CPU proved just as capable for everyday multitasking as it was for gaming.Advertisement
The NUC netted a 17,683 on the Geekbench 4.1 overall performance test, topping the Legion Y720 (8,110; Intel Core i3-7100U) while trailing our 18,238 category average.
The 512GB Intel 545s series SSD that came with our unit proved zippy, copying roughly 5GB of files in 16 seconds, for a rate of 310 MB per second. That scorches the score for the Legion’s 1TB hard drive (69 MBps), but just misses our 343-MBps gaming average.
Alternate
The NUC 8 Performance-G kit is an excellent showpiece for the potential of Kaby Lake G, offering mi-range gaming performance and respectable VR capabilities within an absolutely tiny chassis. The customizable RGB lighting is a nice added touch, and the system’s plethora of ports make it ideal for command centers and living rooms alike.
However, the NUC’s performance comes at a high price. Once you take the highest-end, VR-ready nook and add in your own memory, storage and operating system, you’re looking at up to $1,400 in total. That’s not exactly the best value, considering you can get a comparably powerful and fully featured tower, such as the Lenovo Legion Y720 Cube, for as little as $599. Still, if you’re a mini PC enthusiast who doesn’t mind splurging on a bare-bones system, you’ll find some killer performance tucked away inside Intel’s unassuming NUC.