The NUC 13 Pro Vivid Canyon is the latest example of the NUC philosophy, blending aesthetic design and performance thanks to its twelve-core Raptor Lake processor and solid connectivity options.
The world of mini PCs is an increasingly attractive niche for manufacturers such as Intel and its NUC (Next Unit of Computing) range. To understand what a NUC is and Intel’s intention behind these devices, it is necessary to return to the concept of minicomputers.
Minimize footprint without sacrificing power and performance
Mini PCs aim to reduce bulk as much as possible without sacrificing power and performance. Obviously, these mini PCs actually cool less well and are therefore less efficient than large towers, but they are often very well thought out. They are full-fledged desktop computers capable of running common office applications and sometimes even more resource-intensive tasks such as video games or image processing. They are valued for their compactness, their low energy consumption and their silence. One of the most popular mini PCs is undoubtedly Apple’s Mac Mini, that went on the M2 a few weeks ago.
Intel, for its part, has created its NUC range with the intention of pushing the mini PC concept even further. The NUC is designed to promote Intel’s platforms and show what can be achieved in terms of performance in a minimal footprint. They deliver a full PC experience in an ultra-compact form factor, which is a plus for users looking for a space-saving desktop computing solution. Although NUCs are now available in a gaming tower versionwith a dedicated graphics card, the NUC lives on in its original format.
NUC 13 Pro Vivid Canyon: Raptor Lake at the controls
The NUC 13 Pro Vivid Canyon is the latest embodiment of this vision. Its aluminum case, honeycomb vents and white textured top testify to Intel’s efforts to balance aesthetics and performance in a small space.
Featuresa Raptor Lake processor With twelve cores, 13ᵉ generation, available in two versions: Intel Core i5-1340P or Intel Core i7-1360P, the NUC 13 Pro Vivid Canyon promises solid performance. However, the challenge for Intel will be to show that the NUC’s small size does not limit its capabilities, especially in terms of cooling and power management.
Connectivity is also a key feature of the Vivid Canyon NUC 13 Pro, with multiple USB and Thunderbolt ports, support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and the ability to connect up to four 4K displays. These are impressive features for a device of this size, but their practical implementation remains to be demonstrated.
Its price, ranging from $625 to $949 in the full version and from $420 to $630 in a kit without storage (no RAM or SSD), may also be a deterrent for some users. And we understand them.
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