Intel NUC 12 Extreme evaluate: A robust DIY mini-desktop for creators and avid gamers alike | Engadget

Intel’s quest to ship the right mini-desktop continues with the NUC 12 Extreme, its newest “next unit of computing” DIY equipment. Code-named “Dragon Canyon,” it is mainly a barely upgraded model of final 12 months’s NUC 11 Extreme, which was notable for being the primary of its sort that would match a full-sized desktop graphics card. Now it has Intel’s hybrid Twelfth-gen desktop processors, which promise to be an enormous improve over final 12 months’s CPUs. While this newest equipment continues to be a bit cramped – and it will probably simply get costly when you add your individual RAM, SSD and GPU – the NUC 12 Extreme proves that Intel is clearly dedicated to the world of tiny desktops. And with Apple’s Mac Studio coming quickly, it could be extra compelling than ever for PC creators.

Gallery: Intel NUC 12 Extreme | 12 Photos


Given how a lot effort Intel put into creating a big NUC case final 12 months, it isn’t too stunning that the NUC 12 Extreme shares the identical 8-liter housing. It’s massive sufficient to slot in a 12-inch graphics card, however the remainder of its inside is tightly full of its energy provide and Compute Unit, a detachable card that homes its CPU, three NVMe SSD connections and two RAM slots. It’s clearly a case meant for gaming fanatics, with the telltale signal being the RGB LED cranium up entrance and extra lighting beneath. The NUC 12 Extreme is mainly the PC equal to a Honda Civic souped up for road racing: It cannot exist and not using a bit of glitz.

Pros

  • Powerful Twelfth-gen Intel CPUs
  • Three NVMe SSD slots
  • Support for 12-inch GPUs
  • All the ports you’d need

Cons

  • Expensive in comparison with different PC desktops
  • Design could also be a bit too gamer-centric for some

Despite its small stature, the NUC’s case has nearly all of the connectivity you’d need from a desktop. Up entrance, there’s a USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB 3.1 Type-A socket, an SDXC card slot and a headphone jack. And on the again of the Compute Card, there are two extra Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connections, six USB Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.0b socket and two Ethernet jacks (10GbE and a pair of.5Gb). We reviewed the NUC12EDBi9 equipment, which included the Core i9-12900 processor, however there’s additionally one other equipment with an i7-12700 obtainable.

Typically, Intel sends out pre-built NUC kits for evaluate so we will get straight to benchmarking. This 12 months, nevertheless, the corporate issued the identical DIY equipment customers would get, which solely consists of the case, PSU and Compute Card. That meant I needed to roll up my sleeves and put together for scraped knuckles – it was PC constructing time! I scrounged up 16GB of RAM and a one-terabyte Samsung SSD from the earlier NUC Extreme, together with a spare NVIDIA RTX 3080 card and acquired all the way down to enterprise.

Intel NUC 12 Extreme Compute Card opened, showing the CPU block, RAM slots and SSD.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Getting into the NUC Extreme is fairly easy: You simply should take away just a few screws from the rear, open up the portion of the case blocking the PCI slot screws and take away a facet panel to show its innards. Thankfully, I used to be ready so as to add within the RAM and SSD with out eradicating the Compute Card. But if you would like to take that out, maybe to improve to a more moderen mannequin down the road, you simply should hit a latch to unlock the three massive high followers, pull these again, and yank the cardboard out like another PCI card. You’ll should watch out when eradicating its antenna cables and energy connectors, however it’s straightforward sufficient in the event you’ve already acquired PC constructing expertise. Given the fragile nature of that course of, it isn’t one thing I’d advocate doing until you completely should, although.

Intel NUC 12 Extreme side profile

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The RTX 3080 simply match into the NUC Extreme’s PCIe slot, however I want there was a bit extra inner house to take care of all of its energy cables. As with strongest GPUs, the RTX 3080 requires two 8-pin PSU connections, that are connected to the cardboard by a dongle. It was a problem stuffing all of these cables into the NUC, and I used to be always apprehensive they’d be clipped by the GPU’s fan blades. I additionally had a tough time accessing the PCIe latch to take away the 3080 after I put in it. I used to be finally capable of unlock it with a flat-edge screwdriver, as I usually do in tight PC builds, however the latch flew off as quickly as I eliminated the cardboard. Clearly, there’s room for higher construct high quality.

Once I plugged every little thing in (and soothed my poor knuckles from being jammed into sharp edges and cables), I booted up the NUC and put in Windows 11 through a flash drive. Then, I rewarded myself the best way each PC builder should: I began gaming. I averaged round 100fps whereas taking part in Halo Infinite in my monitor’s ultrawide (3,440 by 1,440) decision with all the graphics settings cranked to most. That’s spectacular, however just about what I’d count on from any system powered by an RTX 3080. More notable, I’d say, is that the NUC was capable of play video games for hours with out overheating. I usually see CPU temperatures between 80 and 85 Celsius below load, whereas the GPU by no means surpassed 82C. Not dangerous for a system with severely restricted airflow and no room for any form of liquid cooling.

None

PCMark 10

3DMark (TimeSpy Extreme)

Geekbench 5 CPU

Intel NUC 12 Extreme (Intel Core i9-12900, NVIDIA RTX 3080)

7,914

8,217

1,762/13,371

Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Intel Core i9-11900KB, NVIDIA RTX 3060)

7,167

4,143

1,684/9,345

Alienware x14 (Intel Core i7-12700H, NVIDIA RTX 3060)

7,073

3,362

1,529/13,315

Intel NUC 9 Extreme (Core i9-9980HK. NVIDIA RTX 2070)

6,469

4,057

1,312/7,464

Benchmarking the NUC 12 Extreme additionally made it clear that Intel’s Twelfth-gen processors are a critical improve. Its GeekBench 5 CPU rating was the best we have seen on any system; the closest match was the Alienware x14, powered by the Twelfth-gen Core i7-12700H, adopted by Apple’s 16-inch MacE-book Pro with an M1 Max. The NUC’s multi-core rating was additionally round 4,000 factors greater than final 12 months’s mannequin, which makes it a fair better option for creators doing critical rendering work. It additionally achieved the best PCMark 10 rating we have seen but, although that is partially influenced by GPU energy.

Intel NUC 12 Extreme rear ports

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

While these benchmarks do not inform the complete story, they point out that the NUC 12 Extreme may very well be a strong workhorse that’ll serve you effectively for years. Of course, its general efficiency is determined by all the different {hardware} you configure it with. But at the least you are free to improve the RAM, SSD and GPU down the road, one thing you’ll be able to’t do with a competitor like Apple’s Mac Studio.

When I began testing this NUC equipment, I used to be involved it was going to be one other overly costly curiosity like its predecessors. Why spend 1000’s greater than a regular mid-tower or mini-ITX desktop system simply to have a barely smaller field in your desk? It’s nonetheless fairly dear: The Core i7 Kit begins at $1,150, whereas the Core i9 mannequin we’re reviewing sells for $1,450, and you then’ll have so as to add round $1,000 for a GPU, reminiscence, SSD and OS. But you recognize what? Apple’s Mac Studio additionally begins at $2,000, and whereas it features a hefty 32GB of RAM, you will in all probability wish to add a 1TB or 2TB SSD for a further $200 or $400. Basically, if you need tiny desktop energy, be ready to pay.

Intel NUC 12 Extreme compute card

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

If something, Intel was simply forward of the present mini-desktop second. If you are available in the market for one, and also you get pleasure from getting down and soiled with PC {hardware}, then the NUC 12 Extreme will serve you effectively. While the Mac Studio is sleeker and does not require any scraped knuckles, macOS additionally does not have practically the identical degree of gaming help as a Windows PC, so it is primarily meant for work. Apple Arcade titles are good and all, however they’re no substitute for having a tiny field that’ll play Elden Ring.

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