The Evolution of Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC): A Versatile Powerhouse

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Evolution of the Next Unit of Computing (NUC)
3. First Generation: Sandy Bridge
   1. Ski Lake (DCP847SK) and Deep Canyon (DCCP847DY)
4. Second Generation: Ivy Bridge
   1. Golden Lake (D33217GK) and Ice Canyon (DC3217IY)
   2. Campers Lake (D33217CK) and Box Canyon (DC3217BY)
   3. Rend Lake (D53427RK) and Horse Canyon (DC53427HY)
5. Third Generation: Bay Trail
   1. Forest Canyon (DN2820FYB)
6. Fourth Generation: Haswell
   1. Wilson Canyon (D34010WYB and D54250WYB)
7. Fifth Generation: Broadwell
   1. Rock Canyon (NUC5i3RYB, NUC5i5RYB, NUC5i7RYB)
   2. Maple Canyon (NUC5i3MYBE, NUC5i5MYBE)
8. Sixth Generation: Skylake
   1. Swift Canyon (NUC6i3SYK/NUC6i3SYH, NUC6i5SYK/NUC6i5SYH)
   2. Skull Canyon (NUC6i7KYK)
9. Seventh Generation: Kaby Lake
   1. Baby Canyon
   2. Dawson Canyon
10. Eighth Generation: Kaby Lake-G and Coffee Lake
    1. Hades Canyon (Kaby Lake-G)
    2. Bean Canyon (Coffee Lake)
    3. Crimson Canyon (Cannon Lake)
11. Reception and Ecosystem
12. Operating System Support

Evolution of the Next Unit of Computing (NUC)

The Next Unit of Computing (NUC) is a small-form-factor computer case designed by Intel. Since its inception, the NUC has gone through several generations, each offering improvements in performance, design, and functionality. Let's take a closer look at the evolution of the NUC and the different generations it has seen.

First Generation: Sandy Bridge

The first generation of the NUC featured CPUs based on Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture. These CPUs, including Celeron models, offered a significant boost in performance compared to previous generations. The NUC motherboards in this generation were codenamed Ski Lake (DCP847SK) and Deep Canyon (DCCP847DY).

Second Generation: Ivy Bridge

The second generation of the NUC introduced CPUs based on Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture. This generation included both Core i3 and i5 models, which provided even better performance than the previous generation. The NUC motherboards in this generation were codenamed Golden Lake (D33217GK), Ice Canyon (DC3217IY), Campers Lake (D33217CK), Box Canyon (DC3217BY), Rend Lake (D53427RK), and Horse Canyon (DC53427HY).

Third Generation: Bay Trail

The third generation of the NUC featured CPUs based on Intel's Bay Trail architecture. These CPUs, including Celeron models, offered improved power efficiency and performance. The NUC motherboard in this generation was codenamed Forest Canyon (DN2820FYB).

Fourth Generation: Haswell

The fourth generation of the NUC introduced CPUs based on Intel's Haswell architecture. These CPUs provided a significant performance boost compared to the previous generations. The NUC motherboards in this generation were codenamed Wilson Canyon (D34010WYB and D54250WYB).

Fifth Generation: Broadwell

The fifth generation of the NUC featured CPUs based on Intel's Broadwell architecture. These CPUs offered improved power efficiency and performance. The NUC motherboards in this generation were codenamed Rock Canyon (NUC5i3RYB, NUC5i5RYB, NUC5i7RYB) and Maple Canyon (NUC5i3MYBE, NUC5i5MYBE).

Sixth Generation: Skylake

The sixth generation of the NUC introduced CPUs based on Intel's Skylake architecture. These CPUs provided improved performance and power efficiency. The NUC system kits in this generation were codenamed Swift Canyon (NUC6i3SYK/NUC6i3SYH, NUC6i5SYK/NUC6i5SYH) and Skull Canyon (NUC6i7KYK).

Seventh Generation: Kaby Lake

The seventh generation of the NUC featured CPUs based on Intel's Kaby Lake architecture. These CPUs offered further improvements in performance and power efficiency. The NUC models in this generation were codenamed Baby Canyon and Dawson Canyon.

Eighth Generation: Kaby Lake-G and Coffee Lake

The eighth generation of the NUC introduced CPUs based on Intel's Kaby Lake-G and Coffee Lake architectures. These CPUs provided significant performance enhancements and new features. The NUC models in this generation were codenamed Hades Canyon (Kaby Lake-G), Bean Canyon (Coffee Lake), and Crimson Canyon (Cannon Lake).

Reception and Ecosystem

The NUC has been well-received by reviewers, with some comparing it to Apple's Mac Mini and others seeing it as a more powerful alternative to the Raspberry Pi. The NUC's compact size and versatility have made it popular among users who desire a powerful computing solution in a small form factor.

The NUC ecosystem has also grown over the years, with third-party cases available for those who want to customize their NUCs. The availability of different generation NUC boards without a case allows users to build their own NUC systems according to their specific requirements.

Operating System Support

NUCs support various operating systems, including Microsoft Windows and Linux distributions. They can also be used for virtualization with VMware vSphere, making them suitable for creating home labs for learning purposes.

It is worth noting that although not officially supported, it is possible to install MacOS on a NUC, creating a "Hackintosh" setup. However, this may come with limitations in functionality and may require some technical know-how.

Overall, the Next Unit of Computing (NUC) has evolved over the years, offering users compact and powerful computing solutions for various use cases. With each generation, the NUC has seen improvements in performance, design, and features, making it a versatile option for both personal and professional use.

Resources:

• Intel NUC official website
• Gigabyte BRIX official website