Intel equips NUC mini PCs with Braswell socs
Intel will soon release ‘Rock Canyon’ NUC mini PCs with Braswell SOCs. The small PC, to which the buyer still has to add memory, storage and an OS, now has a Toslink connection. Despite the processor’s 6W TDP, the device is not passively cooled.
The two mini PCs codenamed “Rock Canyon” about which data has come online are part of the fifth generation of Intel’s Next Unit of Computing line. Recently, mini PCs of that generation with Intel Broadwell processors appeared; now Intel also comes with models with Braswell-soc, which should consume less power due to the lower TDP of 6W, but which are also less powerful. The small computers measuring 10.2 x 10.2 cm already have a motherboard, processor and housing, but the buyer still has to add memory, storage and an operating system.
The first model, the NUC5CPYH, features a Celeron N3050 soc with two cores. The NUC5PPYH has a quad-core Pentium N3700 soc. Both processors have a standard clock speed of 1.6GHz, with a boost to 2.4GHz. The PCs can be expanded with a 2.5″ SSD or hard disk; up to 8GB DDR3L can also be placed in the single memory slot. An SSD of that form factor can also be placed via an optional m.2 module.
The mini PCs have four USB ports, just like the other fifth-generation NUC PCs that are already on the market, according to a document from Intel. New is the toslink connection on the back, while mini display port has been omitted. Furthermore, the mini PCs have support for WiFi-ac, an SD card reader, a gigabit Ethernet port, an infrared port and a combined headphone/microphone connection. Image can be output via HDMI 1.4 and optional VGA.
Like the other fifth-generation NUCs, the Rock Canyon models feature a new housing with a replaceable top. Although Intel itself does not sell replacements, it has put the lid specifications and files for 3D printers online. For example, users or companies can release a cover with extra functionality, such as NFC or extra USB ports.
Recently, rumors surfaced that ASRock would also be coming out with a Braswell mini PC called Beebox soon. That PC would have usb-c and would also be available in a complete configuration including OS. Rumor has it that the Beebox will be cooled without a fan; technical data from the board version of Intel’s Braswell-NUC shows that this is not the case for Intel’s Rock Canyon PCs.
According to Fanlesstech, both devices will be released in the US on June 8. The model with the Celeron soc would cost less than 140 dollars there, converted 129 euros. The price of the NUC with Pentium-soc would be below USD 180. It is not yet clear when the NUCs will come out here and for what price.