The Mini PC: A Portable Powerhouse

I've done just a few videos on desktops. Usually, I take a look at the big, beefy, gaming rigs. So sure, it's great to have a lot of graphics, horsepower, and a ton of storage; however, sometimes I like to take a look at something just a little bit smaller.

This is a complete mini-PC. Or at least it says that on the box. This is an Intel NUC. So this is about the cheapest version of the NUC that you can buy that's ready to go out of the box, however, there are different models that are even cheaper, if you don't mind supplying your own drive and Windows, or if you need more power, you can also get these things with Core i3s and Core i5s.

Inside the box, we get the NUC itself. These are really helpful little computers. As you can see, it is actually really tiny. I mean, it really does fit in the palm of your hand. The idea here is that this is really meant for more basic tasks such as Excel or web-browsing; but I'm curious what we can actually do with it.

It also comes with a VESA mount, so because this is so small, in theory you could just pop this right onto the back of a monitor. We also have a pretty small power adapter. Alongside that we have all the different international adapters, depending on what country you're from. And that's pretty much it for the actual unboxing.

Take a look around the NUC, and you'll see it's a pretty cool little piece of tech. Up front we have a pair of USB 3 ports, one of which will charge your devices even when the NUC is off. And on back, you have two more USB ports, you have optical/3.5 audio out, a VGA port, Gigabit Ethernet, as well HDMI. What's cool about this is that it's HDMI 2.0, which means that this tiny little PC can do 4k 60 hertz output.

So what's nice about the NUC is it really is just so portable. Inside my bag here, I have everything I need for a full desktop setup. So, I have a wireless keyboard with a trackpad as well as all the stuff I need to actually get the NUC up and running, which includes the tiny power adapter and the NUC itself.

Inside the NUC, it's rocking an Intel Celeron J3455 Quad Core processor, two gigabytes of memory, and 32 gigs of storage. Now that might not sound like a lot, however, not only can you upgrade to those core i3 and i5 models if you do need more horsepower, but on top of that, you can easily upgrade this guy with additional RAM and storage.

The NUC is meant to be fairly easy to open. If you get a Bare Bones version, you actually have to open it up to put things in like memory and a hard drive, but even this one, even though it is pretty much ready to go out of the box, does have some upgrade options. If you take the four screws on the bottom out, you have access to the two-and-a-half inch drive bay.

Below that, not only can you get at the WiFi card, which this already has installed, but also the memory. This NUC has two gigabytes of RAM pre-installed. However, it's easy enough to just pop this out and upgrade it with four or even eight gigabytes no problem. So since this guy only has 32 gigs of storage built in, it's easy enough to just add an external drive.

So whether you want something that's for a home theater use, you want something that's a little bit portable, or you just don't need a giant desk to be able to basic stuff like web browsing, then the NUC might be worth a look.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- So, I've done just afew videos on desktops.Usually, I take a look atthe big, beefy, gaming rigs.So sure, it's great tohave a lot of graphics,horsepower, and a ton of storage,however, sometimes, Ilike to take a look atsomething just a little bit smaller.So this is a complete mini-PC.Or at least it says that on the box.This is an Intel NUC.So this is about the cheapest version ofthe NUC that you can buy that'sready to go out of the box.However, there are differentmodels that are even cheaper,if you don't mind supplyingyour own drive and Windows,or if you need more power,you can also get these thingswith Core i3s and Core i5s.So inside the box, we get the NUC itself.So, these are reallyhelpful little computers.So as you can see, itis actually really tiny.I mean, it really does fitin the palm of your hand.The idea here is that this is really meantfor more basic tasks, suchas Excel or web-browsing,but I'm curious what wecan actually do with it.It also comes with a VESA mount,so, because this is so small,in theory you could just pop thisright onto the back of a monitor.We also have a pretty small power adapter.Alongside that we have all the differentinternational adapters,depending on what country you're from.And that's pretty much itfor the actual unboxing.Take a look around the NUC,and you'll see it's a prettycool little piece of tech.Up front we have a pair of USB 3 ports,one of which will charge your deviceseven when the NUC is off.And on back, you have two more USB ports,you have optical/3.5audio out, a VGA port,Gigabit Ethernet, as well HDMI.And what's cool aboutthis is that's HDMI 2.0,which means that this tiny little PCcan do 4k 60 hertz output.So what's nice about the NUCis it really is just so portable.So inside my bag here,I have everything I needfor a full desktop setup.So, I have a wirelesskeyboard with a trackpadas well as all the stuff I need toactually get the NUC up and running,which includes the tiny power adapterand the NUC itself.Inside the NUC,it's rocking an Intel CeleronJ3455 Quad Core processor,two gigabytes of memoryand 32 gigs of storage.Now, that might not sound like a lot,however, not only can you upgradeto those core i3 and i5 modelsif you do need more horsepower,but on top of that, youcan easily upgrade this guywith additional RAM and storage.So the NUC is meant tobe fairly easy to open.If you get a Bare Bones version,you actually have to open it upto put things in likememory and a hard drive,but even this one,even though it is pretty muchready to go out of the box,does have some upgrade options.If you take the fourscrews on the bottom out,you have access to the twoand half inch drive bay.Below that, not only canyou get at the WiFi card,which this already has installed,but also the memory.So this NUC has two gigsof RAM pre-installed.However, it's easy enoughto just pop this outand upgrade it with four oreven eight gigabytes no problem.So since this guy only has32 gigs of storage built in,it's easy enough to just throw in an SSDor in fact, just any kindof regular hard drive.So all you need to do is just line it upand it should pretty muchclick right into place.As simple as that we have upgraded our NUCwith a full SSD!And now all you have to do isjust screw the top panel back on,and we're up and running.So, while the NUC might not bethe most powerful PC in the world,it actually can handle some light gamingsuch as Minecraft.So we're averaging around 40or 50 frames per second here.Now, no, we're not ready to playCrisis on ultimate settings,however, as long as you keep in mindthat this is a $200 mini-PCthat actually can handlesome light gaming.Now, on top of that,you can actually upgradethe performance a little bitby adding an additional DIMM of RAM.It might not make a huge difference,but by running this thing in dual channel,you should get a little bitmore performance out of it.Something else you can dowith the NUC is game stream.It has dual band AC Wi-Fi,which means that even if you don'thave it connected via ethernet,it should be fairly easy to streamfrom other devices in your house,such as an XBOX One.Oh, too far around, too far around!Oh, yeah!(laughing)So Fortress might not bethe most demanding gameas far as latency goes,but it's actually not bad here.So while I'm streamingon very high settings,it's not quite as crisp as I was playingon an actual XBOX One.But the thing is this couldbe anywhere in my house.So even though I, for example,have the XBOX behind me,this could be in another room altogetherand the NUC could be aseparate gaming setup.It works pretty well.The NUC is a pretty cool little PC.So whether you want somethingthat's for a home theater use,you want something that'sa little bit portable,or you just don't need a giant desktopto be able to basicstuff like web browsing,then the NUC might be worth a look.So what do you guys think?Definitely be sure to let meknow in the comments belowand I will catch you in the next one.