Intel Hades Canyon NUC

67% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

89% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Excellent 1080p gaming performance Laptop CPU matches desktop performance Small and relatively quiet Fantastic connectivity

Expensive Large, clunky power brick

“The NUC 12 Enthusiast delivers desktop-grade performance in a tiny form factor.”

Impressive CPU and GPU performance in a small box ; Plenty of ports ; Easy access to internals

Expensive compared to pre-built desktops ; $999 kit is purely DI; you’ll have to install RAM and storage ; Large power adapter hurts portability

Finally, Intel has a NUC that'll satisfy tinkerers and gamers alike. It's the sort of machine you could move around easily, especially if you prefer to game with a large desktop monitor instead of a small laptop display.

Fast and simple hardware setup ; Great performance for common tasks ; Small size, VESA-mountable ; Barely audible fan noise

No native USB 3.0 ; Pricey once you factor in all the components

The NUC's small size, reasonable price and solid performance make it an ideal PC for tinkerers on a budget. Just be prepared to roll up your sleeves in setting it up.

Strong processor benchmarks ; Excellent game performance ; Incredible connectivity ; Stays cool and quiet under load

Not the best value ; Hard drive, RAM, and OS sold separately

Intel’s Hades Canyon NUC is early, definitive proof that the company’s partnership with AMD will be fruitful. We’re amazed to see a system so small handle all the titles in our test suite at 1080p and maximum detail. Pricing, and the NUC’s niche...

Packs AMD Radeon RX Vega M graphics ; Can drive up to six displays ; Some parts can be replaced ; Nerdy light-up skull

More expensive than any NUC so far ; Driver support remains an open question

Ultra-compact design ; Great performance from Intel Core i7 CPU and Intel Iris Xe graphics ; Classic NUC design is both simple and upgradable ; Ample connectivity with dual display support

Bare-bones kit means no included RAM, SSD, and OS ; No discrete GPU option

The latest in a long line of impressive Intel NUC mini PCs, the NUC 12 Pro offers solid punch, good customizability, and plenty of connections, all in a classic subcompact chassis.

Compact and quiet-running. Excellent overall CPU and GPU performance. AMD Vega graphics are VR-ready. Bristling with connectivity for its size. Dual M.2 slots. VESA-mountable chassis.

Steep price, once you factor in all components. Large external power adapter. No 2.5-inch bay.

Bottom Line: Intel Core i7 processing and AMD Vega graphics power meet in the Intel NUC Kit NUC8i7HVK, a super-slim bare-bones desktop that packs punchy, VR-ready performance and extraordinary connectivity.

Solid CPU and GPU performance ; Support for gameplay-enhancing features, like FreeSync ; Myriad ports, including two Thunderbolt 3 x4 ; Can run external graphics over Thunderbolt 3 ; Runs quiet

Redesigned chassis makes access to internal components slightly more cumbersome

The NUC8i7HVK is capable of much more than I initially tested. Intel also touts this machine as an overclockable gaming virtual reality machine. One idea that got bandied about was rolling your own VR backpack system: Pair it with a battery pack and...

Uniquely diminutive footprint ; Full-size computing power ; Lots of I/O ports ; IR receiver

Bare-bones system: Some components not included ; Limited upgrade potential ; Itty-bitty design carries a price premium

If you're looking for the smallest of teeny-tiny PCs for your home theater or small business, Intel's latest Next Unit of Computing shines. But it remains a niche product with some limitations. Look...