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A few days ago, Intel officially released the 11th generation desktop Core chips, introducing a new Tiger Lake architecture for desktop CPU chips, further enhancing the product line of the 11th generation Core. However, between traditional desktop and laptop chips, Intel has a unique product line: NUC.
NUC stands for Next Unit of Computing, and its biggest feature is packing full-sized computer performance into a palm-sized form factor.To flexibly meet different usage scenarios, NUC can be categorized into “mini computers”, “barebones systems”, “NUC motherboards”, “embedded systems”, and “laptops”. Today’s protagonist is the latest member of the “mini computer” family: the Intel NUC 11 Mini PC Professional Kit NUC11TNKi5.
Unlike the common barebones versions, this mini PC professional kit is a complete computer system that does not require additional hard drives or memory like barebones products, achieving true plug-and-play capability. Despite its lightweight design, it does not mean that the NUC11 sacrifices its expandability—its hard drive, memory, and even network card can be individually removed, leaving ample room for future upgrades.
To control the size of the unit, the NUC11 naturally adopts an external power supply design. Although the TDP is only 28W, Intel still equipped the NUC11 with a “huge” 120W DC power adapter. From the actual power consumption of the NUC11, it is clear that the 120W adapter is somewhat overkill. It would be more convenient if a 65W power supply could be used, or even a 65W PD charger directly powering the NUC.
Compact Size Brings a New Experience
It is not difficult to see from the power supply method that a mini computer like the NUC11 is essentially a “laptop without a screen, keyboard, and battery”: both use the 11th generation Core mobile processor solution, and even the memory used is JEDEC mobile standard.However, unlike laptops, the operation of “removing the battery, hard drive, and screen” greatly reduces the size of the NUC and further enriches the usage scenarios of the NUC11.
For instance, in daily use, thanks to the compact size of the NUC11, we can use the included VESA mount to attach the NUC11 directly to the back of a monitor, freeing up space under the desk. Large screens on building facades, electronic signage at train stations, or large display systems for meetings can also be directly connected to the NUC11, further enhancing space utilization, something traditional PC towers cannot achieve.
Powerful Performance of the 11th Generation Core
While I keep emphasizing the compactness and portability of the NUC11, its performance is equally commendable. The NUC11 features the latest 11th generation mobile Core processors, and the model I have is equipped with the i5-1135G7 processor, 16GB DDR4 3200MHz memory, and a 500GB solid-state drive. Notably, for future upgrade considerations, this NUC is equipped with a single 16GB memory stick.
This setup may be slightly more expensive, but during an upgrade, you only need to purchase one more stick to directly achieve 32GB dual-channel memory, which is much more convenient than using two 8GB sticks. In terms of storage, the NUC11 has two M2 hard drive slots, with the 500GB SSD pre-installed in the 2240 PCIe slot, while the 2280 PCIe 4.0 slot is left empty for user upgrades, providing significant upgrade potential.
As usual, we ran a series of benchmark tests on the NUC. First, CPU-Z scored 552 in single-core and 2613 in multi-core, roughly matching the performance of the desktop i7-7700K, which also has 4 cores and 8 threads, showcasing the significant improvements brought by the 10nm process. In the traditional Cinebench R23 project, possibly due to the NUC11’s advantages in cooling and power consumption compared to laptops, the 1135G7’s multi-threaded score successfully surpassed the 28W 1165G7, reaching 4965 points, achieving a “downward victory” scenario.
In terms of gaming, considering that this NUC only has integrated graphics, we only ran two benchmark tests from 3DMark: TimeSpy scored 1103 overall and 4141 for CPU; FireStrike scored 2546 overall and 11960 for physics, showing decent overall performance. However, if you truly need to play games on the NUC, the NUC11 is also equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, allowing for external eGPU options to enhance gaming performance.
In office performance tests, the NUC11 scored 4464 and 4549 in PCMark 10 and PCMark 10 Express, respectively. Notably, except for the rendering test at the end of the PCMark 10 benchmark, the i5-1135G7 showed almost no throttling during the rest of the time.
We also conducted a stress test using AIDA64 to see where the thermal limits of the NUC11 lie. In a CPU-only stress test, the NUC11 delivered outstanding results: during a 10-minute test, the 1135G7 maintained a steady 3.82GHz, with a very stable temperature curve, peaking at only 66°C, indicating it faced no pressure at all.
However, if the FPU is checked, it can be seen that the CPU reaches the full 28W TDP within 30 seconds and begins to throttle down to 3.44GHz, with the temperature curve showing significant fluctuations. After running for one minute, the CPU frequency further drops and stabilizes at 3.4GHz. In terms of temperature, the solid-state drive performs well due to contact with the bottom case through thermal pads; however, the CPU temperature fluctuates between 82°C and 72°C, indicating that under high CPU loads, the NUC11 does experience some thermal pressure.
Is the NUC11 Worth Buying?
This leads to the question: who is this NUC11, or the NUC product that straddles the line between laptops and desktops, suitable for?
Compared to barebones NUCs, the mini PC comes pre-installed with a hard drive and memory, achieving true plug-and-play capability. Even if there are upgrade needs, it can be easily upgraded. From this perspective, this NUC mini PC is very suitable for users who do not have specific requirements for computer performance but need a computer to “hold the fort”.
For example, I have a friend who sold his old desktop after getting a PS5, and when he needs a computer, he has to bring his company-issued laptop home.For him, the NUC mini PC serves as a kind of “backup machine”: it doesn’t take up much space when not in use and can be useful when needed, with the option for future upgrades.
For users who need mobile office solutions but dislike laptops, using the NUC is also a viable option: it offers performance that surpasses typical laptops while maintaining an ultra-portable size, truly achieving portability. Of course, without a battery and screen, the NUC may not be as convenient as a laptop at times, but if that is not an issue for you, then the new generation Intel NUC equipped with the 11th generation Core is very suitable for you.
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