Intel recently revealed that its first NUC mini computer with a Core i7 processor is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2015. But it turns out that’s not the only thing that makes the new system special.

The Intel NUC5i7RYH will also be the first member of the NUC family to feature Intel Iris graphics.

intel nuc with iris

Intel’s NUC line of computers are small form-factor desktop PCs featuring the latest Intel processors and related technologies. This year’s lineup feature Intel Broadwell processors, HDMI and Mini DisplayPort output for connecting multiple displays, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and four USB 3.0 ports.

FanlessTech found a spec sheet for the Core i7 model, which shows that it’ll have a 28 watt Core i7-5557U processor with Intel Iris Graphics 6100, which means it’ll have a higher-performance GPU than the Intel HD 5500 graphics used by other Broadwell-based NUC computers.

The system has room for a 2.5 inch hard drive or SSD, an M.2 SSD card slot, and support for up to 16GB of RAM. Other features of this 4.5″ x 4.4″ x 1.9″ computer include 7.1 channel audio, NFC, and support for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Linux.

This won’t be the first tiny desktop computer with serious computing power. Gigabyte has been offering its own line of BRIX mini-desktops for years, including models with Core i7 chips and and models with NVIDIA graphics.

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20 replies on “Intel NUC mini PC with Core i7 Broadwell, Iris graphics coming in Q2, 2015”

  1. why cant the manufacturer built the mini pc with power supply build in into the body rather than having another brick of adaptor.

    what is the point of having mini pc but if you combine both the mini pc and the adaptor make it bigger than mac mini.

    what are they thinking?
    why cant you design something looks good like dell optiplex 9200 micro pc . is that difficult ? or the current mini designer does not understand the meaning of good product.

  2. Will this support 4K at 60 Frames per second?
    Can anyone please confirm..

  3. I recently picked up a Brix myself (originally thought up as a gift for my Mom overseas) and was so pleased while testing it for her, that I kept it for myself (I will be getting her one for real this time in June when she visits, or giving her this one and getting something more powerful).
    Before the Brix, I considered one of those little Windows HDMI sticks for her. I have a tablet which runs the same processor as most of the sticks and it runs and streams very well – my problem is, the closest thing I can get that’s not straight out of China is $199 and that is a Zotac Pico PC. The goal was to spend $100 or as close to that as possible for this kind of PC and I didn’t want it shipped from Asia so I went looking. I found the Brix for $122 and then got 4GB of RAM for $35 and used a SSD I had laying around. I got to thinking, this may be a better deal – even though I’m spending a bit more, it means that bad luck striking and killing say, the SSD or Memory somehow, I can replace them. In a hardware embedded stick, I can’t really do any of that. My Mom only needs the Netflix streaming but with this thing I could also run a VPN for her and have her use other streaming services as well – essentially she’d have a PC sitting under her TV. I’ve been trying to get her into computers for a while.

    Originally my HTPC was built consisting of a Silverstone ML06 and repurposed parts from my previous PC, a C2Q 6600 and 8GB of RAM with a specifically purchased GT620, back in 2013. Though I have been pleased with the performance and look, I was completely disappointed with the noise. The fan in there is a GeminII M4 which in and of itself is quiet, however the Q6600 would run so hot doing just about nothing that it made the fan go nuts. Not to mention I put a 750w (I know, overkill, but a warranty replacement by a pretty cool brand, I guess they figured I’d be happy with bigger, as I was coming from a 500.) With fresh paste and a clean fan I was getting 60c temps and while other people may not have considered it loud, I could hear the fans from another room in my home. There are other ways of getting this HTPC to work out. I could spend $100 and get a fanless PSU, use my E2200 processor and get a $40 fanless graphics card but after using this tiny box to watch everything, I don’t want to go back to the ML06. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the case but it’s time to move on.

    Enter the Brix (I got the N2807) which is completely silent and is able to stream and open all the 1080p files I’ve tried so far. The only thing I haven’t messed with yet is Plex streaming to other devices (which requires some CPU juice, especially if/when transcoding) but truth be told, I haven’t used Plex to stream movies around my home in a long time so I don’t think I’m going to go down that path right now anyway. By the time I’m ready to make a permanent solution, I will invest in something like an i5 Brix or Intel NUC. Suffice it to say, I’m pleasantly surprised that little boxes like this can do so much. If the i7 Brix isn’t wallet busting, perhaps I’ll look into that eventually.

        1. Only if you really get it for her this time. I almost bust out laughing when I read “I will be getting her one for real this time “

  4. intel really doesn’t like amd being in consoles. jesus christ, why don’t they just buy them for peanuts and make the x86 monopoly formal-like.

  5. I read somewhere else, it’s believed that the i7 used for this model will be a dual core processor and not a quad core. Before I saw the new Macbook Air and Mac Mini with dual core i7 processors, I always thought that i7 processors were quad core.

    1. There is no “it’s believed” at all. They say it is the Core i7-5557U right there in the article, which is very much a dual-core processor. The second number in the naming scheme is how you know if it is dual or quad. A 7 indicates quad and a 5 indicates dual-core. The i7 indicates hyperthreading while the i5 indicates non-HT.

  6. No Iris Pro? No sale. 5200 knocks 6000 into next week because of the eDRAM on the former. The 6100 is the 6000 execpt for being able to draw a bit more power. What’s the point?

  7. Gigabyte has been offering Brix line for years? It’s hasn’t even been 2 years… Please get your facts right. Zotac has been manufacturing Mini PC with NV graphics for over 8 years, I know because the first Mini PC I’ve ever used was Zotac’s ZBOX MAG and ZBOX NANO which I consider to be the Pioneer of Mini PC.

      1. I stand corrected Brad, in regards to Gigabyte Brix first announced (not launched). Just find it strange most articles for Mini PC does not bother to mention Zotac.

    1. it’s strange people doesn’t mention Zotac when it comes to Mini PC. They are the first company to manufacture and sell Mini PC I agree around 8 to 9 years ago. Way ahead of its time. Now all the bandwagon hoppers like Intel, Gigabyte, etc.. get into the Mini PC segment and pretty much copied Zotac’s designs. Just look at the Zbox Nano that was available 7 years ago, the NUC and Brix totally copied it. Pay respect where is due!

  8. I’m afraid to ask, how much?

    It would be nice if Intel made the NUC without the CPU, and just sell it barebones with an FCBGA1364 socket. I don’t know if the HM97 chipset can be made that small.

    1. FCBGA stands for flip chip ball grid array. This is important because it means the CPU is attached to the motherboard by loads of little balls of solder (1364 of them in this case) being melted to join the two. So, to do what you’re talking about Intel would have to make a new socket and new CPU packages, given the size of the intended market it won’t happen.

      1. You’re right, it would not be practical to sell an FCBGA1364 product like that. I’m just dreaming.

        Maybe their next desktop chipset will be small enough to make a sub-ITX sized motherboard.

      2. BGA has been designated for a couple years now as replacing most lower-performance chips and reserving LGA only for the high end. They got a lot of flac about this 3 years ago: https://www.zdnet.com/article/intel-preparing-to-put-an-end-to-user-replaceable-cpus/ But they sort of backtracked, and said LGA would still be used in the “foreseeable future”. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/LGA-BGA-Socketed-SoC-DIY,19594.html
        For lower end chips under Z97 and X99, this is still true.

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