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Intel's Tiger Lake NUC Models Leak

These Performance and Extreme models both use 28W Tiger Lake-U processors.

Intel Tiger Lake Processor

Intel may not be ready to show them off officially yet, but the next generation of tiny NUC computers have leaked in both Performance and Extreme trim.

As FanlessTech reports, we're set to get both Panther Canyon and Phantom Canyon NUC models at some point in the second half of 2020. These 11th generation models look set to sit above the Frost Canyon Comet Lake-U 10th gen NUCs and replace the gaming-focused Skull Canyon and Hades Canyon models.

Panther Canyon is the code name for Intel NUC 11 Performance PCs, which use the standard two-case NUC options. There's a tall model for housing both a 4th-gen M.2 SSD and 2.5-inch storage drive, as well as the short model, which is limited to just a 4th-gen M.2 SSD. In both cases we can expect to get Core i3, i5, and i7 Tiger Lake-U 28W processor options combined with Intel Xe graphics. Memory support is up to dual-channel DDR4-3200 (64GB maximum), there's also HDMI 2.1, Mini DisplayPort 1.4, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, Intel 10/100/1000/2500Mbps Ethernet, Intel Wireless-AX 201, 802.11ax, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5. It's possibly to hook up four displays and support 8K resolution with this tiny box.

As for Phantom Canyon, it will be known as the Intel NUC Extreme. It limits the processor choice to 28W Tiger Lake-U Core i5 and i7, but adds a dedicated (unknown) GPU with either 6GB or 8GB of VRAM. The NUC case is larger to accommodate higher performance and the cooling for that GPU, but in return you'll get a decent small gaming rig. Ports include HDMI 2.0b, Mini DisplayPort 1.4, dual-channel DDR4-3200, two M.2 slots (22x80/110 and 22x80) and they are only third-gen, and the same mix of Thunderbolt, Ethernet, wireless, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5 support. Just like Hades Canyon, though, I'm expecting a large external power adapter.

Both models are compatible with Intel's Optane Memory SSDs, but the Performance models only support the M10 drives. The Extreme NUC adds support for the H10 drives with their memory and storage combo.

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Hopefully pricing and specific processor options will be revealed ahead of the official launch in the second half of this year.

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About Matthew Humphries

Senior Editor

I started working at PCMag in November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.

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