Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is apparently working on the new version of the Next Unit of Computing, or NUC, which is a pint-sized PC form factor developed by the company several years ago. The new form factor was leaked on the official NUC webpage over the weekend without any previous announcement.
Is this for Broadwell?
In the picture, one cans see the small computers are silver and black boxes of approximately five inches wide, five inches deep and two to three inches tall. The computers sit on a NUC board, which is as small as four inches on a side and has an integrated processor.
Previously, NUC was available with 3rd and 4th generation Intel Core processors, but the NUC images leaked by Intel suggest a link-up with the 5th generation core. Various other features can be noticed in the picture, such as a sleep and charge USB port and a M.2 SSD slot. Integration of M.2 SSD means that this NUC will be marginally more compact compared to its predecessors. Other features visible on the board are a SATA port, USB 3.0 and room for two laptop RAM DIMMs.
More details from Intel expected at CES
NUC 2.0 “Rock Canyon” appears in another picture with a SATA III 6Gbps header, a M.2 drive slot, and enough room to fit a 22×42, 22×60 or 22×80 M.2 SSD card. Also, the dual channel memory is capable of 16GB DDR3L in the system. Within the back panel there is mini HDMI, mini DisplayPort and one other port that is probably a TOSLINK fiber optic hack.
Even though Intel is promoting NUC, it does not intend to become system builder, and similar to Ultrabooks, it plans to build demand by popularizing the design among consumers. Manufacturers and tech enthusiasts can purchase NUC boards for their own purposse. A new page on Intel’s official website lists eight kits, but there are no hardware specifications as of now.
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is expected to release more details about the NUC at CES 2015, but the reason for this leak was not clear. The limelight will be focused on Intel’s 5th generation core products at the CES 2015, and a new NUC announcement would fit right in as a related topic.
