Next Unit of Computing (NUC) is a line of small-form-factor barebone computer kits designed by Intel. Previewed in 2012 and launched in early 2013, the NUC line continues to develop over generations of Intel-based CPU launches, spanning from Sandy Bridge-based Celeron CPUs in the first generation, to Raptor Lake-based mobile and desktop CPUs in the thirteenth, and more recently Meteor Lake-based processors with AI capabilities.

The standard barebone kits consist of the NUC board, in a plastic case with a fan, an external power supply, and a VESA mounting plate.Intel NUC product specifications "Intel NUC", accessed June 10, 2013. The plastic case is typically offered on one of two chassis, Tall (allowing for a 2.5" drive bay) or Slim (no 2.5" drive bay). The NUC motherboard measures approximately , although some models have had different dimensions. Intel also sells bare NUC motherboards, which have built-in CPUs.

In July 2023, Intel announced that it would no longer develop NUC mainboards and matching mini PCs. They subsequently announced that NUC products would continue to be—and since that time have been—manufactured, sold and supported by ASUS under a non-exclusive license.

First generation

Sandy Bridge The first generation Intel NUC launched in the first quarter of 2013. This UCFF motherboard and system kit are codenamed Ski Lake (DCP847SK) and Deep Canyon (DCCP847DY) respectively.

+First generation kitsModel Board Processor TDP GPU Max RAM Display External USB ports NetworkingDCCP847DYE DCP847SKE Celeron 847 17 W HD Graphics 2000 16 GB HDMI 1.4a (×2) USB 2.0 (×3) Gigabit Ethernet (×1)

Second generation

Ivy Bridge The base UCFF motherboard and kit without Thunderbolt or USB 3 are codenamed Golden Lake (D33217GK) and Ice Canyon (DC3217IY) respectively. The Thunderbolt capable UCFF motherboard and kit are codenamed Campers Lake (D33217CK) and Box Canyon (DC3217BY) respectively. The USB 3 capable UCFF motherboard and kit are codenamed Rend Lake (D53427RK) and Horse Canyon (DC53427HY) respectively.

The stripped-down DC3217BY model has a signature red top cover and no Ethernet. This model, while stocks were still available, generally sold for a deep discount. The absence of Ethernet may be mitigated by using a USB 2.0 to 10/100 fast Ethernet dongle based upon the Kawasaki LSI one-chip adapter (KL5KUSB102, for example), or a similar dongle based upon a Realtek chip; the Kawasaki Logic dongle requires a proprietary driver for macOS X, whereas the driver for the Realtek dongle is built into macOS X. The DC3217BY runs macOS X (10.9, and any of its updates) flawlessly as the processor's HD4000 is fully supported by macOS X.

+Second generation kitsModel Board Processor TDP GPU Max RAMOne or two PC3-10600 (1333 MHz) or PC3-12800 (1600 MHz) SO-DIMMs, 1.5 volts, or PC3L SO-DIMMs, 1.35 volts.Display External USB ports NetworkingDC3217IYE D33217GK Core i3-3217U 17 W HD Graphics 4000 16 GB HDMI 1.4a (×2) USB 2.0 (×3) Gigabit Ethernet (×1)DC3217BY D33217CK Core i3-3217U 17 W HD Graphics 4000 16 GB HDMI 1.4a (×1); Thunderbolt via mDP 1.1a (×1) USB 2.0 (×3) Fast (10/100) Ethernet is possible using a Kawasaki LSI USB 2.0 dongle (the vendor provides drivers for all common OSes, including macOS X); or a Realtek dongle (which has support built into macOS X itself).DC53427HYE D53427RKE Core i5-3427U 17 W HD Graphics 4000 16 GB HDMI 1.4a (×1); mDP 1.1a (×2) USB 2.0 (×2); USB 3.0 (×1) Gigabit Ethernet (×1)

Third generation

Bay Trail-M This UCFF motherboard (DN2820FYB) and system kit (DN2820FYKH) model were codenamed Forest Canyon. The DN2820FYKH product itself is mis-marked DN2820FYK, but the retail package, all retail documentation, and Intel's web site correctly identify this product as DN2820FYKH. The "H" indicates support for internal 2.5" media, SSD or HDD. There is no "non-H" version of this product as it does not include an on-board mSATA connector, hence media which is external to the board is mandatory, and hence the "H" version.

This product introduced a new 12V 3A "wall wart" power supply in place of the previous 19V 3.42A laptop-style power brick and its IEC 60320-C5 "Mickey Mouse" type AC power cord. Four region-specific plug-on adapters, including North America and three overseas countries, are included in the retail package.

These models shipped with the problematic BIOS revision 13, however this revision did not recognise most low voltage SO-DIMMs and would report as having zero capacity. Keyboard escapes for BIOS interfacing had been problematic, legacy booting was not supported, and it had been elected to only include UEFI booting. BIOS revision 48 has been released and resolved the problems, enabling the recognition of most low voltage SO-DIMMs, keyboard escapes and legacy booting.

+Forest Canyon kitsModel Board Processor TDP GPU Max RAM Display External USB ports Networking Internal 2.5 SATADN2820FYKH DN2820FYB Celeron N2820 (-101) or Celeron N2830 (-103) 7.5 W HD Graphics 8 GB HDMI 1.4a USB 2.0 (×2); USB 3.0 (×1) Gigabit Ethernet (×1); Wi-Fi 802.11bgn, Bluetooth 4.0 (×1)

Bay Trail-I This UCFF motherboard (DE3815TYB) and system kit (DE3815TYK) models were codenamed Thin Canyon. This is a fanless system with a larger case than previous NUCs (7.5" x 4.6" x 1.6".) The board remains 4" x 4".Intel NUC Board DE3815TYBE Technical Product Specification, Intel, March 2017, order no. H26598-011. Accessed on line July 5, 2025.Product brief, DE3815TYKHE Intel NUC Kit, DE3815TYBE Intel NUC Board, Intel. Accessed on line July 5, 2025.Part 1: First look at the fanless Atom NUC (DE3815TYKHE), The NUC Blog, May 19, 2014, updated November 11, 2014. Accessed on line July 5, 2025. +Thin Canyon kitsModel Board Processor TDP GPU Max RAM Display External USB ports Networking Internal 2.5 SATADE3815TYKHE DE3815TYBE Atom E3815 5 W HD Graphics 8 GB HDMI, VGA, embedded DisplayPort USB 2.0 (×2); USB 3.0 (×1) Gigabit Ethernet (×1) (×1)

Fourth generation

Haswell

UCFF motherboard (D34010WYB and D54250WYB) and system kit (D34010WYK/D34010WYKH and D54250WYK/D54250WYKH) models were designated Wilson CanyonIntel’s Haswell “Wilson Canyon” NUC smiles for the camerasIntel NUC Kit D54250WYK Review – The NUC Gets Haswell Power! containing Haswell processors were revealed in June 2013.Tom's Hardware Guide, "3rd Generation of Intel NUC Boards Shown at Computex, June 7, 2013, accessed June 10, 2013. In recent years, Intel NUC models beyond the fourth generation have focused heavily on performance per watt and modular upgrade options. Later designs included support for Thunderbolt 4, DDR5 memory, and PCIe Gen 5 storage, reflecting the trend toward compact yet powerful workstation-grade systems.

+Wilson Canyon kitsModel Board Processor TDP GPU Max RAM Display External USB ports Networking Internal 2.5 SATAD34010WYK D34010WYB Core i3-4010U 15 W HD Graphics 4400 16 GB Mini HDMI 1.4a and mDP 1.2 USB 3.0 (×4) Gigabit Ethernet (×1) Internal power and data headers are provided for connection to external 2.5" media with the bottom cover removed; female to female SATA cable is required.D34010WYKH (×1)D54250WYK D54250WYB Core i5-4250U 15 W HD Graphics 5000 16 GB Mini HDMI 1.4a and mDP 1.2 USB 3.0 (×4) Gigabit Ethernet (×1) D54250WYKH (×1)

Fifth generation

Broadwell-U

In early 2015 a new generation of NUCs, powered by 5th generation Intel processors was released and in Q2 2015 the first NUC with Core i7 processor (NUC5i7RYH) became available. The collection of 5th generation of NUCs include adaptive/smart performance technology and Turbo Boost Technology 2.0.

UCFF motherboard (NUC5i3RYB, NUC5i5RYB and NUC5i7RYB) and system kit (NUC5i5RYK/NUC5i3RYH, NUC5i5RYK/NUC5i5RYH and NUC5i7RYH) models were designated Rock Canyon. UCFF motherboard (NUC5i3MYBE and NUC5i5MYBE) and system kit (NUC5i3MYHE and NUC5i5MYHE) models were codenamed Maple Canyon. In Q4 2018 and Q1 2019 two new SKUs of "Rock Canyon" - Refresh have been launched and become two of a few available models still supporting Windows* 7 (NUC5i3RYHSN and NUC5i5RYHS). These modes have updated CPU revisions and other minor changes. All models include: Dual-channel DDR3L SO-DIMM, 1.35 V, 1333/1600 MHz, 16 GB maximum One Gigabit Ethernet port Internal support for M.2 (either B-Keyed Maple Canyon or M-Keyed Rock Canyon) 22×42, 22×60, and 22×80 SSD card supporting PCIe 2.0 (×1, ×2 and ×4) and SATA 6 Gbit/s Two USB 3.0 connectors on back panel Two USB 3.0 connectors on front panel Two internal USB 2.0 ports via header Up to 7.1 surround audio via mini HDMI and mini DisplayPort Headphone/microphone jack on the front panel

+Rock Canyon kitsModelBoardCPUTDPGPUMini HDMI1Mini DisplayPort2eDPWireless connectivity2.5" SATA3 bayCharging portInfrared sensorNUC5i7RYHNUC5i7RYBi7-5557U28 WIris 6100IEEE 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0, Intel Wireless DisplayNUC5i5RYHNUC5i5RYBi5-5250U15 WHD 6000NUC5i5RYKNUC5i3RYHNUC5i3RYBi3-5010UHD 5500NUC5i3RYK +Maple Canyon kitsModelBoardCPUTDPGPUMini HDMI1Mini DisplayPort2eDPWireless connectivity2.5" SATA3 bayCharging portInfrared sensorNUC5i3MYHENUC5i3MYBEi3-5010U15 WHD 5500 (×2)M.2 E-Keyed 22×30 wireless card slotNUC5i5MYHENUC5i5MYBEi5-5300U (×2) Version 1.4a Version 1.2

Braswell These UCFF system kit (NUC5CPYH and NUC5PPYH) models, formerly known as Pinnacle Canyon, are based on 5th generation Celeron and Pentium-branded Braswell 14 nm processor family. There is also the UCFF complete system (NUC5PGYH) model, formerly known as Grass Canyon, which is based on 5th generation Pentium-branded Braswell 14 nm processor family and comes with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC with Windows 10 installed.

All models include: One memory channel DDR3L SO-DIMM (204-pin), 1.35 V, 1333/1600 MHz, 8 GB maximum One Gigabit Ethernet port 802.11ac Wi-Fi (Intel Wireless-AC 3165) and Bluetooth 4.0 Internal support for M.2 (E-Keyed) 22×30 wireless card supporting PCIe 2.0 ×1, and USB 2.0 Two USB 3.0 connectors on back panel Two USB 3.0 connectors on front panel Two internal USB 2.0 ports via header Up to 7.1 surround audio via HDMI Headphone/microphone jack on the front panel Headphone/TOSLINK jack on the rear panel SDXC slot with UHS-I support on the side CIR Sensor According to the Intel Technical Product Specification, these models have fans.

+Pinnacle Canyon kitsModelBoard Processor TDP GPU Max RAM Display External USB ports Networking Internal 2.5 SATANUC5CPYHNUC5CPYB Celeron N3050 or N3060 6 W HD Graphics (12 EU) 8 GB HDMI 1.4, VGA USB 3.0 (×4) Gigabit Ethernet (×1), 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 (×1)NUC5PPYHNUC5PPYB Pentium N3700 6 W HD Graphics (16 EU) 8 GB HDMI 1.4, VGA USB 3.0 (×4) Gigabit Ethernet (×1), 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 (×1) +Grass Canyon kitsModel BoardProcessor TDP GPU Max RAM Display External USB ports Networking Internal 2.5 SATANUC5PGYHNUC5PGYH Pentium N3700 6 W HD Graphics (16 EU) 8 GB HDMI 1.4, VGA USB 3.0 (×4) Gigabit Ethernet (×1), 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 (×1)

Sixth generation

Skylake-U UCFF system kit (NUC6i3SYK/NUC6i3SYH and NUC6i5SYK/NUC6i5SYH) models were designated Swift Canyon, containing Skylake processors. UCFF system kit (NUC6i7KYK) models were codenamed Skull Canyon, containing Skylake processors. They were launched in Q4/2015, except for NUC6i7KYK, which was launched in Q2/2016.

All models include: Dual-channel DDR4 SO-DIMM, 1.2 V, 2133 MHz, 32 GB maximum One Gigabit Ethernet port Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (802.11ac), 1×1, up to 867 Mbit/s Dual-mode Bluetooth 4.1 Internal support for M.2 M-Keyed 22×42 and 22×80 SSD card supporting PCIe 3.0 (×1, ×2 and ×4) and SATA 6 Gbit/s SDXC slot with UHS-I support on the side Intel HD Graphics 540 video (Iris Pro Graphics 580 for the NUC6i7KYK) Up to 7.1 surround audio via full-sized HDMI and mini DisplayPort Intel Wireless Display (Intel WiDi) Skull Canyon models include: