Intel's Haswell NUC: D54250WYK UCFF PC Review
by Ganesh T S on January 3, 2014 4:25 PM ESTPerformance Metrics
The NUC was evaluated using our standard test suite for low power desktops / industrial PCs. Note that some of the benchmarks are pretty recent (such as x264 v5.0 and 3D Mark 2013). Loaner samples haven't been tested with these new benchmarks. Therefore, the list of PCs in each graph are not the same.
Windows Experience Index:
Our NUC build clocks in at 5.3 in Windows 8's experience index. The weak point here is the HD5000 graphics, as expected.
Users looking for more graphics power within a similar form factor would do well to look at Gigabyte's BRIX Pro which comes with Intel's Iris Pro graphics.
Futuremark Benchmarks:
Miscellaneous Benchmarks:
These are impressive benchmark numbers when the size of the system is taken into consideration.
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Acarney - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
I'm confused by the comments about the Brix Pro. I still haven't seen a price or even release date for it. Do you guys have inside knowledge of it? I kinda thought it might have been cancelled...elian123 - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
I haven't found much information either, although this did look good to me: https://twitter.com/IntelGaming/status/41454908150... Ganesh's remark that he has a review unit (http://www.anandtech.com/comments/7566/intels-hasw... is even better of course.cen - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
I never understood why Anandtech never mentiones anything about Linux in their hardware reviews. This seems like a perfect htpc device to put Linux on and I am sure that some readers would be happy to know what are the hoops to go through on the Linux side, the state of Netflix, any driver issues etc. Why pay the Windows tax if you can get the same or pehaps even better experience for free?fackamato - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
Just check out the HD5000 GPU support under Linux, that should give you a good idea about the HTPC capabilities.patterson32 - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
There are other components where it would be nice if they were tested on Linux especially as part of a particular system like the BRIX and NUC. Scouring for info for each component is less desirable than having the entire system tested and reviewed in a single article.patterson32 - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
I always hope AT will write more on Linux topics but they never do. The focus is almost solely on Windows. It'd be nice if they did hardware reviews with Linux and give the usual details of what works and what doesn't and other very detailed information.The only okay site I know of that does Linux hardware stuff is Phoronix but that site uses tests that aren't that meaningful especially for non-GPU hardware and desktop use. For other hardware, they just gloss over many details. Their "analysis" are often blurbs like the power consumption is less than system x. Useless, I can see that on the graph and the system x is some much higher performing non-comparable device.
jason64 - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
Phoronix hardware "reviews" aren't very useful for potential buyers who want to use Linux apart from Michael's GPU driver tests. It'd nice if AnandTech started writing Linux articles.chizow - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
Main limitation I think for HTPC use for people like me is lack of ability to play CableCARD DRM content. I've looked into the alternatives, and there still isn't anything on the Linux/Android/iOS market yet that can replace Windows Media Center for Premium CableCARD content (HBO, MAX, SHO etc.) DLNA is enabling some workarounds (PS3, native SmartTV Apps), but the end-product still isn't as good or as fast as WMC's interface.Lundmark - Saturday, January 4, 2014 - link
HD audio. I don't think you can get HD audio on Linux.ganeshts - Sunday, January 5, 2014 - link
Just testing out OpenELEC right now and HD audio passthrough support is great in the latest dev build. That is an embedded Linux system :)