The Intel NUC6i5SYK Skylake UCFF PC Review
by Ganesh T S on March 11, 2016 8:00 AM ESTNetworking and Storage Performance
Networking and storage are two major aspects which influence our experience with any computing system. This section presents results from our evaluation of these aspects in the Intel NUC6i5SYK. The NUC supports both M.2 SATA SSDs and M.2 PCIe SSDs (2242 / 2280). NVMe is also supported and provides the best possible performance. One of the evaluation options is a repetition of our strenuous SSD review tests on the drive in the PC. Fortunately, to avoid that overkill, PCMark 8 has a storage bench where certain common workloads such as loading games and document processing are replayed on the target drive. Results are presented in two forms, one being a benchmark number and the other, a bandwidth figure. We ran the PCMark 8 storage bench on selected PCs and the results are presented below.
Note that the problems we encountered with PCMark 8 and NVMe SSDs in a previous NUC review has been fixed now (by an update to PCMark 8). The benchmark now brings the full performance of the NVMe SSD to the forefront, yielding leading numbers in both the storage bench score as well as bandwidth. Unlike Broadwell-U, the M.2 SSD can interface with the Skylake package using a PCIe 3.0 x4 link (instead of PCIe 2.0 x4).
On the networking side, we restricted ourselves to the evaluation of the WLAN component. Our standard test router is the Netgear R7000 Nighthawk configured with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. The router is placed approximately 20 ft. away, separated by a drywall (as in a typical US building). A wired client is connected to the R7000 and serves as one endpoint for iperf evaluation. The PC under test is made to connect to either the 5 GHz (preferred) or 2.4 GHz SSID and iperf tests are conducted for both TCP and UDP transfers. It is ensured that the PC under test is the only wireless client for the Netgear R7000.
The WLAN functionality in the NUC6i5SYK is handled by the Intel AC8260 2x2 802.11ac chipset. While the number of spatial streams supported is the same as the AC7265 used in the Broadwell NUCs, the AC8260 integrates Bluetooth 4.2 (compared to Bluetooth 4.0 in the AC7265).
We evaluate total throughput for up to 32 simultaneous TCP connections using iperf and present the highest number in the graph below.
In the UDP case, we try to transfer data at the highest rate possible for which we get less than 1% packet loss.
The benchmark numbers in both cases point to a retrogression in performance compared to the previous-generation AC7265 used in the Intel NUC5i5RYK and NUC5i7RYH. In addition, we ran into a strange issue with the WLAN component. Occasionally after startup, the Wi-Fi adapter wouldn't see any 5 GHz networks to connect to. Repeated restarts helped in resolving the problem. Apparently, we are not alone in noticing this behavior. Intel has also been able to recreate the problem at their end and efforts are on to resolve it.
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Teknobug - Sunday, March 13, 2016 - link
"for external graphics"^ did you miss that?
AnnonymousCoward - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
I read "external graphics" as a monitor. Now I guess he meant a GPU. So who exactly would want to match a 15W CPU with a discrete GPU?TheinsanegamerN - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
Given the sales of the alienware 13, my guess would be more then you think. Most games dont need a quad core i7 to run properly.AnnonymousCoward - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
It's true that games can run ok, but still. This cpu would likely be a big bottleneck in loading, and processing all the elements of a big game that has hundreds or thousands of moving things. VR will want more cpu. But sure, if you just wanna run CS, you can use any cpu.TheinsanegamerN - Wednesday, March 16, 2016 - link
The AW13 cn oush games like shadow of mordor with an external dock. Slower, yes, but it can still hit 50fps+.Of course, nobody who wants maximum settings would buy the NUC, but more midrange gamers would be served well. And since the skull canyon will most likely be a quad core part, CPU performance will be a moot argument,
zodiacfml - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
The CPU power limits are quite impressive compared to my i5-5200u. this makes its performance not far from the ECS LIVA One.Sivar - Saturday, March 12, 2016 - link
Thank you for the article.I am a little disappointed with vendors that fanless NUCs are still unavailable except as specialty parts with low-volumeish markups like Logic Supply (which makes great stuff, but not cheap).
HTPC Credentials typo: "Refresh Rate Accura[n]cy"
Zingam - Sunday, March 13, 2016 - link
$675 - and this includes the price of Win10 too?ganeshts - Sunday, March 13, 2016 - link
The configuration posted (256GB NVMe drive + Corsair 2400 MHz SODIMMs) doesn't include WIn 10 cost. However, I see now that 2133 MHz SODIMMs are available for a much lower price and, even the NVMe drive can be replaced by a much cheaper AHCI drive (IIRC, Mushkin's 256GB M.2 AHCI drive is only $85 or so - less than half the price of the NVMe Samsung drive).So, yes, it is possible to build the whole configuration along with Windows 10 for $675 (even lower is possible).
In our cost comparison tables as well as spec tables, we have never considered OS cost. So, the number quoted is consistent with our previous reviews.
twotwotwo - Monday, March 14, 2016 - link
If you go with 2x4GB DDR4, i3, and 256GB 850 EVO m.2 SSD, it's $400 (and, for the moment, there's Prime shipping on all that from Amazon). You can also opt for the taller one with the 2.5" drive slot to do the small SSD+big HDD thing. All to say, there are lots of compromises for cost short of, like, going to an older gen, a much larger box, or Atom.