NUC gaming computers are all the rage right now, and if you are an avid gamer, you have probably heard them mentioned by your buddies on more than one occasion. But do they live up to their hype and are they worth the extra dollars? In this article we will explore some of the best and worst bits of NUC systems, so you can decide whether to shell out your hard earned cash on one.
What is NUC?
NUC stands for ‘Next Unit of Computing’ which is quite an arrogant name from the perspective of some, as Intel seem to be implying that the NUC is the future of computing. That being said, the creators are definitely onto something amazing, which they keep on improving year on year. The biggest selling point of the NUC right now is the size. You can essentially have a full powered PC in a small box. This opens up a lot of opportunity for lots of different types of users, from businesses who have people crammed into cubicles with little space, to gamers who want to be able to pick up their PC and transport it with them on their travels to hook up to a TV or monitor.
Here’s the thing, the NUC is available in two formats. The first, is very similar to buying a regular computer. It comes pre installed with software and your processor is hardwired. While this is certainly an easy option to plug and play, it makes customization in the future very difficult. However, there is a much more flexible Intel gaming NUC available. It is basically sold as a bare bones kit for DIY enthusiasts to build into their dream machine. These are extremely flexible, and you can opt for certain processors, memory and even opt to have it with or without an operating system.
Is It Good for Gaming?
For everyday use, it’s clear the NUC’s are a wonderful piece of kit. They are small, lightweight and transferrable, and while not as powerful as some high end desktops, they can be much more powerful than a high end laptop. However, gaming (on desktop PC’s) requires a whole other level of hardware to general use, so how does the NUC hold up for this purpose?
Well in truth, much of this is going to be dependent on the model you chose and the processors / hardware it carries. Adding a 9 core processor to your NUC is obviously going to get you a more seamless gaming experience than a slower processor. So in short, the answer is they can be!
If you travel a lot, the practicality of being able to move your desktop around easily with you is certainly appealing, so as long as you get the correct specs for your gaming, you should be good to go! You can always ask advice of a professional if you’re struggling to know what device or components to purchase to make your gaming experience top notch. This way you won’t be disappointed or overspend on specs that are beyond your requirements.
