Intel NUC 13 Excessive, the most recent iteration of the Subsequent Unit of Computing (NUC) collection of small type issue computer systems, brings one of the best from the corporate. The product showcases ambition, energy, and wonder within the engineering, specs, and design features of the computing product. The corporate first introduced the Intel NUC 13 Excessive in November 2022 with the most recent Thirteenth-gen Intel Core desktop processors. Code-named Raptor Canyon, the most recent era NUC brings a number of the newest applied sciences to patrons like DDR5, PCIe Gen-5, Wi-Fi 6E and extra.
NUC computing units supply one of many best methods for avid gamers and lovers to get small-form-factor (SFF) pre-built PCs. A number of mainstream firms have jumped within the combine in recent times to create mini-PCs. Nevertheless, most of those huge names are absent within the SFF area. This void of respected manufacturers leaves avid gamers and lovers no selection however to analysis and construct SFF PCs themselves. Given the present hole and patrons’ affinity to go the pre-built route in India, is Intel NUC 13 Excessive sufficient to drag them in the direction of a pre-built PC? Let’s discover out in our evaluation of the NUC 13 Excessive Raptor Canyon right here.
Specs of the Intel NUC 13 Excessive Raptor Canyon
Intel India shared one of many top-end NUC 13 Excessive kits for this evaluation. Listed here are the entire specs for our evaluation unit.
Intel NUC 13 Excessive Assessment Unit
Part
Mannequin
CPU
Thirteenth-Gen Intel Core i9-13900K (16 Cores- 8 Efficiency and eight Effectivity Cores)
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti with 12GB GDDR6 reminiscence
RAM
2×16GB DDR5 @ 4800MT/s by Kingston
Chipset
Intel Z690
Storage
2×1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
OS
Home windows 11, 64-bit
Ports
Rear (2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4), 1 x HDMI 2.1 with assist for 4K at 60FPS, 6x USB 3.2 Gen-2 Sort-A ports), Entrance (2x USB 3.2 Gen-1 Sort-A ports, 1x USB 3.2 Gen-2 2×2 Sort-C port)
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 6E, Intel 2.5 GbE RJ45, Marvell 10GbE RJ45, Bluetooth v5.2
Audio
Rear (7.1 Digital, 3x 3.5mm port), Entrance (1x 3.5mm port)
PSU
Totally Modular 750W 80+ Gold SFX
Variants, value in India, and availability
Intel NUC 13 Excessive at present is available in two variants, one with the Core i9 13900K and the second with Core i7-13700K. Taking a look at GPUs, the machine can match a spread of fashions from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel Arc. Nevertheless, contemplating the restricted area, the corporate has laid out strict tips a few triple-slot card. Wanting on the GeForce RTX 4000 collection of playing cards that vary wherever from 3 to 4.5 slots in width, one can solely have a look at RTX 3000 collection GPUs (or lower-end 4000 collection playing cards).
The NUC 13 Excessive is at present not on sale in India, and Intel is at present trying to carry the machine to the market. However it’s doubtless that Intel NUC 13 Excessive gained’t be low cost in India. Configuring a unit near our mannequin amounted to about £3828 (INR 3,82,730 on the time of writing) on SimplyNUC with a RTX 3080 as a substitute of RTX 3080 Ti. Tariffs associated to import in India might simply push the worth to INR 4.15 Lakhs for the highest mannequin.
Efficiency
Raptor Canyon Gaming efficiency
The Thirteenth-Gen Intel Core i9-13900K CPU and Asus GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU have been sufficient to chew by means of every little thing. By way of specs, we might have cherished a GeForce RTX 4000 Sequence GPU, however SFF case made issues difficult. Regardless, the included RTX 3080 Ti provided ample horsepower to satisfy our gaming necessities. Unsurprisingly, the Intel NUC 13 Excessive handed all our gaming and artificial benchmarks with excellence. Speaking about a number of the most demanding video games, Raptor Canyon managed greater than 98 FPS on common in Cyberpunk 2077 at maxed-out settings at FHD decision with out DLSS or VSync. The NUC averaged wherever from 110 to above 150 FPS relying on the sport with out breaking any sweat.
As a part of our gaming benchmark suite, we performed the most well-liked and intensive titles on the market together with Cyberpunk 2077, GTA V, Hitman 3, Purple Lifeless Redemption 2, and extra. The record additionally included Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Daybreak, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 5, Far Cry 5, Complete Battle Saga: Troy and Borderlands 3. We additionally noticed crashes whereas attempting to play Doom Everlasting due to points associated to Vulkan.
Benchmarks
Whereas pushing the NUC 13 Excessive with artificial benchmarks, we obtained an identical end result to what we noticed in gaming. The machine exceeded our expectations, even with the SFF design and a radiator with simply two 120mm followers as a substitute of a beefier three 120mm fan setup. As a part of our roster, we ran a spread of benchmarks from Geekbench 5 to Cinebench R23, PCMark 10, 3DMark, and Intel Xtreme Tuning Utility.
As you’ll be able to see in our chart, the Intel Core i9 13900K manages to beat the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X by a really small margin. Although it gained’t quantity to a lot whereas gaming, a win is a win. Intel is prone to enhance this distinction with its just lately launched Intel Core i9 13900KS with as much as 6.0GHz clock speeds.
Thermals on Intel NUC 13 Excessive
In case you are ready for one thing out of the character for this evaluation right here, you then can be upset, as NUC 13 Excessive did fairly nicely for thermals. Like every computing machine, the CPU throttled when put below artificial load with peak temperatures of as much as 98-degree Celsius. However the machine managed a mean of 62-degree Celsius for the CPU and 65-degree Celsius for the GPU, with a scorching spot temperature of about 76-degree Celsius.
It’s value noting that these temperatures are anticipated to rise throughout summers, as we reviewed our machine initially of winter season in New Delhi. This implies cooler ambient temperature of about 25-Diploma Celsius than the summer season season.
Design, options, and software program
Engineering and design are among the many stand-out options of the Intel NUC 13 Excessive. Although the computing machine doesn’t look as engaging, the modular, mesh-filled case does make it up with the efficiency it provides. The mesh design does end result within the NUC trying fairly dusty with nominal use within the sub-continental area. Which means you have to usually take off the mesh panels and clear them to make sure the NUC is as tidy as potential. Opening the NUC, it’s evident that the engineers have taken inspiration from Origami artwork to pack it as densely as potential.
Picture Credit score: Intel
The packaging additionally comes with Wi-Fi antennas to supply a stellar wi-fi connection vary to NUC 13 Excessive. As famous above, the machine options the most recent cutting-edge expertise together with DDR5 RAM, PCIe Gen-5, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E and extra.
On the software program facet of issues, the Home windows 11 Professional set up on the machine is comparatively bloat-free with solely choose pre-installed Intel software program together with the Intel NUC Studio. It permits patrons to tweak the efficiency profile and LED lighting zones, together with the power to watch system internals.
But once more, Intel has delivered a formidable case-study of merging spectacular engineering with utilitarian design for final efficiency. It’s the very best pre-built for avid gamers and/or content material creators who desire a small type issue (SFF) computing machine with one of the best efficiency on the market. The Intel NUC 13 Excessive will match all of your gaming and productiveness wants except you’re searching for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 collection GPUs and the additional graphics horsepower. In case you are, then a compact package deal just like the NUC is just not the fitting match for you.
It’s doubtless that it would be best to watch for the Intel Core i9 13900KS for those who love the bleeding edge. However the NUC could not have sufficient cooling capability to chill the 6.0GHz processor and get all of the efficiency 13900KS has to supply. In case you are searching for one of the best gaming efficiency that cash can purchase and do not thoughts constructing it your self or haven’t any area constraints. Then, we might counsel you watch for the upcoming AMD Ryzen 7000X3D collection of desktop processors. In any other case, Intel NUC 13 Excessive is the best way to go.