Base Unit

Leo checks out the latest generation of the Intel NUC, sporting an i9-12900 and RTX 3070

During CES 2022, Intel unveiled the successor to the NUC 11 Extreme compute module. Codenamed Dragon Canyon, the new NUC 12 Extreme will be powered by a 12th Gen Core i9 processor, bringing Alder Lake to Intel's extreme computing module. Cassandra Bodzak, Intel's marketing specialist, presented the NUC 12 Extreme …

Got 6 grand lying around and want to buy a workstation? The Lenovo P620 could be for you

Anyone looking for a barebones system to build a highly integrated Windows 10 PC may find themselves considering the ASRock DeskMini H470W. For just over £200 you get a tiny STX chassis and motherboard along with an external power supply of the type used with a laptop. You need to …

Intel NUC 9 Extreme offers a high-performance system in a 5L chassis - but at what cost?

Today we build a high-end workstation system based around the 64-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, Gigabyte TRX40 Aorus Master motherboard, and two Aorus Radeon RX 5700 XT graphics cards... see how this beast performs in the real world!

It has been a while since we looked at a Shuttle barebones. Is this one any good?

Long gone are the days where to have a powerful gaming PC you needed to have a full-ATX case, with screaming fans and a giant power supply. Today you can get by with something much more compact, like ASRock's new micro-STX DeskMini RX system, which packs high-end graphics with a …

Built around the Skylake Core i5-6200U processor, the Shuttle XPC Nano NC02U5 is perhaps most interesting because it supports a 2.5in disk drive. Whereas most barebones kits typically have just a single spare M.2 connector, the XPC Nano NC02U5 allows users to install any 2.5in drive of their choice – potentially …

MSI appears to have delivered a new PC format with its Aegis Ti gaming system that we think of as Small-ish Form Factor. In appearance, Aegis Ti bears a strong resemblance to Aegis X. However, it is considerably larger and stands 51cm high. The big difference is that Aegis X …

The last time I saw a Shuttle barebones was back in 2009, at a time when LGA775 and Core 2 Duo were the flavours of the month. The Shuttle SH110R4 barebones we have on review today is bang up to date, sporting an Intel H110 chipset with support for a …

With Steam consoles nearing their launch date and VR almost ready to explode on to the scene, system maker Cyberpower is convinced that living room gaming will be a hot topic for 2016. David Scott explains his company's choice to opt for a self-assembly system using desktop parts – and …

Although Intel took a long time to come around to the idea of ultra-small form factor computing, mobile CPUs and GPUs, over the past few years it's realised the potential goldmine that exists in mobile and wearable technology, so it's been launching its own micro-computers, like Edison, Curie and lately …

The world of streaming is in a bit of a quality no-man's land right now. While 1080p is a pretty solid standard for those watching content via services like Amazon Instant Video and Netflix, 4K is not so well grounded. Some have TVs that can support it, but there isn't …

Small form-factor personal computers are gaining popularity these days. One of the drawbacks that modem SFF PCs have is poor upgradeability. Sometimes it is hard to get appropriate components and it is generally hard to install them into a tiny system. Acer Group proposes a stackable PC concept, which makes …

Even though the market of personal computers has slowed down in the recent years, the PC continues its rapid development. Not only PCs are becoming more powerful, but they also change their form-factors. According to market analysts, one of the most promising segments of the PC market is the segment of highly …

Virtually all high-tech companies who sell PC hardware or personal computers recently complained about poor sales of PCs in the past few quarters. While many expect their revenues to improve in the second half of 2015, analysts warn that factors, which negatively affect sales of PCs now, will continue to slow …

Intel Corp.’s NUC [next unit of computing] small form-factor PCs offer decent performance and are rather small. Unfortunately, such systems come with limited choice of processors and cannot be upgraded. By contrast, mini-ITX systems support all types of CPUs, can be upgraded, but are considerably larger. In a bid to …

Microsoft Corp. needs to install Windows 10 on as many devices as possible to capitalize on it in the coming years, which is why it made its latest OS available free of charge to existing customers. The approach makes sense for Microsoft. But is it good for the market in …

In a bid to offer the right solutions for different classes of desktop personal computers, Intel Corp. recently presented its vision of desktop platforms to makers of PC components. Apparently, the world’s largest maker of microprocessors sees as many as six distinctive segments of today’s desktop market. Sales of personal …

Intel Corp.’s ultra-small form-factor NUC [next unit of compute] desktops have become pretty popular on the market and many makers of mainboards, PCs and barebones are now trying to offer something similar. Asrock at Computex 2015 introduced its first NUC-like PCs that feature Intel’s new-generation ‘Braswell’ system-on-chip and boast with …

Asus VivoPC comes in a number of versions. This model is the VM62B with a Core i3 processor and integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics which puts it in the middle of the pecking order. You can also buy it with a Celeron 2957U (we prefer to avoid Celerons) or Core …

MSI is offering its Cubi Mini PC in four different specifications with varying levels of CPU grunt, depending on the price you pay. Cubi is a barebones design however the sample sent to KitGuru was fully built and ready to roll. If you buy a Cubi you will have to …

Acer Group used to be one of the world’s top PC makers half a decade ago, but in the recent years the company’s market share dropped rather dramatically. Acer announced major reorganization efforts in 2013 and while all of them yet have to prove their viability, the company is confident …

Although Microsoft Corp. plans to make its Windows 10 operating system available to PC makers this summer, actual systems featuring the new OS will not hit the market ahead of the important back-to-school season, market analysts believe. Recently Lisa Su, chief executive officer of Advanced Micro Devices, said that Microsoft …

Although sales of personal computers in general are declining nowadays, demand for inexpensive mini desktop PCs remains strong. As a result, Intel Corp. intends to strengthen its platforms for such systems, a media report claims. Among other things, the world’s No. 1 microprocessor supplier intends to improve performance of small …

Unveiled early this year, Tegra X1 system-on-chip from Nvidia Corp. was positioned mainly for automotive applications. However, given rather serious processing horsepower it has, it can be used for many other devices. In fact, according to recent leaks and listings, Nvidia and its partners plan to use the Tegra X1 …

Intel Corp. has published images of its forthcoming new-generation NUC (next unit of computing) small form-factor personal computers based in the Core i-series “Broadwell” microprocessors. The upcoming SFF PCs will be slightly smaller than existing NUCs and will support optional technologies that are not available today. Pictures of Intel’s new …

Whenever a new high end platform is launched, the early adopters (as the industry likes to call them) tend to go for fully laden systems – either because they are nuts for power or they are looking for a system that will last a good few years. With Intel's X99, …

Global PC shipments will decline by several percent points this year, but will still total over 303 million units, according to Gartner. Therefore, many PC makers will enjoy great sales of personal computers this year and going forward. Unfortunately, profit margins of loads of smaller PC makers will decline so …