Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast mini PC to feature Intel Alder Lake CPUs and DG2 GPUs

The flagship NUC 11 has just been released, but we are already getting our first glimpse of the NUC 12 series. Powered by Alder Lake processors, the first model to be leaked is the NUC 12 Enthusiast, which will support Intel DG2 GPUs with up to 16GB of VRAM.

The spec list of the Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast was leaked on Weibo (via HXL), and as you can see, it not only features the upcoming Alder Lake processors, but it also states that these new mini PCs will pack dedicated Intel GPUs. There will be three models available: one equipped with a Core i7 and a 16GB GPU, another packing a Core i7 and a 12GB GPU, and the last sporting a Core i5 and an 8GB GPU.

It's not clearly mentioned that these dedicated GPUs are indeed DG2 SKUs, but the VRAM amount matches what we've been hearing about them. Another specification of the Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast worth mentioning is the support for up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 memory, seemingly confirming Alder Lake will support both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

intel NUC 12 Enthusiast

Alder Lake + DDR4 3200 SO-DIMM
8/12/16GB VRAM（DP 2.0，HDMI2.1）intel DG2？🤔
AX411 WIFI 6E 2X2
230/330W PSUhttps://t.co/u0XG1bjR3x pic.twitter.com/1h1OsC69wM

— HXL (@9550pro) August 6, 2021

The rest of the specifications include 2x M.2 slots for PCIe 4.0 SSDs and an M.2 slot for a PCIe 3.0 or SATA SSD, but it will also support Intel Optane Memory M10 and H10. Connectivity-wise, there're many options, including Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.x, a 2.5G Ethernet port, Thunderbolt 4 ports, 3.5mm audio-in/out jacks, an SDXC slot with UHS-II support, 6x USB3.1 Gen2 ports, and 2x USB 2.0 internal headers. Moreover, there's an HDMI 2.1 port, a DisplayPort 2.0, and a mini DisplayPort 2.0, suggesting that Intel DG2 GPUs would support the new DisplayPort version.

The Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast will also come with Alexa support and feature a quad-mic array. Similar to the latest NUC systems, it will also include Intel's RGB-backlit skull logo, which can be customised by the user. Moreover, a vertical stand and a 230/330W PSU will be included, the latter probably dependant on the GPU option.

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KitGuru says: Given the specifications, would you buy an Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast? For a mini PC, it sure looks like it’ll pack some power. 

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