Intel Next Unit of Computing Kit with HDMI, Thunderbolt, Core i3-3217UDC3217BY

CUSTOMER REVIEW



My first review to help out other newbies wading into system building i.e. someone who hates the cable company charging ridiculous fees for a commodity cable box that they actually want to do something about it. I purchased this to build out a HTPC.



Bottom line - this is not the same as getting a box from dell. Be prepared to spend some time ironing kinks out. BUT if you are willing and able (including tolerance for the risk of not having a single vendor to go after if you have issues), this is the best small form factor system with i3 processor that you can build/find. My total cost was ~400 (NUC + SSD (60 GB) + Memory (4 gb) + thunderbolt ethernet adapter + Windows 7). You can get rid of windows 7 but note that there is a multitude of issues with cablecard/DRM that linux based solutions (Mythbuntu etc) will (probably) never support. Also you might find a Acer Revo i3 for the same price but with base windows 8 -- this requires you to spend additional $$ to upgrade to windows 8 pro + WMC if you want to use WMC with cablecard support.



As other posters have said - you need mSata (MydigitalSSD works fine), memory (kingston worked for me) to have a working system. Optional (well, not really): Wifi card or USB to ethernet (only upto 480 Mbps as this has only USB 2) or Apple thunderbolt to ethernet adapter (GigE). See links at end for exact SKUs and other helpful links. I am also assuming you have a monitor/TV, keyboard & mouse somewhere and you don't need to buy them.



Steps are as follows:

1) install memory, msata. Optional: install the wireless card. This goes below msata.

1.1) Go to intel site to request a thermal pad. This is a fix from Intel for heating issues that affect msata. I did not have any issues without the pad but ordered to be safe.

2) Connect to output (HDMI to TV works fine. I also used a HDMI to DVI adapter to work on my desk to finish installing this in comfort. You should see a nasty message asking you to put in a boot device.

3) If you see no output but see the power button on the device blinking - check the bios blink codes on the intel website. It is likely you have not installed the memory stick correctly. If you have had to force the memory stick in, you HAVE installed it incorrectly. Push the stick into the slot at approx. 30 degrees and push it down. It should go in smoothly and you should hear a click (like some springs are being locked in place not some plastic breaking)

4) Create a bootable USB of the OS (Windows 7). I am not sure why - there are online instructions to create a bootable USB from ISO image file but none directly from the windows install CD. I went the route of creating an ISO image from the disk and then using the MS provided software to create the bootable USB. It seemed to create the exact same file structure as the original disk. I did not have time to research but perhaps this step can be compressed to just transferring the files from the install CD to USB with some formatting step thrown in.

5) Login to windows, complete formalities. Note: At this point - if you run the windows experience index now, you will see no graphics score. You need to go to the intel site and install the drivers available.

5.1) Install windows updates, driver updates etc.

6) [optional] Install the drivers for apple thunderbolt ethernet adapter. Search for broadcom netextreme drivers. Note: The driver has to be installed manually. If you open the device manager, I saw something along the lines of 'unidentified ethernet device'. Rightclick on this, pick 'update driver software' and manually point it to the driver files (unzipped) . If you see performance issues with this, you need to tweak some settings. Right click on the device, properties, advanced, large send offload (IPV4) and disable this.

7) If you are using this as a HTPC with live tv, install the tuner related software (HD Homerun prime in my case)

8) If you start seeing flickering during live tv/recorded tv in dark scenes, it is most likely due to the data stream not playing nice with the graphics. Go to the intel graphics & media control panel and turn adaptive contrast enhancement to off. This can be tricky as this option is hidden (the top left is actually a pull down menu). This step appears trivial but it is huge in terms of selling this to skeptical family members :)



Now you have a working system to enjoy.



So why did I give this a 4? Although I am happy with the end result, I had huge problems with installing the memory stick and had to call intel support (twice -- chat and in person). The blink codes did not map to anything on the intel site. The support team assumed I had installed the stick correctly but the box was defective. Perhaps they are not used to novices calling them. Whatever the reasons, it was not solved by them but by me trying it one last time before boxing it up to return.

Among other things - there are three USB ports. Now for the most part, in my laptops I have had a max of 2 usb ports occupied so thought it would be fine for me. But - with this device, you will have 1 Usb for keyboard + mouse (in install/maintain) phase, 1 USB for external hard drive (See reviews about not using SSD with Windows media center), 1 USB for IR receiver/remote (needed if you want to use it as set top box - Good luck convincing significant other to use the keyboard and mouse to watch tv) and 1 USb for ethernet adapter (if you want to save $30 on apple ethernet adapter). So if you want other things (like an external sound card to hook up receiver, you will need to invest in a hub.



Helpful links/part numbers:

MyDigitalSSD 60GB 50mm Bullet Proof 4 BP4 50mm mSATA Solid State Drive SSD SATA III 6G (60GB)(64GB)



Kingston: Kingston ValueRam 4GB PC3-10600 CL9 204-Pin SODIMM Notebook Memory KVR1333D3S9/4G



Intel tested memory: http://ift.tt/1btRGRU



Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter



List of Intel tested/approved peripherals etc:

http://ift.tt/1jlfUxS



List of customer tested peripherals reported to intel:

http://ift.tt/1jlfUxW



Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter driver:

http://ift.tt/1dPqIiw



Description of thermal Issue:

http://ift.tt/1btRGS2



Request for thermal pad:

http://ift.tt/1jlfUy0



NUC Drivers etc:

http://ift.tt/1btRGS4



UPDATE: I did not stress this in original review -- If you want to record HD shows, the 60 GB SSD is simply not enough. Windows Media Center complained about not enough space for 2 hour show (about ~32 gb left after OS install). You will need to evaluate other options - buy bigger mSATA, (or) investigate/invest in NAS Servers with iscsi (or) other USB storage options or [non option] thunderbolt hard drive



Caveat Emptor: There is a reason that this product is much cheaper than the one with the gigabit ethernet port. Intel is most likely phasing this product out/getting rid of inventory. The Thunderbolt technology peripherals are primarily targeted at Apple ecosystem (and priced for that market) not someone trying to build a quality system on the cheap.