Intel NUC 9 Extreme NUC9i9QNX Review
Source: Geeknetic added 17th Oct 2020Introduction to the features of the Intel NUC 9 Extreme
The Intel NUC are those small, reduced-form computers that Intel put on the market a few generations ago, along with other experiments such as the now defunct Compute Stick. These low cubic capacity computers are based on low or ultra low voltage processors, such as those found in laptops, to offer a good balance between power, consumption and interior space.
These formats have been very successful for several generations, in the domestic environment, but especially in the professional environment where, although they are not cheap, they reduce maintenance costs and the spaces necessary for their installation and operation. Its ability to mount on standard VESA mounts also makes it easy to expand the processing unit without touching other peripherals with longer lifespan such as monitors.
Intel has also used this format to develop desktop computers with gaming capabilities. Some even combining processors of their own batch with dedicated AMD graphics . Now, with this new generation, they give a twist to the format with a larger system, but with a computing unit in the form of an expansion card that still allows very small form factors, but also combined with the latest modular dedicated graphics. generation.
Technical characteristics of Intel NUC 9 Extreme NUC9i9QNX
- Intel Core i9 Processor – 9980 HK (8 cores, 17 threads, 2, 4 GHz @ 5 GHz) set to 64 W.
- Wifi -6 (Intel AX 210 160 MHz)
- Bluetooth 5.0
- 2x USB- C Thunderbolt 4.0 (42 Gbps)
- 4 x USB -A 3.0 (3.2 gen 1)
- HDMI
Physical network connectivity:
- 1x Intel I 216 Gigabit
- 1x Intel I 225 Gigabit
- Teaming functionality up to 2Gbps Full Duplex
Computing element
In this first generation, the computing module can be found in three flavors of high-performance processors for laptops. Specifically the Core i9 – 9750 HK , Core i7 – 9750 H and Core i5 – 9300 H.
The first with overclocking capability, 8 cores and 17 threads and frequencies up to 5GHz with a TDP of 64 w max. The Core i7 – 9750 H has 6 cores, 13 process threads and a turbo frequency of up to 4.5GHz with a maximum TDP of 80 w. The last one, the Core i5 – 3200 H, it has 4 cores with 8 processing threads and a maximum frequency of 4.1GHz with the same TDP of 64 w configurable.
They are three processors of ninth generation Intel Core laptops that are mounted in a card format, the size of a compact ITX graphics, with a PCI Express 3.0 interface 18 x that connects to a motherboard where we can add more elements such as additional storage or any expansion card including dedicated graphics cards.
Inside we will find, easily accessible, the possibility of expanding RAM with up to 80 GB DDR4 SODIMM type in dual channel. The “Compute Element” also adds two M.2 slots of 100 Y 45 mm respectively, with RAID modes (0 and 1) and the possibility of mounting PCI Express NVMe drives and also more standard SATA drives.
Network connectivity is impressive including both Wifi 6 connectivity , using an Intel AX chip 200 which also adds Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity as well as a dual Intel i ethernet network interface 216 – AT added to its usual partner the Intel I 225 – LM. These two chipsets give life to two gigabit connectors that can work in parallel or load balancing with up to 2Gbps of bandwidth in full-duplex.
The computing module Also includes four USB 3.2 Gen2x1 ports with up to 11 Gbps of bandwidth in Type A connector. It also has two Thunderbolt 3 connectors that can also be used as Displayport connectors in addition to adding network connectivity 11 Gbit, card connectivity expansion and docks up to 42 Gbps full-duplex and fast device charging compatible with Power De livery up to 110 w per connector. It also has a rear audio connector, Jack type, which also serves as a Tos link digital audio connector.
Internal connectors include USB-C 3.2 Gen2x2 connectivity from 22 GBps, which we can separate into two 5Gbps Type-A connectors, two additional USB 2.0 ports and three SATA connectors with one connector adapted for device size.
The ventilation system includes heatpipes of direct contact with the CPU and an air expulsion system through the upper part of the card. The front has a part dedicated to the intake of fresh air from outside the chassis where we install it. It is a system that, as we will see later, is quite well calibrated for a very acceptable general operation as far as noise is concerned.
Complete kit with 5 liters of volume Intel NUC Extreme Chassis
The Compute Elements of the NUC 9 Extreme can be purchased separately, in theory because in practice in Europe it is very difficult to find any of the three individual variants, but Intel also offers a complete kit which is the one we used for this analysis and to also test the Cooler Master MasterCase NC 110 designed with these PCs in mind as well.
The Chassis kit offers us a series of very interesting features. The first is the size, really compact with just 5l of volume where a compact source of 577 w, which can feed charts up to 238 watts of power, with a maximum length of 8 ”.
We can also find in its database connect an additional M.2 module with up to 160 mm long, NVMe support, which is directly connected to the system CPU. Therefore, it does not consume bandwidth from the graphics card.
On the front of the box Intel adds dual USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A connectivity, triple-pole mini Jack headphone connection and also a card reader with SDXC support with high-speed UHS-II standard.
The box format is really compact and accessible. It has just 5 liters of volume and opens easily on both sides for quick access to the two main areas of the system. The upper part has installed two connection fans without cables that are responsible for taking the air out of the box. The system, therefore, uses the natural convection of heat to improve the cooling of the whole without the need to force vents. Ntilators at high rotational speeds that produce a lot of noise. The power supply is located in the lower part of the box, where the connection plate rests.
What, if I can assure you, and it can be seen in the images, is that the space is what it is and everything fits very well, it is clear that it has been designed to measure for this unit and to very specific ITX graphics. Even so, in our test unit Intel has installed the version with the processor Core i7 – 9980 HK , 18 GB of RAM, two storage units of 577 and 1TB of capacity and a powerful ASUS GeForce RTX 2070 in ITX format.
Temperature, noise and overclock
With such a compact equipment, and so much hardware inside, it is normal that we think that the heat or noise will be a serious problem. The advantage, and also disadvantage, of NUC systems is that they use more laptop-oriented processors and therefore work well at elevated temperatures, with allowable temperatures up to 110 degrees, and also its consumption is more reduced. It is evident that its performance is also lower compared to desktop processors of the same generation with higher TDPs.
Regardless of the performance of this unit, we can see it later, in the next section, now with regard to noise, the truth is that it is not a noisy unit, not even when loaded, with noise levels of 64 dBA while playing . The good choice of graphics, with an ASUS ITX dual fan, makes everything behave in an excellent way with surprising performances for such a compact unit.
The working temperatures are also those expected for the system, as a whole, using both the processor and the graphics card as any of us would do at home or at work. In our tests we have seen the processor hovering around the 110 degrees, with some throttling at the power level, but maintaining expected levels of performance for this processor with sustained speeds across all cores at 3.5GHz, and turbo speeds in single-core tests up to 4.7GHz.
Intel NUC Extreme Performance
Cinebench R 17 SMP
Cinebench R 22 1x CPU
Cinebench R 22 SMP
Geekbench R5 MultiCPU
Geekbench R5 SingleCPU
PCMark 11 Standard Test
3DMark FireStrike
FireStrike 3DMark Extreme
Analysis and Conclusion
Intel’s NUC systems have found their place in many homes and companies as highly solvent compact computers that consume little space and energy and are easy to use. maintain because they use external sources, standard expansion components and highly integrated with very complete solutions that include processor and connection systems such as ethernet and wireless chipsets.
The NUC 9 Extreme is a completely different concept of computer, based on expansion modules that in turn use completely standard expansion modules for memories and storage units. In theory, the user can change the computing module without touching the rest of the chassis or components, but the truth is that this format, especially for the price, is not very accessible and in many markets, like ours, it is only sold In a complete kit and even so it is expensive and difficult to obtain.
Regarding the performance and the format that Intel offers in its complete kit with chassis, I must say that I expected more noise due to temperature problems associated with putting so much hardware in so little space, but it is clear that those 5 liters of box are well used and designed so that the components inside them shine, develop their full potential and at the same time maintain a very good operation. user-friendly. Undoubtedly a great PC for gamers in a compact format, yes, at the rate of 1500 Euros without graphics card, with this configuration up to 1904 Euros.
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