This mini gaming PC is the result of a collaboration between Intel and AMD. Who would have thought that two long-time rivals could work together? The NUC8i7HVK features an Intel Core i7-8809G Kaby Lake-G and an AMD Radeon RX Vega M . This mini gaming PC can be sold barebones, meaning without memory or storage. We will equip our NUC8i7HVK with 32GB of DDR4 and a 1TB 970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 SSD
Design and connectivity
The NUC measures 221 x 142 x 39 mm and weighs 1.4 kg . It's a fairly compact mini PC and will easily find a place on your desk, TV stand, or in your game room. It can be easily transported from one place to another. Its distinctive design, featuring a light-up skull, is instantly recognizable. More understated models are also available for those who prefer a different look.
The power power supply delivers approximately 245 watts . Connectivity options include the front panel ports for driving a VR headset. There's one HDMI output, three USB ports (two USB-A 3.0 and one USB-C), a 3.5 mm audio jack, and an SD card reader. On the rear panel, you'll find mini DisplayPort outputs, one HDMI output, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB-A 3.0 ports, and an S/PIDF optical audio jack. For networking, there are two Ethernet ports, Bluetooth 4.2, and a Wi-Fi module.
Add the memory and disk components
Since it's a barebones mini PC, an assembly kit is included. This kit contains, among other things, an Allen key and the necessary screws. We start by opening the top fasteners. Then, we remove the metal plate. We must be careful not to damage the small ribbon cables and wires. We can then easily add the missing components: 32GB of DDR4 and a 1TB 970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 SSD subsequent windows operating system
Component characteristics
The processor is an Core i7-8809G Kaby Lake-G . It features 4 cores and 8 threads operating at 3.1 GHz. In boost clock mode, it can reach 4.2 GHz 14-nanometer process and has a TDP of 100 watts. It is equipped with 8 MB of cache memory and transfers data at 8 gigabits per second on its bus.
It's a hybrid Intel-AMD chip, integrating a Radeon RX Vega M GH with 24 CGN Compute Units and 4GB of HBM2 memory. The GPU's integrated transistors switch at 1.06 GHz, reaching peak frequencies of 1.19 GHz . The graphics card delivers 4K resolution at 60Hz and supports DirectX 12. It's also compatible with Vulkan technology.
The performance of the NUC8i7HVK
The components combined form a gaming PC that delivers truly impressive performance. This mini-PC can achieve 200 FPS in Full HD, for example, on Dirt 3 or DirectX 9 titles. It also manages 40 FPS in Full HD for newer games using DirectX 11 and 3D, such as Rise of the Tomb Raider, Assassin's Creed Origins, and Far Cry 5. With a few tweaks, we even managed to achieve 80 FPS on Tomb Raider without TAA/FXAA. This mini-PC is clearly designed to provide breathtaking gaming experiences, whether for video output or VR. The audio system is equally impressive, with a 7.1 digital surround sound that delivers a near-realistic audio experience.
The only slight drawback is the relatively rapid rise in component temperature, causing the fans to run a bit faster. However, this doesn't detract from the overall merits of this powerful mini gaming PC.
According to the latest news, Intel will ship the last NUC8i7HNK and NUC8i7HVK on January 29, 2021, for orders placed before November 27, 2020. So, there's still time for those who want to get their hands on this little gem to order. It's also available on Amazon for €941.21 excluding shipping. Shipping costs around €30 within mainland France. The 32GB memory card costs €119.99, and you can get the 1TB Samsung SSD for €179.99.
