Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) desktop PCs are now a well-known option for anyone wanting a tiny PC they can sit on the back of a monitor. Typically, they come in barebones form, requiring the user to add storage, RAM, and an operating system. Intel regularly refreshes the NUC line-up as its new processors hit the market, but the latest NUC models focus on another upgrade: super-fast hybrid storage.
Three new NUC models have been introduced including a 16GB stick of Intel's Optane memory. Described as part storage drive, part system accelerator, Optane occupies an M.2 slot and acts as a very fast cache sitting between whatever main storage you have (HDD or SSD) and RAM.
Intel claims a performance gain of up to 28 percent, which is why MSI decided to bundle a 16GB stick with some of its motherboards. Now you can enjoy the same performance boost in a NUC!
The three NUC models shipping with Optane as standard cover Intel's Core chip range. There's a Core i3-7100U model (NUC7i3BNHX1) for $339, Core i5-7260U model (NUC7i5BNHX1) for $421, and a Core i7-7567U model (NUC7i7BNHX1) for $535, with the performance and price going up depending on which chip you choose. In all cases you'll still need to purchase RAM, storage, and an operating system.
NUCs are not the cheapest small PCs out there, but these Optane models certainly have the potential to be the fastest if combined with a good SSD and DDR4 memory modules.
As Liliputing points out, it's possible to purchase a NUC that's Optane-compatible, but doesn't ship with a stick. Then you can buy a 16GB Optane module for $49 or even a 32GB module for $80. If you can find an Optane-compatible NUC at a discount, that 32GB module would be tempting.