The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit is a small but mighty desktop computer. It’s perfect for freelancers and professionals who need something portable yet powerful. It uses Intel’s latest tech, making it both strong and easy to carry.
The NUC11TNKi5 model we looked at had a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. This setup is great for work, creating content, and even some gaming. Despite its size, it has lots of ways to connect to other devices, making it easy to set up.
This desktop performed well in tests, beating out bigger and pricier PCs. It’s not the best for gaming because of its graphics. But for freelancers and professionals, it’s a top choice because of its size and power.
The Compact Powerhouse
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit is a true compact desktop powerhouse. It packs impressive performance into a small form factor. It measures just 4.6 inches front to back, 4.4 inches wide, and 1.45 inches high.
This tiny mini PC delivers a surprising amount of computing power. Its space-saving design makes it perfect for small spaces.
Petite yet Powerful
The NUC11TNKi5 model we reviewed has an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. It offers powerful performance for everyday tasks. This includes content creation and light gaming.
Despite its small size, it handles web browsing and document editing well. It’s great for freelancers, remote workers, and professionals. They need a compact desktop PC solution.
Similar Products
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit is part of the NUC family of mini PCs. This family offers various compact desktop solutions. Other products include the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit and the Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast Kit.
There’s also the Asrock DeskMini X300. These desktop PC alternatives offer desktop-level performance in a small size. They are perfect for users who want power without a big footprint.
Design and Connectivity
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit has a sleek and desktop PC design that fits well in many spaces. It’s just 4.6 inches long, 4.4 inches wide, and 1.45 inches tall. The NUC11TNKi5 model is a small form factor PC but still has lots of power and connectivity.
The system looks modern with a black body and silver details. It’s perfect for home offices, freelance work, and corporate settings. Its compact desktop PC dimensions make it easy to place anywhere, like on a desk or mounted on a wall.
Sleek and Compact
Despite being small, the Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit has many connectivity features. The front has two USB 3.2 Type-A ports. The back has an RJ-45 Ethernet jack, two HDMI video ports, and more.
It also has internal USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 headers for extra needs. Plus, it comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connections.
Connectivity Options
This wide range of ports and wireless options lets users connect many devices. It makes the NUC 9 Pro a versatile and well-connected compact desktop solution.
Gaming Desktop computers
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit is not made for gaming. But, its Intel Iris Xe graphics can handle some light gaming tasks. In our tests, it performed as expected for a compact PC with integrated graphics.
It didn’t match the power of dedicated GPU-equipped options like the Intel NUC 11 Enthusiast Kit. Yet, the Iris Xe graphics offered a good gaming experience for less demanding titles and older games. If you’re serious about gaming performance, look into a mini PC with a dedicated graphics card or a more powerful NUC model.
But, the NUC 9 Pro is enough for casual gamers or those who play light gaming now and then.
Graphics Performance
The Intel Iris Xe graphics in the NUC 9 Pro Kit offer satisfactory gaming performance for less demanding titles and older games. They’re not as strong as dedicated graphics cards, but they still manage a playable frame rate in many games at lower settings.
Users can enjoy casual gaming experiences. This includes indie titles, less graphically intensive esports games, and even some older AAA releases.
Gaming Capabilities
For more intensive or modern gaming, the NUC 9 Pro’s limits will be clear. Users might need a mini PC with a dedicated graphics card or a bigger, more powerful desktop PC. Still, the NUC 9 Pro is a good choice for freelancers, remote workers, or those who occasionally indulge in light gaming.
Performance Benchmarks
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit showed great performance in our tests. It’s a top pick for work, creating content, and watching multimedia. It uses an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. This makes it fast and smooth for tasks like browsing the web, editing documents, and video calls.
Productivity and Content Creation
In tests like PCMark 10 and Cinebench R15, the NUC 9 Pro did well. It’s great for many work and creative tasks. It might not beat bigger desktops in raw power, but it holds its own against other small PCs.
This makes it a good option for freelancers, remote workers, and professionals. They need a balance of being portable and powerful.
Multimedia and Encoding
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit also did well in multimedia and encoding tasks. In our Handbrake test, it kept up with many bigger desktops. It’s good at converting and encoding video files.
Its graphics can handle 4K media playback. This makes it great for freelancers, content creators, and professionals who work with high-resolution videos and multimedia.
While it’s not the best for very long video editing or rendering, it’s fine for everyday content creation tasks.
Conclusion
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit is a top-notch compact desktop computer. It balances performance, portability, and connectivity well. With an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, it handles tasks smoothly.
Its sleek design fits well in any workspace, from home offices to corporate settings. It has many ports and wireless options, making it easy to connect with various devices. Although it’s not perfect for gaming, it’s great for freelancers and remote workers who need a compact, powerful, and well-connected computer.
The Intel NUC 9 Pro Kit is a standout Intel NUC for its performance and flexibility. It’s perfect for a freelance workstation or remote work setup. It’s a great choice for those looking for a versatile desktop solution.
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