Intel NUC I3 build, questions about configuration
#1
I'm considering a few options at the moment for a new HTPC, most importantly I need optical audio out for my AVR. Is the Asus Xonar U7 any good with XBMC/OpenElec?

This is another option maybe Turtle Beach Micro II

Edit: So after a bit more digging I found this thread http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1225417

So I think I'll stick with the following set up:

Intel NUC Kit D34010WYK
8GB Kit (4GBx2), Ballistix 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800 (will this work fine with the NUC I3 4010u?)
Samsung SSD EVO 840 120 GB mSATA Specs
Turtle Beach Micro II USB sound card
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#2
Might just get a Gigabyte Brix in that case, as they have optical out: http://www.newegg.com/GIGABYTE-Mini-Book...D-1314-309

Very comparable to the NUC.
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#3
Hey Ned.

I want to stick with the Intel for its BIOS, NIC and design. Hopefully the Turtle Beach Micro II should do the trick.
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#4
(2014-02-08, 19:01)nooryani84 Wrote: 8GB Kit (4GBx2), Ballistix 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800 (will this work fine with the NUC I3 4010u?)

It should, but honestly, if all you're doing is running OpenElec, you don't need 8GB of RAM. There's nothing wrong with having the extra RAM, but I'd save my money. 4 GB would be more than enough, and I'm even running 2 GB with Windows 8.1 and a Baytrail NUC. Even if you get into gaming or any other intensive software (though the kind of games that will run on an i3 NUC wouldn't use up 8GB of RAM anyways), 4GB will usually be sufficient for most purposes.

(2014-02-08, 21:25)Ned Scott Wrote: Might just get a Gigabyte Brix in that case, as they have optical out: http://www.newegg.com/GIGABYTE-Mini-Book...D-1314-309

Very comparable to the NUC.

For HTPC purposes, I'd say the NUC is still superior to the Brix just because of the built in IR port. The current generation of NUC boxes are clearly designed with HTPC use in mind, while Gigabyte seems to market the Brix as a general computer replacement.
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#5
(2014-02-09, 03:34)two515ty Wrote:
(2014-02-08, 19:01)nooryani84 Wrote: 8GB Kit (4GBx2), Ballistix 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800 (will this work fine with the NUC I3 4010u?)

It should, but honestly, if all you're doing is running OpenElec, you don't need 8GB of RAM. There's nothing wrong with having the extra RAM, but I'd save my money. 4 GB would be more than enough, and I'm even running 2 GB with Windows 8.1 and a Baytrail NUC. Even if you get into gaming or any other intensive software (though the kind of games that will run on an i3 NUC wouldn't use up 8GB of RAM anyways), 4GB will usually be sufficient for most purposes.

(2014-02-08, 21:25)Ned Scott Wrote: Might just get a Gigabyte Brix in that case, as they have optical out: http://www.newegg.com/GIGABYTE-Mini-Book...D-1314-309

Very comparable to the NUC.

For HTPC purposes, I'd say the NUC is still superior to the Brix just because of the built in IR port. The current generation of NUC boxes are clearly designed with HTPC use in mind, while Gigabyte seems to market the Brix as a general computer replacement.

I'll most likely be running Win 8.1 with Plex/XBMC.. some light gaming. 4 and 8 GB kits are almost the same price, I was just wondering if these are compatible. I've heard that there have been issues with memory and the NUC.
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#6
There is a white paper with memory compatible list for nuc haswell on intel site. The link was posted on nuc haswell thread multiple times. Wink
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#7
Just make sure memory is 1.35v. The NUC doesn't accept 1.5v.
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#8
Thanks all, I went with the nuc i3 and corsair ddr3l 1.35 ram even though it wasn't on Intel's list
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