A couple of weeks ago we discovered that Intel is offering a NUC including Windows 10 for just $232. That's quite the bargain even if it only contains an Apollo Lake Celeron processor and 2GB RAM. Now, The NUC Blog discovered another new NUC has hit the market, only this one uses a Kaby Lake Core i3 processor.
Unlike the Celeron NUC, this new Core i3 model doesn't ship with RAM, storage, or a Windows 10 license. However, it still manages to stay below $300, with a listing on Amazon pricing it at $295. Adding 8GB of DDR4-2133 RAM costs around $54, and a 240GB SSD can be as cheap as $60. Windows 10 Home adds another $90, taking the total cost up to $499 for a very capable machine. Of course, you can cut that cost down to $395 by opting for a 500GB hard drive and Linux, and yet further with 4GB RAM.
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Two models of this Core i3 NUC exist, both costing $295. The NUC7I3BNH includes a 2.5-inch SSD/HDD bay, where as the NUC7I3BNK does not and limits you to an M.2 slot SSD which allows it to save on case height. You can see the difference in case height in the images above.
If you don't need the extra performance a Core i3 processor and Intel HD Graphics 620 offers, then the Celeron NUC is much better value considering it's a complete package for $232. However, the Core i3 is a great base and these NUCs can house up to 32GB of RAM.
If you're willing to spend a little extra cash then this could make for a great little PC attached to the back of a monitor.