Intel's NUC tiny computer

[Unstupid]

Was checking out Intel's new NUC computer and thinking that this would be perfect for a tiny bartop.  A Raspberry Pi  that can actually do something!  With a core i3/i5 you may actually be able to emulate some more CPU intensive games!  Check it out: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/14/intels-core-i3-nuc-mini-system-bares-it-all-for-idf-hands-on-v/

[ChanceKJ]

I'm aware this is an OLD thread. But i was looking at the new 4th Gen versions of these:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/overview.html

Now you can get i5 Haswell based models that support a 2.5" HDD. It's not a bad idea when you think about it. $300-$400 for the box, throw some RAM and a small HDD in there and it would be perfect for most small bartops, wall mounted Jukes, Mini Pinball machines, etc.



Might be just what i need for my next project after i'm done Flynn's...

[Gatt]

That thing is AWESOME!

From an emulation standpoint,  there's an enourmous amount that could be done.  For MAME,  it should do the classics well,  and for consoles it should do at least up to N64 judging from its specs.  I must contemplate this.  Yes,  contemplate...and research!  This may be what convinces me to write a frontend...

[Unstupid]

Write a front end?  Cool... But just a FYI, when the first NUC's could handle Hyperspin without breaking a sweat so no need reinvent the wheel, but if ya do let me know.. I'm always looking for the next best thing! 

[yotsuya]

They're still kind of pricy, IMHO.

[retrogamedude]

I have one but use it for a car-pc, works great and is quite speedy.  You would need some sort of discrete graphics card though for more powerful emulators, but for the older ones this wouldnt do a bad job.

[ChanceKJ]

Gigabyte makes a couple with some higher end graphics, and there are a few from Zotac as well.

[Unstupid]

Gigabyte makes a couple with some higher end graphics, and there are a few from Zotac as well.

Yea, those are pretty small mini ITX boards that run 6.7"x6.7".  The NUC mobos check in at 4"x4".  At that size it would be tough to fit a 16x PCI slot.

[ark_ader]

I have been wanting the i7 version for my home cloud development, but the price always has been the factor.  Nice to see the newer units with the 2.5 HDD capability, since the older units had the SATA connector where you could not access it without case modding.

Not sure if the on board graphics is good enough for games, where the BRIX has the Expansion Connector.  I just love the NUC for its size and simplicity.

[edekoning]

Not sure if the on board graphics is good enough for games, where the BRIX has the Expansion Connector.  I just love the NUC for its size and simplicity.

Intels integrated graphics are not meant for gaming. I have an i5 with an intel 4000 intergrated graphics, hooked up to a 24" 1920x1200 screen. Any modern 3D game (one that actually uses the GPU) is out of the question, as it runs dog slow, and possibly with graphical glitches. Maybe things improve if you switch to a lower resolution, say 1024x768, sunno.

[ChanceKJ]

That being said they should be good enough for anything leading up to Fifth Generation consoles and arcade games of the same era? Maybe not high end Vpin projects.

[edekoning]

I only use it for Mame+HLSL and for emulators for the 3rd and 4th gen consoles (which is the 8-bit/16-bit era). My guess would be that the 5th gen (n64, saturn, ps1) would run just fine, but I don't expect the 6th to run well.

[2084]

I must admit I don't understand the appeal of this.  For older games the Raspberry Pi works well is smaller and <10% of the cost.  For newer games it easy to find a refurbished USFF PC with a 3 GHz Core 2 processor, HD, and Windows 7 for about $150.  This may do a little better than the refurbished PC but once you add memory, HD, and Windows the NUC gets above $700!

[ChanceKJ]

My guess is the Pi doesn't work with windows. Which is familiar to most.

[Unstupid]

I must admit I don't understand the appeal of this.  For older games the Raspberry Pi works well is smaller and <10% of the cost.  For newer games it easy to find a refurbished USFF PC with a 3 GHz Core 2 processor, HD, and Windows 7 for about $150.  This may do a little better than the refurbished PC but once you add memory, HD, and Windows the NUC gets above $700!

The appeal of the NUC is not for everyone...  It's for someone who wants to push the envelope of small/powerful computing.  It's for someone who wants to take a computer, stick 3,000 games on it, put a flashy front end on it (hypersipn/mala), and cram it into a fightstick.  It's for someone who wants to make something kickass without a budget and without worry of how much it's going to cost. 

[ChanceKJ]

Ooooo, I like that idea!

A fight stick with just power and video connections. Kinda like a super plug and play.... 

Hmmm how do I get it to work with Airplay.... 

 Uh oh, The monkey in my head at the typewriter just passed out.

[ChanceKJ]

I'm thinking: shove one of these into an SNES Advantage controller, figure out how to broadcast airplay from it to an Apple TV (or something equivalent). And load it with all the SNES/NES/GB/Playchoice titles you can. Maybe run a power cord out the front, make it so the joystick can control the mouse...  Hmmm Nintendo themed Maximus Arcade front end shelled.  Maybe an SNES Scoremaster...

[Unstupid]

I'm thinking: shove one of these into an SNES Advantage controller, figure out how to broadcast airplay from it to an Apple TV (or something equivalent). And load it with all the SNES/NES/GB/Playchoice titles you can. Maybe run a power cord out the front, make it so the joystick can control the mouse...  Hmmm Nintendo themed Maximus Arcade front end shelled.  Maybe an SNES Scoremaster...

Yea... My plan was similar... Build a box with just the complete set of NeoGeo games and stick a slick hyperspin front end on it (did all that already).  Then build a Neo Geo Fight stick and stick the NUC inside it.  Then just add power and a HDMI cable and "Fight".  Infact had planned a second fight stick that would plug into the first fight stick for 2 player action!.  Never quite got around to it!  That's why I throw the idea out there... someone make it happen!   

[ChanceKJ]

This had been occupying my brain for the last coupe hours now. How do I shove a Pi or NUC into an SNES Scoremaster or SNES Advantage controller and make the video signal wireless. I need to take a trip down to a pawn shop or vintage game shop and find one of these so I can get a sense of scale.  If anyone finds a teardown of one of these online I'd love to know about it.

[Unstupid]

For wireless video I'd look to either wireless HDMI or WI-GIG.  My Laptop uses WI-GIG to connect to the docking station wirelessly. Not sure if the 1/2 mini pci card would work with the NUC and allow docking to the docking station. 

[ChanceKJ]

You know I bet you I could just use a regular wireless card and install AirParrot (http://www.airsquirrels.com/airparrot/).  I already have an Apple TV in the house.

Oh, and there's THIS:!!!!!!!
http://www.instructables.com/id/SNES-Super-Advantage-Teensy-USBPS3-Gamepad/

Instead of running the USB out of the controller, you simply run it into a Pi or NUC sitting inside the box. Looks like there's more then enough room.

Done.

[yotsuya]