The Panther Canyon NUC is the most recent model of Intel’s extremely mini desktop PCs that many have been ready for. After final 12 months’s disappointing Frost Canyon NUC issues have been lastly transferring to the right path. The 10nm Tiger Lake SOC promised important efficiency will increase and the brand new Iris Xe Graphics GPU is ready to convey built-in GPUs out from the laughable zone. Panther Canyon was introduced, pricing was obtainable after which increase! Intel introduced that it will likely be launched in Asia Pacific area solely as a consequence of provide chain points (see AnandTech article). Thanks once more COVID-19. For some cause, they did pop up on European Amazon websites although and I’ve right here an EU mannequin of NUC11PAHi7 or the i7 Panther Canyon NUC. It’s unclear whether or not they’ll be obtainable within the EU for longer than simply initially. We will see. Replace: NUC11PAHi7 appears to be obtainable each in Europe and US as effectively.
The highest lid of the NUC has now a trendy matte black end.
Specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor (4 cores/8 threads, 12M Cache, as much as 4.70 GHz)
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics GPU with 96 EUs
- Reminiscence: Two 1.2V DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, as much as 3200 MHz
- M.2 slot: Single M.2 2280 (key M) slot supporting PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives
- 2.5″ SATA: single slot for a 2.5″ SATA drive, max peak: 7 mm
- Ethernet: 2.5 gigabit port, Intel I225-V
- WiFi: 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 adapter with Bluetooth 5.1, Intel AX201
- Thunderbolt: 2 TB3 Kind-C ports (1 entrance, 1 rear)
- DisplayPort: MiniDP 1.4, DP1.4 by way of Kind-C
- USB: Three Kind-A USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (1 entrance, 2 rear) + two Kind-C ports
- Headset: 3.5mm headset jack (entrance panel)
- Client Infrared Receiver
- SD card reader: SDXC with UHS-II help
- Dimensions: 117 x 112 x 51mm
There are additionally two different variations obtainable of this similar NUC. NUC11PAKi7 is barely slimmer and doesn’t have a 2.5″ SATA slot. NUC11PAQi7 is barely taller and has a wi-fi Qi charger on the lid. All the things else, together with the mainboard, is an identical on these three fashions.
Three Panther Canyon NUC fashions: NUC11PAHi7, NUC11PAKi7 and NUC11PAQi7.
Full technical product specification is on the market right here as PDF.
Rear panel offers respectable connectivity.
The SD card reader is full dimension and helps UHS-II.
Panther Canyon vs. Tiger Canyon
The excellent news is that the NUC11 is available in two flavours this 12 months: NUC 11 Efficiency (Panther Canyon, the mannequin reviewed proper right here) and NUC 11 Professional (Tiger Canyon). And whereas the Panther Canyon was cancelled exterior the APAC area the Tiger Canyon needs to be obtainable worldwide. It’s a bit complicated as these two are slightly shut to one another however a number of variations nonetheless exist. I’m attempting to summarize the variations right here:
| Panther Canyon | Tiger Canyon | |
| CPUs i7 | i7-1165G7 | i7-1165G7, i7-1185G7 vPro |
| CPUs i5 | i5-1135G7 | i5-1135G7, i5-1145G7 vPro |
| CPUs i3 | i3-1115G4 | i3-1115G4 |
| TDP | 40W | 28W |
| HDMI ports | 1x HDMI 2.0b | 2x HDMI 2.0b |
| Thunderbolt | 2x TB3 | 1x TB4, 1x TB3 |
| Ethernet | 2.5GB Ethernet (I225-V) | 2.5GB Ethernet (I225-LM), Twin 2.5G LAN mannequin obtainable |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 with BT5, AX201 (soldered) | WiFi 6 with BT5, AX201 (in M.2 22×30 slot) |
| M.2 slots | 22×80 PCIe x4 Gen 4 | 22×80 PCIe x4 Gen 4, 22×42 PCIe 1x Gen 3 (not on twin LAN) |
| USB (type-A) | 1x entrance 3.1, 2x rear 3.1 | 2x entrance 3.2, 1x rear 3.2, 1x rear 2.0 |
| USB (type-C) | 1x entrance 3.1, 1x rear 3.1 | 2x rear (incl. DP 1.4a and USB 4) |
| Headers | HDMI CEC header | RS232 header |
| Microphone | Quad-array | – |
| Audio | HDMI, 3.5mm headset jack | HDMI solely |
| Client IR | Sure | – |
| SD Card Reader | Sure | – |
| TPM | – | 2.0 (vPro fashions solely) |
Unboxing and Meeting
The Intel NUCs are delivered as barebones models, so that you’ll must convey your reminiscence modules and storage. This time I opted to put in two Kingston ValueRAM KVR32S22S6/8 RAM modules (presently $43.82 on Amazon) for a complete of 16 gigabytes of RAM. The Kingston KC2500 M.2 SSD drive (3500MB/s learn, 1200MB/s write for the 250GB mannequin, presently $41.24 on Amazon) will fulfill my storage wants as I left the two.5″ SATA slot empty. It might have been good to check out a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD drive, however sadly I didn’t have any readily available.
The styling of the field has modified a bit and it’s now not wrapped in plastic.
The field contents are acquainted: fast begin guides, 120W energy provide, energy cable, VESA mounting plate and a few screws.
For meeting you’ll simply want a screw driver. Begin by unfastening the 4 screws contained in the rubber toes.
Once you open the NUC you possibly can instantly entry the reminiscence slots and the M.2 slot for storage. The two.5″ SATA slot is within the cowl and takes a max. 7mm thick drive.
The reminiscence modules simply click on into their slots however the M.2 drive must be connected with a small screw. With these NUCs it’s actually essential to put in two reminiscence chips of the identical kind. This permits dual-channel reminiscence mode which has a giant optimistic influence on the GPU efficiency.
Exchange the underside cowl and also you’re accomplished.
The overall construct high quality of the NUC is nice and I feel the matte prime lid makes it look a bit extra increased finish when in comparison with the older shiny prime lids.
Tear Down
I didn’t cease there although. I needed to see what went into my NUC. So I got down to take away the mainboard from the chassis.
The 802.11ax WiFi 6 adapter within the Panther Canyon NUC is soldered down.
After fastidiously detaching the delicate WiFi antennas and loosening a few screws I used to be capable of elevate the mainboard out from the chassis. On the opposite aspect of the mainboard you possibly can see the up to date cooling resolution.
Panther Canyon fan unit was made by Cooler Grasp.
The screw holes have been sealed with some tape.
Air can also be pushed out to the aspect by way of a smaller further warmth sink.
Generally it appears that evidently extra consideration has been paid to the cooling than earlier than.
After eradicating the fan the warmth sinks are seen.
The SOC is lastly uncovered after eradicating the warmth sinks.
