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Intel NUC 6 Mini MC Kit

Last updated: October 14, 2020


For those who want to customize a computer, this desktop computer is a great start. You'll have to add a hard drive, RAM and an operating system, but this option often appeals to Linux enthusiasts. It's not powerful enough for intense gaming applications, but you will find video streaming is very impressive.

Intel NUC 6 Mini MC Kit
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We looked at the top Desktop Computers and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Desktop Computer you should buy.

Intel NUC 6 Performance Kit (NUC6i7KYK) - Core i7, Add't Components Needed, 250GB, Windows 10, 8.1, 7

Intel NUC 6 Performance Kit (NUC6i7KYK) - Core i7, Add't Components Needed, 250GB, Windows 10, 8.1, 7
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$399.88

Product Details

Key Takeaway: If you want to build and customize your own computer, this desktop computer is the way to go.

In our analysis of 51 expert reviews, the Intel NUC 6 Mini MC Kit placed 4th when we looked at the top 12 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Change the game with the Intel NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK. A Mini PC with the 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor and Intel Iris Pro Graphics, the NUC6i7KYK unleashes maximized performance for intense game play or intensive workloads. With an amazing new lid, along with a redesigned chassis that lets you take full advantage of every GHz of the quad-core processor without overheating-the NUC6i7KYK is totally cool. Literally. Technical Details. Processor: 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6770HQ. RAM: Supports up to 32 GB DDR4. Graphics: Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580. Wireless Type: Intel Wireless-AC 8260 soldered-down, IEEE 802.11ac 2×2 + Bluetooth v4.2, internal antennas. Number of USB 3.0 Ports: 4

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Our Expert Consultant

Patrick Ward 
Editor-in-chief of High Speed Experts

Patrick Ward is the editor-in-chief of High Speed Experts, a broadband connectivity-, search engine- and IT-industry education blog that empowers consumers by open-sourcing information about tech services. He earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce with an emphasis on communications at the University of Sydney. His expertise spans the digital, emerging tech and telecommunications fields.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

Can seamless perform content-creation without hurdles. Iris Pro Graphics 580 suffice for 1080p on most recent games. Sports a bunch of high-end hardware and features
- PCVerge
It packs in a 2.6GHz quad-core i7-6770HQ processor with integrated WiFi, Ethernet, Intel HD Audio and Iris Pro 580 graphics. But you'll have to open it up and add your own SSD in one of the two M.2 slots, along with your own RAM (it supports up to 32GB of laptop-sized DDR4 memory).
- Engadget
Its hardware also veers from the expected course. Stuffed inside is a beefy quad-core processor with top-of-the-line integrated graphics, meaning you can run content-creation tasks in more acceptable windows of time, and you can also play fairly recent AAA games at 1080p on this little machine. And yes, that’s at reasonable framerates.
- PC World
Intel's mini PC performed smoothly no matter what I threw at it, even as I ran a full-system scan, downloaded a game from Steam and viewed five separate Twitch streams at once.
- Tom's Guide
it's been engineered to stay cool and fast no matter how hard you work it.
- Wired
It’s even better around back. There’s a full-sized HDMI port, Thunderbolt 3, Mini DisplayPort, two USB 3.0, Ethernet, another 3.5mm combo port, and DC power. That’s a great set of connections for any desktop, let alone a compact machine.
- Digital Trends
Can perform content-creation tasks in a reasonable amount of time. Iris Pro Graphics 580 makes it possible to play fairly recent games at 1080p.
- Tech Spot
This NUC takes the attitude of "all-out or get out." Short of keeping things reasonably quiet, Skull Canyon definitely pushes the boundaries of its physical footprint. In terms of gaming, you can consider it capable of running most current game titles at Medium to occasionally High settings, up to a max of 1080p, with 720p gaming obviously being much more fluid.
- Hot Hardware
One of the more impressive aspects of the Skull Canyon NUC6i7KYK is the reappearance of Thunderbolt in a mini-PC
- Anand Tech
Intel Iris Pro graphics let people edit photos and videos like a professional or immerse oneself in vividly rendered, seamless 3-D gameplay, all in brilliant 4K resolution on three monitors at once. Skull Canyon also includes Thunderbolt™ 3, enabling a single compact port and single cable to easily connect to 4K displays, high-speed storage and other devices, in addition to great graphics performance by connecting to high-end, external graphics card(s).
- The PC Enthusiast
The NUC6i7KYK is Skull Canyon. It's loaded with the Intel i7-6770HQ quad-core / 8-thread Core i7 CPU and Intel's latest Iris Pro 580 graphics.
- Tweak Town
The Skull Canyon supports up to 32GB of DDR4 SO-DIMM RAM in dual-channel, as well as up to a pair of m.2 SSDs for storage. And if you hook up something like the Razer Core over Thunderbolt 3, you've got a teeny tiny little high-end gaming PC.
- Windows Central
The NUC6i7KYK also sports a Thunderbolt 3 port (USB Type C), so you have a 40Gbps connection available to run external graphics or something else that needs plenty of bandwidth down the road.
- Legit Reviews
It has the latest processor for getting your work done fast, a decent graphics solution for casual gaming in your downtime and a brilliantly designed, compact form factor with all the ports anyone would typically need in their day-to-day.
- Tech Radar
32 GB. Iris Pro 580 high resolution, and Intel Core i7-6770HQ processor (6th generation in its class). Responsive w/ crisp images that put you in the action.
- BestReviews
The Skull Canyon produce greater realism when watching TV and 4K movies thanks to the Intel Iris Pro Graphics enables higher resolutions. It’s also easy to connect to the widest possible range of the flat screen, 4K displays and surround sound configurations. This is one device that’s right at home in your living room.
- Whizz
A large number of modern interfaces
- Hardware 4 All
A Mini PC with the 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor and Intel Iris Pro Graphics, the NUC6i7KYK unleashes maximized performance for intense game play or intensive workloads. With an amazing new lid, along with a redesigned chassis that lets you take full advantage of every GHz of the quad-core processor without overheating-the NUC6i7KYK is totally cool. Literally.
- PC Hose

What reviewers didn't like

The plastic design feels less sturdy than older NUCs that had aluminum
- PCVerge
It's too expensive for most uses.
- Engadget
Plastic-heavy design feels less sturdy than older NUCs
- PC World
Poor gaming performance
- Tom's Guide
It's big and heavy and absolutely required, unlike devices with integrated power like the Xbox One X.
- Wired
If there’s one complaint to be made about the Skull Canyon’s overall design, it’s the fact that the power brick is easily half as big as the NUC itself. If the plan was to carry this around in your bag, well — make sure to save room for the charger.
- Digital Trends
Plastic-heavy design feels less sturdy than older NUCs.
- Tech Spot
It Isn't Cheap: Any device that carries Intel's top-tier Iris Pro graphics (in this case the Gen9 Iris Pro 580 GT4/e), and Thunderbolt 3 will cost you a pretty penny, and the NUC6i7KYK is no exception. What makes the unit, and other NUCs, expensive is the fact that you still need to source RAM, storage, and an OS.
- Tweak Town
Still quite expensive. Integrated graphics only
- Windows Central
It's not as versatile as other desktop PCs, yet it falls on the higher end of the price spectrum. Confusing setup.
- BestReviews
Gaming can be called only conditionally
- Hardware 4 All

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