Launch of Intel’s Apollo Lake NUCs Gets Closer as Intel Lists Them on Web Site

Intel has quietly published detailed specifications of miniature NUC systems based on the Apollo Lake platform on its web site. As revealed earlier this year, Intel offers two systems that can be used for both everyday computing as well as for media playback in the living room. The publication of details indicates that Intel either has started to ship the systems to customers or intends to begin their shipments in a short while.

Intel’s family of NUCs based on the Apollo Lake platform, codenamed Arches Canyon, consists of two systems: the NUC6CAYS and the NUC6CAYH. Both systems use the Intel Celeron J3455 processor (four Goldmont cores clocked at 1.5/2.3 GHz, 2 MB cache, dual-channel DRAM controller, HD Graphics 500, 10W TDP) that feature Intel’s ninth-generation graphics architecture (Gen9) as well as improved media playback engine with hardware-accelerated playback of 4K video encoded using HEVC and VP9 codecs.

The Intel NUC6CAYS is a fully populated PC that works out of the box and comes with 2 GB of DDR3L-1866 memory, 32 GB eMMC storage (from SanDisk, SK Hynix or Kingston), a wireless keyboard as well as pre-installed Windows 10 Home x64 OS. By contrast, the Intel NUC6CAYH comes as barebones, requiring DRAM and storage to work. Other than that, both Arches Canyon systems are exactly the same: they support up to 8 GB of DDR3L memory, one 2.5”/9.5 mm SSD/HDD, a 1×1 wireless module supporting IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, a HDMI 2.0 display output, four USB 3.0 Type-A ports (one supports charging), an SDXC card reader, a TRRS mini-jack for audio and so on. One of the noteworthy features is that the entry-level NUCs have a D-Sub connector on the back to allow connectivity with cheap displays and other applications that use this header. Typically a legacy port is done at a request of one of their large customers, and/or the company intends to sell the new NUCs in developing countries.

Given the rich multimedia capabilities of Intel’s latest Apollo Lake SoCs, HDMI 2.0 connectivity as well as compatibility with 2.5” storage devices, the Arches Canyon NUCs could serve quite well as 4K-capable HTPCs. Still, keep in mind that the systems only support HDCP 1.4/1.2 and PAVP 2.0 and thus will not playback Ultra HD Blu-rays even if equipped with an appropriate external drive.

At press time, the Intel NUC6CAYS and the Intel NUC6CAYH SFF PCs were not available for sale anywhere. Official MSRPs for the systems are unknown, but one of the online stores known for taking pre-orders on unreleased items lists the NUC6CAYS for $225 and the NUC6CAYH for $158. The prices are relatively high for these kind of PCs, so we expect the actual MSRPs to be lower.

Gallery: Launch of Intel’s Apollo Lake NUCs Gets Closer as Intel Lists Them on Web Site

Related Reading:

• ECS Preps LIVA Z: Apollo Lake-Based Nettop with 4K and USB-C Support
• Intel Readies New NUCs Based on Kaby Lake and Apollo Lake SoCs
• Intel Quietly Launches Apollo Lake SoC: Goldmont CPU, 6 SKUs, 6 & 10 Watts

GIGABYTE Updates The Aero 14 Thin Gaming Laptop: Now with a GeForce GTX 1060 GPU

GIGABYTE has introduced an upgraded version of its Aero 14 thin gaming notebook, upgrading to NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1060GPU with  6 GB of GDDR5 memory. The system has similar specs and features as the model introduced back in June, but now i…

ASRock Upgrades Beebox-S SFF PCs with Kaby Lake CPUs

ASRock has introduced updated versions of its Beebox-S small form-factor PCs. The new NUC-like systems are powered by Intel’s Core i5-7100U/i3-7200U CPUs featuring the Kaby Lake microarchitecture, but apart from that the computers are identical to their predecessors running the Skylake chips. ASRock positions its Beebox-S both for general-purpose computing as well as for multimedia playback.

Just like their predecessors, the Asrock Beebox-S comes in a small black enclosure (110×118.5×46 mm, 0.6 L) that is akin to other Intel NUC-like systems. Since the PC is based on Intel’s Kaby Lake processor, it has rather advanced video playback capabilities, which make it a good candidate for an HTPC. Moreover, ASRock specifically mentions HDMI 2.0 and support for 4Kp60 with 10-bit HDR output as one of the key features of the new Beebox systems. The manufacturer also installed an IR receiver compatible with a bundled remote controller, further emphasizing a possible positioning of the Beebox-S.

When it comes to connectivity, the SFF PC seems to be good for both office and the living room. The system is equipped with an HDMI 2.0 output (implemented using an LSPCon controller, most likely a MegaChips MCDP2000, and supporting 4096×2160 pixels at 60 Hz as well as HDR10) to connect to modern 4Kp60 UHDTVs (not sure about HDCP 2.2 support, but it should logically be there), an HDMI 1.4 as well as a DisplayPort 1.2. The Beebox-S also has one USB 3.0 Type-A and one USB 3.0 Type-C headers as well as a 3.5 mm TRRS connector for headsets on the front panel. Tthe back panel features two more USB 3.0 ports and one GbE connector.

The heart of the ASRock Beebox-S is either Intel’s Core i3-7100U or Core i5-7200U microprocessor in BGA packaging with integrated HD Graphics 620. The system can also be equipped with up to 32 GB of DDR4-2133 memory (two SO-DIMM slots), an M.2-2280 NVMe SSD and a 2.5” SSD/HDD depending on demands of exact customer. Meanwhile, Intel’s 802.11ac Wi-Fi + BT 4.0 wireless module is pre-installed.

This week Newegg started to sell the Beebox-S 7100U and Beebox-S 7200U SFF PCs for $291 and $349, respectively. As it appears that retail pricing of the new Kaby Lake-based ASRock Beebox-S SFF PCs is higher that of the Skylake-powered Beebox-S, which are available for $264 to $320. One more thing to note about the new Beebox-S systems is that they only come in black enclosures, whereas their predecessors feature black, white, silver and golden finishes. We haven’t heard of other colors coming, although that may change in the future.

Gallery: ASRock Upgrades Beebox-S SFF PCs with Kaby Lake CPUs

Related Reading:

• ASRock Beebox-S 6200U Review – An Alternative to the Skylake NUC
• GIGABYTE Updates BRIX SFF PCs with Intel’s Kaby Lake CPUs
• ECS Preps LIVA Z: Apollo Lake-Based Nettop with 4K and USB-C Support