Evaluation Of The Intel NUC 13 Extreme Raptor Canyon: The most recent model of the Next Unit of Computing (NUC) series of compact computers, the Intel NUC 13 Extreme, is the pinnacle of the organisation. The engineering, specifications, and design of the computing product demonstrate ambition, power, and beauty. The latest 13th generation Intel Core desktop processors were used in the Intel NUC 13 Extreme, which the company initially unveiled in November 2022. The most recent NUC, code-named Raptor Canyon, offers customers some of the newest technology, including DDR5, PCIe Gen-5, Wi-Fi 6E, and others.
Evaluation Of The Intel NUC 13 Extreme Raptor Canyon
One of the simplest ways for enthusiasts and gamers to get small-form-factor (SFF) pre-built PCs is through NUC computing devices. In recent years, a number of well-known businesses have entered the race to develop mini-PCs. However, the SFF area lacks the majority of these well-known brands. Due to the lack of reliable brands, gamers and enthusiasts are forced to conduct their own research and construct SFF PCs. Is the Intel NUC 13 Extreme strong enough to sway Indian consumers toward a pre-built PC given the market gap there and their propensity to buy pre-built products? In this review of the NUC 13 Extreme Raptor Canyon, we’ll discover out.
Specifications Of The Intel NUC 13 Extreme Raptor Canyon
For this review, Intel India provided one of the top-tier NUC 13 Extreme kits. The full list of specs for our test unit is provided below.
| Component | Model |
|---|---|
| CPU | 13th-Gen Intel Core i9-13900K (24 Cores- 8 Performance and 16 Efficiency Cores) |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti with 12GB GDDR6 memory |
| RAM | 2×16GB DDR5 @ 4800MT/s by Kingston |
| Chipset | Intel Z690 |
| Storage | 2×1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD |
| OS | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Ports | Rear (2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4), 1 x HDMI 2.1 with support for 4K at 60FPS, 6x USB 3.2 Gen-2 Type-A ports), Front (2x USB 3.2 Gen-1 Type-A ports, 1x USB 3.2 Gen-2 2×2 Type-C port) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Intel 2.5 GbE RJ45, Marvell 10GbE RJ45, Bluetooth v5.2 |
| Audio | Rear (7.1 Digital, 3x 3.5mm port), Front (1x 3.5mm port) |
| PSU | Fully Modular 750W 80+ Gold SFX |
Variants, Price And Availablity
Currently, there are two Core i7-13700K and Core i9-13900K versions of the Intel NUC 13 Extreme. Regarding GPUs, the system is compatible with a variety of Nvidia, AMD, and Intel Arc models. But because there isn’t much room, the business has set very tight requirements for a triple-slot card. One can only examine RTX 3000 series GPUs when examining GeForce RTX 4000 series cards, which have widths ranging from 3 to 4.5 slots (or lower-end 4000 series cards).
Currently, the NUC 13 Extreme is not available for purchase in India, but Intel is working to change that. But it’s likely that the price of the Intel NUC 13 Extreme in India won’t be low. A unit similar to our model cost roughly £3828 (INR 3,82,730 at the time of writing) to configure on SimplyNUC using an RTX 3080 rather than an RTX 3080 Ti. Tariffs on imports into India may easily raise the cost of the top model to INR 4.15 Lakhs.
Performance Of The Intel NUC 13 Extreme Raptor Canyon
Everything might be consumed by the Asus GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU and 13th-Gen Intel Core i9-13900K CPU. A GeForce RTX 4000 Series GPU would have been ideal in terms of specifications, but the SFF case presented difficulties. Regardless, the RTX 3080 Ti that was supplied had more than enough power for our gaming needs.
Unsurprisingly, the Intel NUC 13 Extreme performed admirably on all of our synthetic and gaming benchmarks. In Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most taxing games, Raptor Canyon achieved an average frame rate of over 98 FPS at the highest settings and FHD resolution without DLSS or VSync. Depending on the game, the NUC averaged between 110 and above 150 FPS without tiring.
We played the most well-known and demanding games available, such as Cyberpunk 2077, GTA V, Hitman 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, and others, as part of our gaming benchmarking programme. Along with those games, the list also included Borderlands 3, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 5, Far Cry 5, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Horizon Zero Dawn. Because to problems with Vulkan, we also experienced crashes while attempting to play Doom Eternal.
Final Verdict
Once again, Intel has produced a stunning case study on how to combine excellent engineering with practical design for maximum performance. It is the best pre-built for gamers and/or content makers looking for the fastest small form factor (SFF) computer device available. Unless you require the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs and the additional graphics capability, the Intel NUC 13 Extreme will satisfy all of your gaming and productivity needs.
If so, a small form factor like the NUC is not the best option for you. If you enjoy being on the cutting edge, you probably want to wait for the Intel Core i9 13900KS. However, the NUC might not have enough cooling power to effectively cool the 6.0GHz processor and take full use of the capabilities that the 13900KS has to offer. If you don’t mind building it yourself or have any space restrictions, and you’re seeking for the greatest gaming performance money can buy. Then, we advise you to hold off till the AMD Ryzen 7000X3D family of desktop processors is released. If not, the Intel NUC 13 Extreme is the better option.
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