Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Review

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Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK

USD
8.7

Value for Money Score

8.5/10

Reliability Score

8.2/10

Performance Score

9.1/10

Specifications and Features Score

8.0/10

Design Score

9.5/10

Pros

  • Thunderbolt 3 expansion - EGPU expansion or Thunderbolt 3 docks and works with USB
  • It even loads under quietly
  • Extensive connectivity
  • Fast and awesome processor
  • Heavy architectural graphics

Cons

  • This device is expensive
  • You need to spend more on Storage, memory and OS
  • Needs the power brick support apart from Thunderbolt 3 expansion
  • Portability is spoiled a little with overly large power
  • Skull LED is not liked by every customer

Verdict

Definitely, it comes at quite expensive rate, perhaps to increase your anxiety and inability of fulfilling your desire. But it is quite worth observing, that all its exclusive specifications need huge investment since they deserve that price.

Furthermore, this product holds three years of service warranty to satisfy you. It creates no issue at times of multitasking, like writing, emailing, video watching, browsing social media and many others.

This Intel gamer is a smart versatile desktop too as well.  In fact you will damn on its competitors when you check on the skull, it will surely blow your mind.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK & Variant Desktops Price

Introduction

The Intel Hades Canyon NUC8 VR is probably one of the most powerful gaming desktops as ever made.

What has made NUC8i7HVK (one of the variant of Intel Hades Canyon NUC8 VR) so powerful?

Obviously, the ultra-high Intel 8th Generation CPU and AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics are the key features to be mentioned first.

This blog has made substantial effort to review this new Intel device which holds widespread reputation.

At the same time, the machine is well equipped with all the necessary and customizable attributes, like storage, memory, quality audio jacks and LED illumination on the upper panel.

It houses much more connectivity and I/O than former mini-devices offered by Intel. The device is associated with all the useful accessories which users need every time in the package.

The accessories including Allen-wrench to remove the cover, AC/DC power adapter, VESA mounting plate with required screws etc. are all definitely secured to handle as well.

The front panel of the machine is an ideal home to several specs, like SD card slot, power button, fast charging USB 3.0 port, headphone jack, HDMI port & more others.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK

These are more than just bare b ones that means you need spend more on an operating system, storage and memory.

Buy for: Fast processor, good graphics, wide range of connectivity.

Beware of: Power brick requirement, limited portability, heavy price, and lack of storage, memory and OS.

Best uses for: Web and social media browsing, emailing, watching video, gaming and writing.

The alternatives:

Specs Details:

Reliability: “Next Level of Computing”

Intel is undeniably a world-leading name in introducing smart processor and gaming desktops.

One of its marvelous inventions, Intel Hades Canyon NUC is trustworthy enough to motivate you in gaming for long hours.

This super small gamer is extremely powerful to support various high-tech online games which require finest graphics processor and CPU as well.

At the same time, it is absolutely customizable according to future requirements since its storage and RAM are easily expandable. Check out best desktop computers.

It is also enriched with all the necessary security measures to be highly reliable to use. Moreover, its gaming style appearance will make you fall in love at first glance.

Outstanding Performance

Intel Hades Canyon houses 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8809G CPU to assure incredible performance all around.

The processor comes with a 4.2 GHz turbo clock and a 3.1GHz base clock along with 8MB cache. It can perform well on eight threads at a single time with the help of HyperThreading feature.

Its powerful quad core CPU has made the device manifold faster and premium in terms of performance.

The latest Kaby Lake quad-core processor contains huge processing power for this typically small device, helping in comprehensive gaming.

It also comes with first-rate overclocking features to deliver absolute gaming performance as well.

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Processor cannot be the only parameter to gauge the performance level of any PC, especially of a gaming desktop.

GPU or graphics processor plays the equally major role in delivering high-effective performance during peak time.

Intel Hades Canyon is equipped with AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics core, which consists of 24 compute units and delivers utmost computing power.

Running at 1190 MHz, this Vega M GH graphics processor is dedicated and has its own HBM2 memory of 4 GB as well.

It ensures spectacular graphics performance, being suitable for all sorts of 1080p gaming.

It is the AMD Radeon graphics which has undergone several tests to prove that this advanced version of graphics processor contributes a lot to providing overall system performance.

As you can see an LED illuminating skull on the upper segment of the device; it has made the unit typically distinctive from other branded gaming PCs.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Exterior View

The GPU integrated with its processor contains 1280 stream processors and base, lower, boost & memory clocks too.

It comes with all other essential features to work to the fullest without creating any hassle.

Benchmarks

There is a trend of using compact devices because most of the users are out of space and want a compact solution with a powerful performance output.

The device we got for our benchmark test is from Intel itself and it’s quite interesting to see that many renowned manufactures are pretty interested in this section.

The machine we got on our hands for the benchmark test is an Intel NUC8i7HVK compact desktop PC powered by an Intel Core i7 processor having 4 cores.

However you are totally free to choose the variant as per your choice and preference.

If you are confused by its small size then let me tell you that it might look tiny and compact but it tears up all the tasks easily whether it is moderate or heavy.

If you are tight on space then this compact machine will be your ideal partner where you get a chance to save some more area for other apparatus without compromising with any performance output.

CPU

In our benchmark test the Intel NUC 8 powered by an Intel core i7 processor performed way above our expectation and the scores are quite interesting.

In our single core test it produced a figure of 126 Pts with an average percentage of 47%. The result is good and great if we compare it with its competitors like the Dell Optiplex 5050 Micro, etc.

It easily handles the tasks which are done on a daily basis like creating spreadsheets, general computer tasks, web surfing, etc.

If you made up your mind for using it for serious tasks then let me tell you it is capable of handling moderate workstation jobs and competent enough for light server workloads.

The best part of it is that this device is unlocked offering you a great opportunity to pursue every bit of its performance in the virtual world without facing any lag or stutter.

It is tuned and tweaked in such a manner that you can’t complain about its performance.

But still it has some flaws too that it struggles a bit in the multi core section where we can’t claim that this system is perfect but it achieved the title which is near to perfect.

In our multi core test this PC was only capable of producing a score of 606 Pts with an overall percentage of 14% which is adequate enough and higher results were expected.

Speaking of consistency the Intel Core i7 8809G is quite a stable processor from the Kaby Lake architecture however it depends on the nature of the tasks and the overall workloads.

Apart from that this CPU is not only good for day to day tasks but also suitable for 3D gaming as well.

If you are a gaming enthusiast and streaming is your major priority then you can shortlist this device.

GPU

Speaking of the benchmark scores in the graphical section of the Intel NUC 8 it is dressed with an AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH video card.

It is a good video card and easily handles the day to day tasks like moderate computer tasks, streaming HD videos, etc.

Apart from that it is not a great choice to handle any kind of modern games and it is only capable of offering an overall score of 37.9%.

The overall result is not very convincing and there are much quicker alternatives present in the market.

In the 3D DX9 you will be able to experience 57.8 fps with an overall score of 40% which is not enough for smooth gaming experience.

However an external video card will be a good alternative for smooth and effortless gaming for long term usage.

Storage

As far as the storage goes this Intel NUC 8 is accompanied with a 512 GB SSD which is pretty adequate.

Speaking of the overall score the SSD did perform really well producing a score of 286% which is outstanding.

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If you check in depth you will observe that the sequential read and write speeds are pretty appreciative; it produces 2540 MB/s and 1724 MB/s.

If you are the one who generally deals with the 4K contents then the speed of this SSD will not disappoint you.

It offers a read speed of 59 MB/s followed by the write speed of 136 MB/s which is really good and impressive.

Gaming PC

Behind manufacturing a gaming PC, there are several factors to keep in mind. Naturally, it can be stated that this special kind of mini desktop comes with all smart and exclusive features.

It is designed to deliver fastest performance and support various leading online games. As a result, it tends to contain an efficient processor and immense size of RAM.

Gaming PCs are widely used to avail the benefits of complex 3D displays, audio & movie watching.

Just like a laptop, it is highly portable too, if you think it necessary to carry the PC to your office.

Now why you have to take the skull home (if you don’t like the skull picture you can turn of the LED lights, it wont bite you) which is powering up your gaming experience with maxim speed.

In fact, you can see that gamers needs good graphics rather than Intel chips.

Variants

Intel NUC8i7HVK 65 WATT and Intel NUC8i7HNK 100 Watt are the two variants of Intel Hades Canyon NUC8 VR which will rock up the entire mood.

These two variants are almost same only difference is shown in the image below.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Variants

Compact Design

Besides the in-built features of Hades Canyon, its design also matters a lot to influence your decision.

The device offers really a spectacular design to grab your attention initially as well. Its box like structure renders an eye-catching display for a number of reasons.

As you can see an LED illuminating skull on the upper segment of the device; it has made the unit typically distinctive from other branded gaming PCs.

The LED skull can be configured for any color choice, based on user desire. The front panel consists of all the essential ports, buttons and slots to ensure absolute convenience of skilful gamer.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Front Ports

Upon closer inspection, you will track down the mini-TOSLINK optical, audio receiver for the headphones, six 4K display, wired internet, a Thunderbolt NAS for USD devices.

Additional ports and slots are being created in such a way which will definitely take to the zenith of gaming history.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Back Ports

It consists of a Kensington lock to guarantee base security to the fullest. Intel has concentrated on furnishing this gaming PC not only with brilliant hardware & software features.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Kensington lock

To be honest Intel has designed the skull for all the gaming enthusiasts but you need to couple it up with other features. Intel made provisions for system memory, HBM2, GPU and an Over clocking the CPU.

Storage

If you highly consider the storage and memory of this Intel gaming PC before buying, you will be definitely amazed at its lucrative attributes.

The Intel Hades gaming PC has excellent configurations with storage  up to 512 GB SSD and memory. Its setup contains dual slots for inserting DDR4 RAM and dual M.2 slots as well.

The PC can smoothly work on maximum 32 GB RAM. By adding this immense size of RAM, you can easily expect fastest and top notch gaming performance from this device than ever.

It supports over 2400 MHz memory speed. With the addition of ultra-high DDR4 RAM, the Hades Canyon can provide absolute pleasure by catering to all of your gaming needs.

As far as storage is concerned, the present gaming PC lacks exact slots for 2.5 inch drives however. Download Intel NUC 8 Mini PC NUC8i7HVK manual.

But it comes with Intel solid state-drive for complete user convenience. All of the memory and storage features of this PC are responsible for best outcome as well.

Durability

When it comes to consider the aspect of durability for this Intel device, it can be one of the most sought after choice of all times.

The external casing of this gaming PC is made of plastic and high-quality metal to assure high stability and prevention against outer damages.

In addition to that, the device comes with a replaceable lid to suit your future needs. Moreover, it consists of a Kensington lock to guarantee base security to the fullest.

Intel has concentrated on furnishing this gaming PC not only with brilliant hardware & software features, but also high-tech security and build attributes as well.

Convenience Features

This NUC gaming PC has honey-comb apertures at four sides as well as on the bottom of the device, while its upper portion is imperforated and flat as well.

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Exterior Ciew

The top of the device contains a lighted RGB sketch of skull to be configured virtually for any color.

Even, all the LEDs and lighting around the device, right from activity LED indicator to power button, are absolutely adjustable and RGB.

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Intel Hades Canyon is a home to several ports and jacks for complete user satisfaction.

It has four USB 3.0 output ports, rear and front HDMI connectors, dual Thunderbolt USB-C type ports at rear and dual Mini DisplayPort ports as well.

It also offers double Ethernet ports for uninterrupted internet connection.

In terms of software and BIOS features too, this Intel gaming device can be one of the best creations.

It comes with Visual BIOS by Intel which owns a unique layout and design to flabbergast you. It can be conveniently operated by a keyboard and mouse.

Visual BIOS gives you a wide array of details about memory and processor configuration and several other basics.

The Hades Canyon BIOS is formulated just for brilliant gamers and enthusiasts like you. Read more about Installing Components for  Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK.

What Do Users Think?

Our experts have talked to few users and compiled their opinion about this product.

Intel Hades Canyon holds huge popularity all across the world for a number of reasons. It has been ordered online by numerous tech-lovers & potential users till date.

Based on this reality, it is needless to say that Intel Hades Canyon has plenty of followers & seekers. Several users have typically found it a brilliant personal computer to suit their needs.

According to some of them, this Intel gaming PC can turn into a laptop alternative owing to its portable size. Apart from mere gaming, it can be used for other essential purposes too as well.

Just like a normal workstation-level PC, its power supply is outstanding. For every single task, this gaming PC offers fast and premium performance.

This NUC is more popular and favorite among enthusiastic gamers because of its compact size and magnificent design.

You can easily carry it everywhere you wish. The CPU and GPU features are too much appreciated by technology critics.

But when you are looking at the point to spending 10 to 100 dollars more in case of the items which are not plated by Intel then you may think of switching over to the next brand.

This is not only a reason, which derives from the idea of “extra spending”, but it is also giving you the reason to go for the compact all in all.

Our Testing & Analysis Report

We tested the CPU of the Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK on our benchmark test tools and found that its single-core performance score is quite impressive being 126 points, hitting an average score of 47%.

However, in its multi-core performance, we found that it struggled a bit achieving a score of only 606 points with an average score of just 14%.

Still, both results show that it is quite good in handling most of the tasks we performed on it, including daily computing tasks such as emailing, watching video, web browsing and others, apart from gaming.

The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH video card installed in this system is also quite efficient in handling the graphics requirements for day-to-day basic to moderate computing, watching HD videos, and others.

We found that it struggles while handling the graphics demands of the modern games with an overall bench score of 37.9% and rendering images at a frame rate of about 58 fps on average with an overall score of 40% according to the 3D DX9.

This is certainly not good for a smooth gaming experience.

According to the 3DMark’s Fire Strike test, the performance of this graphics chip falls in between Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti and an Nvidia GTX 1060 Max-Q, we found when we compared it with our database.

When we played games like In Rise of the Tomb Raider, its average frame rate was 51 fps on high settings.

The results were no different for the games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds or Middle-earth: Shadow of War, with the frame rate hovering above 60 to 65 fps at the most.

The performance was slightly improved when our technical team hooked the system up with a FreeSync monitor.

The graphics card and the system could however handle the older Triple A rated games quite easily.

About Puja Chatterjee

AvatarPuja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.

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Puja Chatterjee
Puja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.
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