Intel NUC (DC3217BY) $275 Build

[rdude42]

Hey guys
Planning to build a *mac-mini* killer which costs roughly half the price of a brand new mac mini.
Here it is :
Intel i3 HDMI / Thunderbolt NUC (DC3217BY) - $175
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0093LINT2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AVGGEPEO9L187
Power Cord for NUC - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000234TYI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2JSBUBRVPP4SX - $4
RAM : 4GB DDR3 SODIMM laptop ram (don't have the link, buying locally) - $20
Wifi Card - Dell dw1702 - $12
MSATA SSD (Need advice on this)-$55 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DY5C7AY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3ISMVC1FTQD6C

Random USB Sound card - $5

That's Roughly $275 Dollar
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So that sums up my build.
So is this build gonna work? or am i buying something incompatible?
Now, i just wanted to ask that will the SSD work fine because it has some sort of Super Cache 2 technology. I heard that it only works on windows. Need your help on this one. Else if it dosen't work, I'll buy another 64 GB SSD.
So is this build gonna work? or am i buying something incompatible?
____
Another question, how will this board do : Foxconn H61S - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186216

and this ASRock H81M-ITX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157451

and this ASROCK H81M-HDS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157450
___

The question regarding the NUC is more important but please do throw some light on the compatibility of the other two boards as well.
Thanks in Advance

 

[rdude42]

bump?
Anybody?

 

[rdude42]

Guys please !
I need your help !
Anybody? Please reply !

 

[Adrian B]

bump?
Anybody?

On the Intel NUC, I suggest that you start with search and see what that reveals. Here is one build that I found very quickly:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-buil...nderbolt-edition-non-thunderbolt-edition.html

wifi card information:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/network/104850-guide-airport-pcie-half-mini-v2.html

Adrian B

 

[rdude42]

Thanks man
Atleast someone did reply
I've gone through all the NUC threads. My main question was about the SSD. Will it work?
And what about the Haswell motherboards that i suggested?
Thanks

 

[Adrian B]

Thanks man
Atleast someone did reply
I've gone through all the NUC threads. My main question was about the SSD. Will it work?
And what about the Haswell motherboards that i suggested?
Thanks

Stay away from that type of technology. Buy an SSD to do the job properly - much more reliable for windows. Avoid completely with OS X.

As for the ASRock motherboards, the audio and ethernet are in theory. You might get it running but here is the problem. Seasoned ASRock fans have been having problems with Haswell hardware and flashing the bios on some boards has not been solving problems.

As far as budget boards go - I am inclined at this stage to advise not to proceed with either board. You might have better luck with one of these as yet untested Gigabyte models:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128667
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128648

The following does work and is used with OS X:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128607&Tpk=GA-B85M-D3H

Adrian B

 

[rdude42]

Thanks so much man
So the gigabyte H81 and b85 boards are gonna work fine? Coz they aren't in the buyers/haswell guide list.
Thanks again

 

[Adrian B]

Thanks so much man
So the gigabyte H81 and b85 boards are gonna work fine? Coz they aren't in the buyers/haswell guide list.
Thanks again

Just to clarify - GA-B85M-D3H is confirmed working.

The other two would appear to be close enough to work - but are to my knowledge untested.
Compatible CPUs with onboard graphics, see the latest buyers guide and note that at this stage we are aware that HD4400 is known to be not working.

Adrian B

 

[rdude42]

Thanks man
I guess I'll go for the b85 build as it will give more bang for the buck performance as compared to the NUC.
Thanks Again

 

[rdude42]

Also i have one last question,
If i build a system with a Pentium g2020 and dedicated GPU, I've heard that in the "About This MAC" section, it shows as a i5 system. Is there any way to mac the About this Mac part show my real processor name (i.e. Pentium g2020) ?