The Ultimate Owner’s Guide: What You Need to Know About Owning And Caring For a NUC

Welcome to our guide of buying a NUC computer! Most desktop PCs are the large, bulky towers we are all accustomed to seeing. The newest computer available is the Next Unit of Computing (NUC) by Intel. A NUC has as much power, or more, than most desktop towers. Also, NUCs are packed into a small, convenient size and use reliable Intel processors. NUC units are customizable for the amount of RAM you want, SSD storage, type of operating system, and version of Intel processor that best suits your needs. NUC computers are perfect for individuals,  gamers and businesses. Save space, leave a smaller footprint in your workspace and save money with a small, but powerful NUC. A NUC can be embedded for computing in vehicles, workstations, and other areas to power your business needs. Read on for a quick guide on what to look for when buying a NUC computer.

Pricing, RAM, and Storage

Compared to regular desktop towers, NUC computers are affordably priced.  Ordering by volume can offer discounts as well. EWC Technologies’ Intel Chaco Canyon Fanless NUC With Celeron Processor starts at the low price of $249.99. Our other low priced options include the Intel Arches Canyon NUC With Celeron Processor, starting at $264.00, and it can be customized to include up to 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and Windows 10 Pro or IoT Enterprise. EWC Technologies offers convenient options of NUCs that can be tailored to fit your particular requirements and budget. All of our NUC units are small and compact, including the powerhouse Intel Hades Canyon 8th Gen NUC With Overclocked I7 Processor, which features up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and Windows operating systems. All NUCs have the option to have no operating system, so that you can install your favorite OS. EWC Technologies’ experts can help guide you to buying a computer that is perfect for your needs.

Power Over Ethernet (PoE)

NUC computers offer even more space saving by utilizing a  Power Over Ethernet (PoE) connection. This means that your NUC unit is not powered by the usual AC or DC power adapter. It draws its power from the actual ethernet cable connection. This cuts down on the amount of wires you have hanging around your desk or work space. This single power cable construction can save your business money on networking equipment cables. PoE also gives you more flexibility for placement of your NUC. No more guiding power wires when buying a computer.

Now that you know what to look for when buying a NUC, let’s talk about how to care for your new NUC.

Caring for Your NUC

Use Antivirus and Malware Protection

Any guide to buying a computer, including NUCs, desktops, and laptops, will recommend you install and keep updated versions of antivirus and malware protection. What’s the difference? Antivirus software focuses on the older threats most people are familiar with - viruses; whereas malware software focuses on newer threats like trojans, worms, spyware, adware, and ransomware.

Malware protection software is updated often to keep up with the latest and most dangerous threats to your computer. There are many antivirus and malware protection software companies that will charge you for their services. There are also some free versions that are pretty adequate for your average low-risk user. Malwarebytes is a good example of a popular free malware software that protects both PC and Mac systems. When buying a computer, an expert can guide you on how to take care of your computer and which antivirus and malware software is best suited for your situation.

Keep it Dry and Cool

Your little NUC needs to be kept dry like any other computer. When choosing a location for your NUC, be sure to keep it in an area that has a low chance for spills and flooding. Particularly damp and humid conditions are not ideal either. Even small amounts of liquid can cause damage to your motherboard, hard drive, and CPU. However, to take care of your computer if an accident with liquid occurs, immediately shut down your NUC and let it dry out completely before turning it back on. We recommend contacting us about your water damaged NUC so we can diagnose what parts are damaged and need repair or replacement. A spill does not always mean your NUC is damaged.

Water is not a NUC’s only physical enemy. Excessive heat, as well as extreme cold, can cause damage to your unit. As a general guide when buying any computer, your unit will run optimally at room temperature, which on average is between 68 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. This is something you need to consider when operating or storing your NUC. For example, leaving your NUC in a closed up truck on a hot summer day is not the best idea. Very cold conditions are less of a threat to damaging your CPU, however, the danger happens when you take your NUC from a cold environment and move it into a warm climate. This can cause condensation inside your unit, and you never want any form of moisture to come into contact with a NUC.

Clean it Regularly

Your NUC, like any other computer, needs airflow to run and cool itself. It is important to regularly clean your NUC unit and remove any dust and debris that could impede its function. You can use a can of compressed air, available at any office supply store, to blow away gunk and dust. Also, keep your ports free of dirt and debris. You can clean your ports by using rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab or Q-tip to clean the area, however, to take care of your computer ports you can also use a toothpick or needle to pick out debris. Be sure to wait until your NUC is completely dry before turning it on.

We hope this guide to buying a NUC computer was helpful and taught you how to take care of your computer better.  EWC Technologies offers free, no obligation, two-week demos on all of our products. Our computer experts will be happy to guide you through buying a computer and answer any questions you have along the way about our products, their applications, and care. Contact us today to schedule your demo and start saving space and money with powerful NUC computers.