At a look
Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Modular design permits easy meeting and upgrades
- Socketed Twelfth-gen Alder Lake processor
- Helps full-length discrete graphics playing cards
- Customizable RGB design on entrance panel
Cons
- Advanced case structure
- Proprietary SFX-sized energy provide
- Case could be simply broken
Our Verdict
Because of its modular design and desktop processor, Dragon Canyon is a stable choice when contemplating a SFF construct underneath 10 liters.
Final summer time, Intel leaned arduous into its line of modular gaming PCs. Its launch of Beast Canyon (aka the NUCBTM) muscled up into small-form-factor PC territory, with an eight liter case able to housing full-length graphics playing cards. The one compromise was its soldered cellular chip—in case you might name it that, given the robust take a look at outcomes.
Half a yr later, the discharge of Dragon Canyon eliminates that weak point. This Subsequent Unit of Computing (NUC) variant doesn’t revolutionize a lot. A brand new processor is the star of the present: a socketed Alder Lake chip, plus a few of the platform upgrades that include Twelfth-gen Core chips. In any other case, this NUC seems the identical as Beast Canyon, because of sporting just about the identical chassis as its predecessor.
However we will’t say that it’s simply a processor improve. Transferring from a cellular chip to a replaceable desktop CPU is sort of a transfer. On paper, Dragon Canyon seems far more outfitted to face off in opposition to a DIY small type issue (SFF) PC. And that’s precisely what we’re going to dig into.
Design and type issue
Dragon Canyon is definitely the code title for the $1,450 NUC12EDBi9 and $1,150 NUC12EDBi7—Intel’s official names for the Core i9 and Core i7 variants of this bare-bones gaming PC. The corporate sells it as a package, which implies you must convey your individual reminiscence, storage, and graphics card. Every part else (the chassis, cooling, and proprietary energy provide) is included.
Since Dragon Canyon and Beast Canyon share just about the identical chassis, the idea is precisely the identical as earlier than. Inside there’s simply two elements to cope with: An Intel Compute Factor module comes with the package and homes the reminiscence, storage, and a pre-installed Core i9-12900 or Core i7-12700 CPU. You need to acquire and set up your individual discrete graphics card, which could be as much as two slots thick and a max of 12 inches lengthy. The thought is you could simply swap both of these components for a more moderen substitute down the street.
Alaina Yee / IDG
This newer Compute Factor is the most important improve within the system. (The chassis has the lone minor change—Intel swapped one of many USB-A ports for USB-C.) The modifications are all about cutting-edge tech and pace. Inside is a desktop Twelfth-gen Alder Lake processor with a totally completely different structure from the earlier technology and a GPU slot that helps PCIe 5.0. And on the again, a second ethernet port able to 10Gbps has been added. That pace might sound ludicrous to most of us within the US, however one PCWorld employees member resides the ultra-fast broadband life.
Due to that desktop Alder Lake processor, Intel promotes Dragon Canyon as upgradable to next-gen CPUs. They definitely are, however Intel doesn’t normally hold a socket round for greater than a few generations. Realistically, only a few individuals could have cause to improve.
Serviceable {hardware} remains to be a plus, although. And in concept having a desktop CPU means much less of a compromise in efficiency in comparison with a cellular chip. Let’s see how that performs out within the benchmarks.
How we examined
Moderately than attempt to deal with Dragon Canyon as an unbiased product, I selected to take a narrower focus. We already understand how Beast Canyon stacked up—the quick model is “fairly rattling nicely.” (You may learn the complete particulars in our NUCBTMi9 overview from final July.) That eliminates the necessity to choose aside Dragon Canyon in high quality element.
As an alternative, the questions that Dragon Canyon elevate are simple: How a lot does it enhance efficiency in CPU-oriented duties? And the way does it stack up in opposition to an identical DIY small-form-factor PC?
To get a way of the solutions, we’ll take a look at a choose handful of benchmarks. Consider these numbers extra as a basic impression in regards to the {hardware}, moderately than a set of efficiency expectations.
Alaina Yee / IDG
The {hardware} lineup
Dragon Canyon
Intel shipped us Dragon Canyon as a bare-bones package this time, so we provided our personal reminiscence and storage for our NUCEDBi9 overview unit. For the graphics card, we used the identical compact Asus RTX 3060 that got here with our Beast Canyon overview unit final yr.
- CPU: Core i9-12900 (8 efficiency cores + 8 effectivity cores, 24 threads)
- GPU: Asus Twin O12G RTX 3060
- Reminiscence: 16GB HyperX Influence DDR4-3200
- Storage: 500GB SK Hynix P31
- OS: Home windows 11
As you’ll see, I couldn’t acquire the very same SSD mannequin as in our Beast Canyon unit. Nevertheless, the numbers beneath present that utilizing a PCIe 3.0 (moderately than an identical PCIe 4.0 drive) in these explicit benchmarks didn’t make a distinction.
Beast Canyon
Our Beast Canyon overview unit got here absolutely outfitted. Within the curiosity of maintaining issues as at the same time as potential throughout the board, I used its compact Asus GeForce RTX 3060 with the opposite take a look at programs.
- CPU: Core i9-11900KB (8 cores, 16 threads)
- GPU: Asus Twin O12G RTX 3060
- Reminiscence: 16GB HyperX Influence DDR4-3200
- Storage: 500GB Sabrent Rocket PCIe 4.0
- OS: Home windows 11
DIY SFF PC
Whereas not a precise match for Dragon Canyon and Beast Canyon in measurement, this 11-liter system remains to be shut sufficient to get an concept of how nicely the 2 NUCs stack up in opposition to a high-performance DIY small-form-factor PC. For the GPU, I once more used Beast Canyon’s compact Asus RTX 3060 for consistency.
- CPU: Ryzen 9 5900X (12 cores, 24 threads)
- CPU cooler: Corsair H100i (240mm AIO)
- GPU: Asus Twin O12G RTX 3060
- Reminiscence: 16GB HyperX Fury DDR4-3600
- Storage: 1TB Corsair MP600
- PSU: SilverStone SX700-G
- Case: Lian Li A4-H2O
- OS: Home windows 11
Efficiency
Rendering
First up is Cinebench R23, the newest in Maxon’s line 3D-rendering benchmarks. For analysis of Dragon Canyon, this take a look at helps present perception into efficiency throughout in CPU-heavy duties. The default setting loops the benchmark for 10 minutes, which is what we use for our assessments.
PCWorld
multi-core efficiency, you possibly can see that going from Beast Canyon’s Core i9-11900KB to Dragon Canyon’s Core i9-12900 leads to an almost 50 % enchancment. That bodes nicely for anybody contemplating Dragon Canyon. Nonetheless, the Core i9-12900 is a bit subdued inside Dragon Canyon’s confines—we anticipated numbers nearer to the Ryzen 9 5900X. In Cinebench R23’s single-core assessments, nevertheless, Intel maintains its single-core efficiency benefit, simply as in full desktop programs. That bodes nicely for gaming efficiency, as most video games don’t benefit from all accessible CPU cores.
PCWorld
Encoding
Our Handbrake take a look at includes transcoding a 4K video formatted as an MP4 to an MKV file on the identical decision. This long-lasting encoding benchmark helps spherical out the Cinebench R23 outcomes, because it supplies additional context for efficiency throughout CPU-oriented duties.
PCWorld
Beast Canyon’s Core i9-11900KB carried out decently in earlier Handbrake benchmarks, although it was nonetheless surpassed by different cellular chips. Dragon Canyon’s Core i9-12900 decreases the period of time by a hefty 30 %, although as you possibly can see, hardcore content material creators should still discover a DIY SFF PC a more sensible choice if time is cash. The Ryzen 9 5900X chews by the file in almost half the time of the Core i9-11900KB.
Gaming
Spoiler alert: In terms of gaming, these three programs don’t surrender a lot floor to 1 one other on common. It’s not a shock, since video games hardly ever lean on all of a CPU’s cores. As an alternative, single-core efficiency nonetheless usually dictates outcomes. Sport optimizations can have an effect on outcomes, too. So in case you’re primarily a gamer and have been debating between the benefit of constructing in Dragon Canyon or extra optimum efficiency in a SFF construct, you fortuitously don’t have a really powerful resolution to make in any respect.
PCWorld
Simply take a look on the outcomes from the benchmarks. These AAA title nonetheless punish your graphics card greater than anything, which implies your CPU performs much less of a job within the remaining body depend.
PCWorld
Throughout the board, Dragon Canyon both matches or outperforms Beast Canyon. The true competitors right here is between Dragon Canyon and the DIY SFF PC, and there’s no clear winner within the newer video games. In Metro Exodus and Murderer’s Creed Odyssey, the 2 programs are deadlocked, and in Borderlands 3, the DIY SFF PC has a lead of six %. That edge would possibly sound significant, however that lead isn’t that a lot while you’re already getting 80 fps.
PCWorld
With some video games, you could begin to see extra of a spot open up, as you possibly can in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. But when they’re older or much less demanding video games (which SoTR is), it once more might not matter a lot. All of it depends upon whether or not you want your framerates to be as excessive as potential, like for a excessive refresh fee monitor.
PCWorld
Acoustics and thermals
Like Beast Canyon, Dragon Canyon runs pretty quiet. In actual fact, the DIY SFF PC was usually noisier than it. Your selection of graphics card will affect your consequence, although.
It runs about as heat, too. Throughout CPU-intensive duties, like a 30 minute run of Cinebench R23’s multicore benchmark, Dragon Canyon’s Core i9-12900 averaged about 72 levels Celsius. It crept up greater throughout gaming benchmarks—I usually noticed it hovering round 78 levels Celsius. That’s not as optimum as some SFF lovers might like, however given its measurement and cooling, these numbers aren’t unreasonable.
Last ideas
Earlier than Dragon Canyon, Intel’s gaming NUCs had an excessive area of interest vibe. You paid lots for a cool, well-executed idea—and that was high quality as long as you match the slender target market. In any other case, another was usually a greater and cheaper selection.
At $1,150 for the NUC12EDBi7 package and $1,450 for the NUC12EDBi9 package, you’re not essentially saving cash over a DIY SFF construct, however you’re additionally not sacrificing efficiency as with earlier NUCs that leaned on cellular chips. With its socketed chip, Dragon Canyon nonetheless retains that extremely easy, time-saving system for constructing, whereas providing flexibility nearer to that of a DIY PC. That change makes Dragon Canyon appears like a stable choice when contemplating a sub-10L construct, moderately than a novelty.