Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK Review

Packaging

Intel's retail box is actually pretty cool and will probably end up on some peoples' mantles, the packaging is done well, and the NUC and its accessories are firmly secured.

Accessories include an AC/DC power adapter, Allen-wrench for removing the cover, quick manual, and a VESA mounting plate with required mounting screws. The AC/DC converter is made by Delta and outputs 19.5v/11.8A which is roughly 230W max. The original Skull Canyon's AC/DC adapter was rated for 120W.

At the front of the device, we find our power button, IR receiver, SD card slot, notification LEDs, USB 3.1 type-A port, USB 3.1 type-C port, USB 3.0 fast charging port, HDMI out, and a headphone/headset port.

The rear of the device features a speaker/optical jack, DC input jack, two ThunderBolt 3 ports, two mini-DisplayPorts, two Gbit LAN ports, four USB 3.0 ports, and another HDMI port. If you are wondering, all the display outputs connect to the Vega graphics and not the Intel integrated graphics inside the CPU.

The top of the NUC has a removable cover with six screws that close the system, the texture of this lid goes from hexagonal to smooth, and the smooth part is where a skull lights up. The bottom of the unit features three large rubber legs and air intake vents for the two blower fans.

The right side of the unit features a Kensington lock port, and both the left and right features air vents just as the front and rear of the device do.

Removing the lid is easy enough with the Allen wrench.