Intel
Intel BXNUC9i9QNX1-896-229057 NUC 9 Mini PC i9
★★★★★
UHDi9-9980HK64GB DDR4500WBluetooth 5.1
An overclockable i9-9980HK, 64GB DDR4, and 2TB NVMe SSD make this NUC 9 the highest-spec consumer mini PC Intel built before the Tiger Lake platform.
$1,069.99*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 16, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.
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Overview
Key Features
【Upgraded】 Seal is opened for Hardware/Software upgrade only to enhance performance. No Display ; Wi-Fi 6 AX200 Wifi, Bluetooth 5.1, Ethernet LAN (RJ-45), No Webcam, .
9th Gen Intel Core i9-9980HK 2.40GHz Processor (upto 5 GHz, 16MB Cache, ) ; Intel UHD 630 Integrated Graphics, .
【High Speed and Multitasking】 64GB DDR4 SODIMM; 500W Power Supply, Air Cooling CPU Cooler; Black Color, .
【Enormous Storage】 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD; 6 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 2 Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C), SD Reader, No Optical Drive, Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack., Windows 11 Home., 1 Year Manufacturer warranty from GreatPriceTech (Professionally upgraded by GreatPriceTech)
Includes Dockztorm USB Hub(Special Edition Portable Docztorm Data Hub;Super Speedy Data Syn Rate upto 5Gbps)
Specifications
Processor
Intel Core i9-9980HK, 2.40GHz base / 5.0GHz boost, 8 cores, 16 threads, 16MB cache
RAM
64GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (dual-channel)
Storage
2TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Graphics
Intel UHD 630 (integrated)
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Wireless
Wi-Fi 6 (AX200), Bluetooth 5.1
Wired Networking
Ethernet LAN (RJ-45)
USB Ports
6 x USB 3.1 Gen2
Video Output
1 x HDMI, 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
Card Reader
SD Card Reader
Audio
Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack
Power Supply
500W external
Cooling
Air Cooling CPU Cooler
Dimensions
4" x 10" x 9"
Weight
6lb
Color
Black
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- i9-9980HK delivers 8 cores, 16 threads, and an unlocked multiplier — the highest core count and overclocking ceiling of any consumer NUC 9 Compute Element
- 64GB DDR4 dual-channel configuration eliminates RAM as a constraint for large VM environments, in-memory analytics, and professional simulation workloads
- 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD on a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface provides ample local storage with sequential throughput well above 2000MB/s
- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports at 40Gbps each enable simultaneous 4K display output, eGPU attachment, and high-speed external storage without bandwidth conflicts
- Dual RJ-45 is not present on this unit; Wi-Fi 6 AX200 and single Ethernet provide modern wireless connectivity with up to 2.4Gbps theoretical Wi-Fi throughput
👎 Cons
- The i9-9980HK's 45W TDP produces sustained heat load that the compact NUC chassis manages at the edge of its thermal budget — expect audible fan activity and some clock reduction under prolonged all-core load
- Intel UHD 630 integrated graphics cannot leverage the i9's CPU power for GPU-accelerated workflows — discrete GPU is not included
- Windows 11 was installed via a hardware compatibility bypass — Microsoft's official update and support path for this CPU may be limited or discontinued
- Reseller warranty (1 year, GreatPriceTech) replaces Intel's OEM warranty entirely — an enterprise or mission-critical deployment risk
- At 6.95lb with a 500W power brick, this is heavier than typical mini PCs — the external power supply adds meaningful desk cable management overhead
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the i9-9980HK different from the i7-9750H in other NUC 9 variants?
The i9-9980HK is an 8-core, 16-thread processor versus the i7-9750H's 6-core, 12-thread configuration — that's 33% more physical cores. More significantly, the 9980HK has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it can be overclocked beyond its 5.0GHz boost ceiling on supported platforms. Both CPUs are 9th-gen Skylake-H architecture, but the 9980HK's higher core count and overclocking capability make it the ceiling of consumer NUC 9 performance.
Does 64GB of DDR4 in a mini PC actually provide a measurable performance advantage over 32GB?
Directly, yes — for workloads that consume more than 32GB simultaneously: large VM clusters, in-memory database engines, very large dataset processing, and certain professional simulation tools. For typical productivity or gaming use cases, 64GB provides headroom rather than an immediate performance delta. The dual-channel DDR4 configuration at 64GB (2x32GB SO-DIMM) also maintains full memory bandwidth.
What NVMe interface does the 2TB SSD in this unit use?
The NUC9i9QNX Compute Element includes an M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, delivering theoretical SSD sequential read speeds up to approximately 3500MB/s. The 2TB SSD in this configuration operates within that interface ceiling — more than enough bandwidth to prevent storage from bottlenecking the i9's compute throughput.
Can this unit run demanding workloads continuously without thermal throttling?
The NUC 9 chassis uses active air cooling on the Compute Element. The i9-9980HK at 45W TDP generates significant heat in a confined enclosure. Under sustained all-core load, the system will throttle to maintain thermal limits — this is expected behavior. The listing notes an "Air Cooling CPU Cooler" is included, but sustained peak performance on a 45W chip in a mini chassis requires adequate ambient ventilation.
Is Windows 11 Home (pre-installed) the retail license version?
The i9-9980HK is not on Microsoft's official Windows 11 supported hardware list, yet this unit ships with Windows 11 Home pre-installed by the reseller. This means Windows 11 was installed via a compatibility bypass — Microsoft may not deliver future feature updates to unsupported hardware configurations. Evaluate this for long-term OS support planning.
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