
Intel
Intel NUC 8 i5 Mini PC Optane HDD Windows 10
★★★★★
A palm-sized mini PC with 8th Gen Intel Core i5, discrete AMD Radeon graphics, and Windows 10 ready out of the box.
$384.52*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.
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Overview
Specifications
Brand
Intel
Model
NUC 8 Mainstream-G
Processor
8th Generation Intel Core i5
Graphics
AMD Radeon 540x, 2GB Dedicated VRAM
Memory
8GB RAM
Intel Optane Memory
16GB
Storage
1TB HDD
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home
USB Ports
3x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C
Display Outputs
1x HDMI 2.0B, 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
Card Slot
SD Card
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- Extremely compact form factor fits easily behind a monitor, under a desk, or in a home theater setup.
- Discrete AMD Radeon 540x GPU with 2GB VRAM handles light gaming and video playback beyond what integrated graphics can offer.
- 16GB Intel Optane Memory accelerates HDD performance by caching frequently used data for faster access.
- Versatile port selection includes USB-C, HDMI 2.0B, Mini DisplayPort, and an SD card slot.
- Ships with Windows 10 Home pre-installed for immediate out-of-box use.
👎 Cons
- Relies on a 1TB HDD rather than an SSD for primary storage, resulting in slower baseline read/write speeds despite Optane caching.
- 8GB of RAM may feel limiting for heavy multitasking or memory-intensive applications.
- 8th Gen Intel Core i5 is several generations behind current processors, limiting long-term performance headroom.
- AMD Radeon 540x is an entry-level discrete GPU that is not suitable for demanding games or professional GPU workloads.
- Mini DisplayPort requires an adapter for most modern monitors that use full-size DisplayPort or HDMI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What processor and graphics does this mini PC use?
It is powered by an 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor paired with discrete AMD Radeon 540x graphics with 2GB of dedicated video memory.
What storage configuration does this model include?
It comes with a 1TB hard disk drive for primary storage and 16GB of Intel Optane Memory, which acts as a cache to accelerate frequently accessed files and applications on the HDD.
What display outputs are available?
The NUC 8 provides one HDMI 2.0B port and one Mini DisplayPort 1.2 port, allowing you to connect up to two monitors simultaneously.
Can I upgrade the RAM in this unit?
The NUC 8 comes with 8GB of RAM installed. Intel NUC systems typically use SO-DIMM memory slots — consult Intel's specifications for this specific model to confirm upgrade options and maximum supported memory.
What operating system is pre-installed?
It ships with Microsoft Windows 10 Home pre-installed and ready to use out of the box.