Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Intel NUC boards VS esp32

Compare Intel NUC boards VS esp32 and see what are their differences

Intel NUC boards logo Intel NUC boards

Four-by-four inch Intel NUC boards come with a soldered-on processor.

esp32 logo esp32

A very cheap small chip, compatible with Arduino.
  • Intel NUC boards Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-08
  • esp32 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-02-01

Intel NUC boards features and specs

  • Compact Size
    Intel NUC boards are designed to be very compact, making them ideal for setups with limited space or where a low-profile device is desired.
  • Energy Efficiency
    NUCs typically consume less power compared to traditional desktop computers, which can result in lower energy costs and a reduced environmental footprint.
  • Versatility
    These boards can be used for a variety of applications including home media servers, digital signage, and basic computing tasks, offering flexibility in deployment.
  • Quiet Operation
    Due to their small size and efficient design, NUC boards often operate quietly, which is ideal for environments where noise levels are a concern.
  • Ease of Setup
    Intel NUCs come with multiple configuration options and are typically easy to set up, requiring less effort than building a custom PC from scratch.

Possible disadvantages of Intel NUC boards

  • Limited Upgradeability
    Due to their compact form factor, NUC boards have limited upgrade options compared to a standard desktop PC, often restricting changes to storage and RAM.
  • Performance Constraints
    Although suitable for general tasks, Intel NUC boards may not offer the same performance as full-sized desktops for intensive tasks like gaming or heavy computation.
  • Price
    NUCs can be relatively expensive when compared to similar performance desktops or laptops, especially when considering the cost of additional peripherals required for full functionality.
  • Limited I/O Ports
    The small size of NUC boards often results in fewer available I/O ports, which can be a limitation if you need to connect multiple peripherals.
  • Cooling Challenges
    In some use cases, particularly those requiring sustained high performance, the compact cooling solutions of NUCs might not be sufficient, leading to potential thermal throttling.

esp32 features and specs

  • Powerful Dual-core Processor
    The ESP32 features a dual-core processor, offering robust processing capability which is suitable for complex IoT applications and tasks that require a high performance.
  • Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
    It comes with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (both Classic and BLE), which makes it very versatile for wireless communication in various projects.
  • Low Power Consumption
    ESP32 is designed for low power consumption, making it a great choice for battery-powered devices and applications that require energy efficiency.
  • Rich Peripheral Set
    The ESP32 includes a wide range of peripherals such as ADCs, DACs, capacitive touch sensors, and more, enabling diverse applications.
  • Extensive Library Support
    There is strong community and library support, making development smoother with ready-to-use libraries and examples.
  • Cost-effective
    Given its features, the ESP32 offers great value for money, being cost-effective for developers and prototyping needs.

Possible disadvantages of esp32

  • Complexity in Setup and Use
    Due to its advanced features and configuration options, beginners might find the setup process and initial learning curve to be complex.
  • Limited RAM
    The ESP32 has a limited amount of RAM, which can be a constraint for applications that require a lot of memory and data processing.
  • Power Supply Sensitivity
    The ESP32 can be sensitive to power supply fluctuations, necessitating a stable power supply for reliable operation.
  • Variability in Module Quality
    There is variability in quality across different ESP32 modules from various manufacturers, which can affect performance and reliability.

Intel NUC boards videos

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esp32 videos

ESP32 Review: Using the ESP32 with the Arduino IDE

More videos:

  • Review - #159 Big ESP32 Boards Review and Test
  • Review - #339 The new ESP32-S2: How relevant is it for the Makers? First tests

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Intel NUC boards and esp32)
Electronics
55 55%
45% 45
Single Board Computer
54 54%
46% 46
System & Hardware
54 54%
46% 46
Operating Systems
52 52%
48% 48

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, esp32 seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Intel NUC boards mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Intel NUC boards yet. Tracking of Intel NUC boards recommendations started around Mar 2021.

esp32 mentions (3)

  • how and where to learn programming ESP32 in C?
    Esp32.net has a bunch of additional references, projects, and places to gather information. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Is there any true Open Source WiFi cards over 802.11g?
    Closest thing is the ESP32 from Espressif Systems See ESP32 link for details. Since you specifically asked for open source, so some tinkering and compile is required. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Buying advice, not sure which dev boards are really supported
    There's also many more dev boards, chips and modules listed here, though they may not necessarily have platformio IDs. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Intel NUC boards and esp32, you can also consider the following products

Intel NUC - Intel NUCs are available as Kits(Barebones), Boards(Mainbaord only) and as perconfigured Mini-PCs.

ESPRESSObin - Electronics, Single Board Computer, and x86

SanCloud BeagleBone Enhanced WiFi 1G - One amongst SanCloud's range of BeagleBone Enhanced SBCs - each are enhancements of the BeagleBone Black (BBB).

Olimex A64-OLinuXino - Open source hardware board that runs Linux and Android. Entirely designed with open source software CAD tools.

Udoo x86 Ultra - Udoo x86 Ultra is a modern PC, known as the most powerful X86 maker board and an Arduino 101 compatible platform.

Helios4 - The Open Source and Open Hardware Network Attached Storage (NAS). Build your own PrivateCloud: Store music and movies, share photo albums with friends, protect your files and never fear losing data again.