Lame Duck Intel NUC 11

SimonStrach · ‎12-21-2021

Letter to my dealer CSV in Berlin, Germany:

Mit dem Computer ist definitiv etwas faul - mein sechster NUC in vier Jahren, vom low-end bis high-end hatte ich sie schon alle - aktuell einen NUC8i7HVK aka Hades Canyon in Top-Ausstattung - 64 GB RAM Corsair Vengeance 2400 MHz, NVMe Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB PCIe 4.0 ganz neu.

Gleiche Komponenten in den NUC 11 eingebaut - hauptsächlich, um vom sehr schnellen PCIe 4.0 des Rechners zu profitieren - mein Hades Canyon hat "nur" PCIe 3.0.

Tja, was soll ich sagen - das Ding kommt nicht aus den Socken. 1986 hatte ich u.a. einen Atari Mega ST4, später 1990 eine NextStation - beide Rechner waren locker doppelt so schnell.

Startzeit BIOS gut 30", Startzeit Win10 Pro 4', Bedienbarkeit - zäh wie Sirup im Winter. Höchstens 5% der Durchschnittsleistung, sagt auch

https://www.userbenchmark.com/Datenschleuder/User?id=349744&tab=PBenchmarks

Kommen Sie mir bitte nicht mit Gemeinplätzen - ich bin seit gut 40 Jahren in der Elektronik und der IT unterwegs und weiß, was ich tue: Riesiges BIOS-Update gemacht. Alternative Komponenten eingebaut.

Es half alles nichts - der NUC 11 hat eine Macke. Das wundert mich - Intel hat über die Jahre bei den NUCs eine überragende Qualität gezeigt - deshalb kaufe ich sie ja auch. Ich habe da eine wilde Theorie - aufgrund des weltweiten Chipmangels hat Intel ungeprüft Ware aus den Fabs übernommen. Wäre übrigens ein interessantes Thema für die "c't Magazin für Computertechnik". Mal sehen.

Translation via Google:

Ausgangstext

1.542 / 5.000

Übersetzungsergebnisse

There's definitely something wrong with the computer - my sixth NUC in four years, from low-end to high-end I've already had them all - currently a NUC8i7HVK aka Hades Canyon with top equipment - 64 GB RAM Corsair Vengeance 2400 MHz, NVMe Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB PCIe 4.0 brand new. The same components are built into the NUC 11 - mainly to benefit from the computer's very fast PCIe 4.0 - my Hades Canyon "only" has PCIe 3.0. Well what can I say - this thing won't get out of your socks. In 1986 I had an Atari Mega ST4, and later a NextStation in 1990 - both computers were easily twice as fast. BIOS start time a good 30 ", Win10 Pro 4 'start time, usability - tough as syrup in winter. A maximum of 5% of the average power, says that too

https://www.usorbenchmark.com/Datenschleuder/User?id=349744&tab=PBenchmarks

Please don't give me platitudes - I've been in electronics and IT for a good 40 years and I know what I'm doing: I made a huge BIOS update. Alternative components built in. It didn't help - the NUC 11 has a flaw. That surprises me - Intel has shown outstanding quality with the NUCs over the years - that's why I buy them. I have a wild theory - due to the global shortage of chips, Intel has taken over goods from the fabs without being tested. By the way, it would be an interesting topic for the "c't magazine for computer technology". Let's see.

Trial-Member · ‎12-22-2021

Hello Simon,

did you by any chance study electrical engineering?

SimonStrach · ‎12-22-2021

Yes I did - how come you know?

Trial-Member · ‎12-22-2021

I was just wondering if someone who has studied is really inclined to write like that.

Comparing a NUC11 with measured Windows start-up times to an Atari is not necessarily a meaningful comparison and is more a polemic than a solution-oriented one.

Threatening the dealer with the press ... well.

I assume you asked Intel for support?

SimonStrach · ‎12-22-2021

Listen sunshine - I don't need comments from smart alecs, so don't bother any further. Und auf deutsch - wer lesen kann, hat Vorteile-.

JosueO_Intel · ‎12-22-2021

Hello SimonStrach,

Thank you for posting on the Intel communities. I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with your Intel® NUC, we will do our best to help you. In order to have a better understanding of the issue, please share with us the following information:

When does the slowness happen?
Have you gotten any error messages or BSOD?
Is the issue only with one of the NUCs or with both?
Model of the Intel® NUC 11.

Also, please download and install the Intel System Support Utility (Intel SSU):

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility-for-Windows-

Open the application and select "Everything" click on "Scan" to see the system and device information. By default, Intel SSU will take you to the "Summary View". Click on the menu where it says "Summary" to change to "Detailed View".

Click on "Next", save the report and attach it to your response.

Regards,

Josue O.

Intel Customer Support Technician

SimonStrach · ‎12-23-2021

Hello Josue,

thanks for your reply!

I'm a bit surprised about your questions.

Step by step:

1. When does the slowness happen?

All the time. Didn't you see the link Userbenchmark?

2. Have you gotten any error messages or BSOD?

No. And I don't know what a BSOD is. In Germany, it's not a known abbreviation or household phrase.

3. Is the issue only with one of the NUCs or with both?

Of course, it's just the NUC 11. The other one, which works perfekt, (NUC8i7HVK aka Hades Canyon) ist just for comparison, since I moved RAM and NVMe to the NUC 11 for exact testing. I already said that - why must I repeat that over and over again?

4. Model of the Intel® NUC 11.

Here I go again - I attached all that information already - it might help if you read appendices! Model-Nr. and serial-number are clearly visible.

As for the tool SSU - really interesting - I ran it on one of my NUCs, and it rendered a ton of information. However, I doubt wether it will help you determine what's wrong with the NUC 11 in question. Besides, it is already beeing packed and bound to be resend to my dealer for an exchange.

Well, out of couriosity - there won't be too much business during the season, and I might unpack and recommission the set in order to run SSU - I'll give it a second thought.

For now, I'll attach two screenshots CrystalDiskMark of the very same Samsung NVMe 980 Pro 2TB in both the NUC8 and NUC11 which I forgot last time. This should ring a bell.

Looking forward to your remittance,

and of course - Merry Christmas (Frohe Weihnachten) from Germany!

mecej4 · ‎12-26-2021

@SimonStrach wrote: "No. And I don't know what a BSOD is. In Germany, it's not a known abbreviation or household phrase."

You probably have looked this up by now, but BSOD stands for Blue Screen of Death. See https://m.interglot.com/de/en/Kernelfehler .

JosueO_Intel · ‎12-24-2021

Hello SimonStrach,

Thank you for the information provided, in this case, since you are in process of replacing the device with your place of purchase, we are unable to proceed with troubleshooting for the device so we will proceed to close this case.

If you need any additional information, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Regards,

Josue O.

Intel Customer Support Technician

SimonStrach · ‎12-25-2021

Like I said - I'd give it a second thought - the NUC in question is still here, so find attached the SSU. It took ages to complete.

JKlef · ‎12-24-2021

Wenn Du bislang mit dem NUC8-i7 zufrieden warst ist es jetzt natürlich mit dem NUC11-i5 ein bisschen lansamer.

SimonStrach · ‎12-25-2021

Aber nicht um den Faktor 23. Und NVMe PCI 4.0 ist nun mal schneller als PCI 3.0 - dafür habe ich das Ding ja gekauft

mecej4 · ‎12-26-2021

@JKlef wrote (translated): If you've been happy with the NUC8-i7 so far, it's of course a little slower with the NUC11-i5.

How so? An i5 that is three generations newer on a PC with PCIE 4 can well be faster than an older PC with an i7 CPU and PCIE 3. I do not know the specific CPU models that Simon has, but see this comparison.

Another factor to consider is the graphics processors on the two models.