NUC12DCMi9 LED lights don't work

[Johann123]

I have three (3) Nuc 12 extreme computers. All of them had the BIOS updated and Windows 11 installed.

Now, none of the LED lights are showing and are dark.

I tried to get help from Intel Customer Support but to now avail.

Does anybody know what to do?

[GRIFFCOMM]

We are still waiting for the NUC12 to arrive, however the NUC11 had a setting in the BIOS to override them (to off) have you checked that?

[Johann123]

You are totally correct. The NUC 12 Bios does not have that option at all. That is what is so puzzling......

I also upgraded the BIOS to the latest version, and it did not make a difference.

I also have the NUC12i9 Element installed in a Nuc 11 case. That has the same behavior.

[Steven_Intel]

Hello Johann123,

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities.

By any chance, have you installed the Intel® NUC Software Studio from the Microsoft Store? As well as the Intel® NUC Software Studio Service available here https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19691/intel-nuc-software-studio-service.html

Please let me know if you are able to manage the LED settings using the software.

Best regards,

Steven G.

Intel Customer Support Technician.

[Mitchell_R_Intel]

You can't set the LEDs from the BIOS. You must use the NUC Software Studio for this. The LEDs will stay off until you run the software for the first time.

If you have the NUC12 Pro version of Dragon Canyon, these do not come with the LEDs in the chassis since it is a vPro model.

[GRIFFCOMM]

HANG ON.... the vPro does not have LEDs?  Is the front lit panal or just the base LEDs?  The technical specifications makes no mentioned of this, it says the case is the same on the i and vPro versions (both having the LEDs in the case), also Intel list the "Intel® NUC Software Studio Service for Intel® NUC Products" for both NUC12DCMi9 and NUC12DCMv9 which says to me they both work with the case LEDs...

The technical specifications say the LEDs are connected to the baseboard via small headers so looks like they are controlled through the main base bus from the computer card itself (i would guess).

NUC12DCM_TechProdSpec.pdf (simplynuc.com) (page 25)

[Mitchell_R_Intel]

The baseboard LEDs are NOT in the vPro chassis. The front panel LED panel is there but covered by a black Mylar sheet. You can remove the sheet and replace it with a logo if you like. I think the layout of this is downloadable so you can create your own images.

Also, press the button on the bottom of the chassis to see if you turned off the LEDs by mistake. This button turns ALL of the LEDs Off and On.

[GRIFFCOMM]

None of this is listed in the product specifications (the link above), your saying the case is different for the I and vPro model in that the side LEDs on the vPro case are not installed but the logo LED on the front is still there (but has a blank).

Does that mean the NUC Studio software will not work on the vPro, as again Intel list that as a download, so what you're saying is different from Intels download site and their technical specifications informaiton.

[Mitchell_R_Intel]

The NUC Software Studio will work fine with all of the NUC11 & NUC12 products, it will not display options for items not supported. So if the case does not have the strip LEDs, those functions will not appear in the software. It will only display what can be detected on the BaseBoard. You do have the RGB headers on the baseboard so you could add your own LEDs if you wanted to. 

Install this driver and it will download the NUC Software Studio app from the Microsoft Store automatically.

Intel® NUC Software Studio Service

[GRIFFCOMM]

vPro has no side strips but has the header strip for the logo on the front? ergo the Studio will control that?

Do you happen to have a link to Intel for the template for that large front plate on the NUC11 / NUC12 Extreme Pro case?

[Mitchell_R_Intel]

The front panel is controlled by the NUC Software Studio since the LED is there. I do not know where the template is for the front panel but if you remove the cover, there is a solid black Mylar sheet in there covering the LED panel. Maybe trace out that onto other material? I will look to see if I can find the template.

[GRIFFCOMM]

Hi

Thanks, if you do find a front panel template that would be good, we did trace something out, however i would prefer some accurate details from Intel on it.

It staggers me why Intel would remove the floor mounted LEDs from the case for the vPro when that means re-tooling for a different case but still have the front panel.

This has me wondering now if OP has a vPro unit or did Intel supply the wrong case? for the i9?

[Mitchell_R_Intel]

Two different products lines so most likely he is using the vPro version or he pressed to button on the bottom of the chassis and turned off the RGB by mistake.

vPro did not need the RGB so it was never installed at the factory. The Eden Bay NUC Element and CPU inside is basically the same other than vPro support and dTPM (discrete TPM).

[GRIFFCOMM]

It sounds like he has vPro, but the part number listed was i9, we have ordered the vPro as they are not in stock (whereas the i9 is) so it would surprise me if he has a vPro unit.  The vPro is also more expensive.

Does the vPro unit have the skull on the case inside still?

[Mitchell_R_Intel]

There is an i7 and i9 vPro versions as well. The skull is not in the front. Only a blank black Mylar sheet. It can be removed and replaced with your own image if wanted.

[GRIFFCOMM]

I mean inside the main case, the NUC11 and NUC12 have a skull on the element case itself, shown below on page 2 with the case open

https://download.intel.com/newsroom/2022/client-computing/intel-nuc-12-extreme-dcm-i9i7-kit-product-brief.pdf#page=2

[Mitchell_R_Intel]

Yes, the skull is on the NUC Element card itself.