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R2 NUC Shopping Guide: Compare Mini PC Features & Uses

Posted on by William Zheng

Looking for a compact yet powerful computing solution? The r2 NUC stands out as a versatile mini PC, perfect for home offices, entertainment centers, and everyday productivity. With its space-saving design and robust performance, the r2 NUC appeals to tech enthusiasts and casual users alike. Discover how this device can transform your digital experience and whether it’s the right choice for your needs.

R2 NUC Shopping Guide

R2 NUC Comparison Table

Model/Variant Processor Options Memory (LPDDR5) Storage Ethernet Ports Dimensions (mm) Display Outputs USB Ports Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Power Cooling Mounting Warranty
R2 NUC (iKOOLCORE) Intel N95, i3-N300 8GB / 16GB M.2 2242 (up to 2TB) 1 x 2.5G (Intel i226-V) 75 x 75 x 52 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB-C (4K) 4 x USB-A 3.2 Gen1, 1 x USB-C Optional E-key DC 12-20V Fan Desktop/VESA 1 Year
R2 (iKOOLCORE, non-NUC) N95, i3-N300 8GB / 16GB M.2 2242 (up to 2TB) 3 x 2.5G (Intel i226-V) + 1 x 2.5G (Realtek RTL8156BG) 75 x 75 x 52 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB-C 2 x USB-A 3.0, 1 x USB-C Yes DC 12-20V PWM Fan Desktop/VESA 1 Year
NUC-155H R2 (ASRock) Intel Core Ultra (6P+8E, Meteor Lake-H) Up to 96GB DDR5 2 x M.2 Key M (PCIe Gen4) + SATA 2 x 2.5G (Intel I226LM & I226V) 104 x 102 x 38 2 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x DP (Type-C) 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1 x USB4 TB4, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 C, 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 E-Key slot DC 12-24V Not Spec Depends on chassis Varies
NUC-125H R2 (ASRock) Intel Core Ultra (4P+8E, Meteor Lake-U) Up to 96GB DDR5 2 x M.2 Key M (PCIe Gen4) + SATA 2 x 2.5G (Intel I226LM & I226V) 104 x 102 x 38 2 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x DP (Type-C) 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1 x USB4 TB4, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 C, 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 E-Key slot DC 12-24V Not Spec Depends on chassis Varies

Everyday Usage of the R2 NUC: Compact Power for Modern Needs

The R2 NUC models—whether the highly compact iKOOLCORE R2 NUC mini PC, or robust, highly expandable ASRock Industrial NUC-155H R2—are palm-sized computers designed for both everyday and specialized professional use.

Home and Office

  • Productivity Suite: Word processing, email, presentations, and spreadsheets run smoothly, even with multiple applications open, thanks to modern multi-core processors and fast DDR5 or LPDDR5 memory.
  • Media Center: Support for 4K 60Hz video output on multiple displays (up to 3 lines on iKOOLCORE, up to 4 on some ASRock NUCs) lets you enjoy high-definition content in the living room, bedroom, or for digital signage.
  • Home Server: Small enough for unobtrusive deployment, R2 NUCs can act as home NAS, media servers, or private cloud solutions—leveraging up to 2TB (or more) NVMe SSD storage and advanced networking.

Edge Networking & IoT

  • Firewall/Router: With 2.5G Intel networking (multiple ports on some models), R2 NUCs are ideal for advanced firewall, VPN endpoints, or as powerful home/SMB routers.
  • Edge Computing: High durability (some models rated down to -20°C up to 70°C), rich I/O, and TPM support mean R2 NUCs excel as industrial or commercial control nodes, digital kiosks, and automation projects.

On the Move

  • Portable Workstation: With a net weight near 415g (iKOOLCORE) and dimensions smaller than a paperback book, you can pack a PC for travel, remote work, or field deployments.
  • Classroom/Lab: Educators and developers benefit from fast deployment and low ownership footprint, with powerful multi-core CPUs supporting coding, simulation, and AI workloads.

Specialized Use

  • Surveillance NVR: Fast SSD, gigabit and multi-gigabit LAN, dedicated COM ports (on industrial versions), and multiple display outputs make these NUCs a strong choice for surveillance systems.
  • Retail/Kiosk: Their compact size, reliability, and support for rich media displays make these systems suitable for retail signage, kiosks, or interactive booths.

Benefits of the R2 NUC: Why Choose a Mini PC Platform?

Space-Saving Design

  • Palm-Sized: At as little as 7.5 x 7.5 x 5.2 cm (iKOOLCORE) and under 12 x 12 cm (industrial models), R2 NUCs fit any environment—desktop, home theater, behind monitors (VESA), or inside control cabinets.

Performance in a Small Footprint

  • Modern CPUs: Options range from efficient Intel N95 or i3-N300 (ideal for low-power, light-medium needs) to ultra-modern Meteor Lake Core Ultra with up to 14 cores (ASRock).
  • Fast Memory: All use onboard LPDDR5 (iKOOLCORE) or DDR5 up to 96GB in SO-DIMM slots (ASRock) for high multitasking performance.


R2 NUC - Palm-sized mini PC - iKOOLCORE - r2 nuc

Connectivity and Expandability

  • Networking: 2.5 GbE standard (multi-port or single-port options) serve advanced networking, firewall, and business infrastructure needs.
  • Expandability: M.2 slots for SSD and wireless cards, USB 3.2 ports (Type-A and Type-C), HDMI 2.0/2.1, Thunderbolt 4/USB4 on premium models.

Energy Efficiency

  • Low Power Draw: Typical power usage is far lower than full-size desktops, which saves money and allows operation on battery backup (UPS) setups.

Reliability and Flexibility

  • Enterprise Features: TPM, watchdog, RAID (on ASRock), industrial temperature ranges, active cooling with copper heatsinks.
  • Warranty and Support: 1-year warranty (iKOOLCORE) and support channels (ASRock for industrial/enterprise boards).

How to Choose the Right R2 NUC for Your Needs

1. Define Your Primary Use Case

  • Basic Home/Office, Firewall, Embedded: The iKOOLCORE R2 NUC is optimized for basic desktop computing, firewall/router, and home server. Choose this for affordable, efficient computing in the smallest footprint.
  • Professional/Commercial, Demanding Multitasking: The ASRock NUC-155H R2/NUC-125H R2 are designed for enterprise, edge AI, industry, or any user needing advanced connectivity, display out, and memory expandability.

2. Select the Processor and Memory

  • Entry: Intel N95 is great for lightweight productivity, network appliances, and simple server tasks.
  • Mid-Tier: i3-N300/i3-N305 (8 cores) provide significant performance jump for multitasking, coding, and multitiered office workloads.

  • High-End/Enterprise: Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake-H/U) in the NUC-155H R2/125H R2 excels at professional workloads, virtual machines, digital content creation, or AI edge inference.

  • Memory: 8GB suffices for light tasks, but 16GB is recommended for multitasking. For workstations or VMs, the ASRock option’s 96GB max is a major asset.

3. Storage Requirements

  • iKOOLCORE: One M.2 2242 slot for fast NVMe/SATA SSDs, up to 2TB (user-upgradeable).
  • ASRock: Two M.2 Key M slots (PCIe 4.0 x4), plus a SATA port—ideal for dual-boot, fast cache, or even RAID 0/1 for redundancy.

4. Network Connectivity

  • Multiple LAN Ports: If you need multi-homed servers, advanced firewall or router, iKOOLCORE R2 (non-NUC) with 4 ports excels. If only 1-2 ports suffice, or you need highest performance, look for models with Intel’s I226-V/LM chipset.
  • Wi-Fi/Bluetooth: Most models support E-key wireless modules, but you may need to supply your own.

5. Display & Expandability

  • Home Theater/Media: Seek models with multiple HDMI/DP outputs and 4K support.
  • Industrial/IoT: Serial/COM ports, watchdog timer, and extended power input range are valuable on ASRock boards.

6. Power Supply and Deployment

  • Power: Standard DC jack (12-20V for iKOOLCORE, 12-24V for ASRock).
  • Form Factor: Chassis size, VESA mounting, and weight all matter for discreet installations.

Usage Tips and Best Practices for Your R2 NUC

  1. Ensure Optimal Cooling:
  2. Place your NUC in a well-ventilated spot. Compact designs rely on active cooling (typically a high-quality PWM fan and copper heatsink).

  3. Clean vents regularly. Accumulated dust can reduce lifespan and performance.

  4. Upgrading Storage:

  5. For performance, choose an NVMe SSD over SATA—NVMe offers up to 5x faster read/write speeds.

  6. When possible, clone your primary drive for quick rollback and backup.

  7. Network Optimization:

  8. Use shielded Cat6/Cat6a cabling for 2.5G connections, especially over longer distances.

  9. For firewall/NAS setups, enable jumbo frames for better throughput (if all network gear supports it).

  10. Deploying Wi-Fi and Bluetooth:

  11. Not all R2 NUCs ship with wireless modules pre-installed. Choose a compatible Intel Wi-Fi card (E-key, 2230) for best platform support and driver compatibility.

  12. Mounting for Safety:

  13. Use VESA mounts to secure the NUC behind monitors, under desks, or for wall mounting in kiosks.

  14. Power Management:

  15. Leverage sleep/Hibernate for further energy savings.

  16. For industrial ASRock models, use the AT/ATX power-on selection for automated or remote startup.

  17. Firmware and OS:

  18. Update BIOS/UEFI and device drivers regularly to benefit from performance, security, and hardware compatibility fixes.
  19. Choose an OS matched to your use case (Windows for desktop, Linux for servers/firewalls). ASRock models often support a wide OS matrix.

Technical Specification Table: Key Features of Popular R2 NUC Models

Feature iKOOLCORE R2 NUC ASRock NUC-155H R2 ASRock NUC-125H R2
Processor Options Intel N95, i3-N300 Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake-H, 14-core max, 6P+8E) Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake-U, 12-core max, 4P+8E)
Max Memory 16GB LPDDR5 (onboard) 96GB DDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM) 96GB DDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM)
Storage M.2 2242 NVMe/SATA (2TB) 2 x M.2 2242/2280 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4, 1 x SATA 2 x M.2 2242/2280 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4, 1 x SATA
Graphics Intel UHD (iGPU N300) Intel Arc Graphics (integrated) Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)
Display Output 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB-C 2 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x DP (Type-C) 2 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x DP (Type-C)
Max Resolution 4K @ 60Hz 4K @ 60Hz per display 4K @ 60Hz per display
Ethernet 1 x 2.5GbE (Intel i226-V) 2 x 2.5GbE (Intel I226LM & I226V) 2 x 2.5GbE (Intel I226LM & I226V)
USB Ports 4 x USB-A 3.2 Gen1, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen2 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (front), 1 x USB4 TB4, 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (rear), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C Same as NUC-155H R2
Wireless Support E-key slot, user-supplied E-key slot, user-supplied E-key slot, user-supplied
Expansion Slots M.2 E-key (for Wi-Fi) 1 x M.2 (Key E) 1 x M.2 (Key E)
Power Input DC 12-20V DC 12-24V DC 12-24V
Operating Temp 0°C ~ 40°C (typical) -20°C ~ 70°C (industrial) -20°C ~ 70°C (industrial)
TPM Yes Intel PTT TPM Intel PTT TPM
Watchdog Not Specified Yes Yes
Audio 3.5mm combo jack Realtek ALC256, combo jack Realtek ALC256, combo jack
Weight 415g (approx) Varies (bare motherboard) Varies (bare motherboard)
Chassis Aluminum (incl. in kits) None (board only) None (board only)

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Conclusion

The R2 NUC family offers a compact, energy-efficient solution for modern computing, balancing desktop-class capabilities with unbeatable size and flexibility. Whether you need a pocket-sized home PC, firewall appliance, server, or robust industrial platform, there’s an R2 NUC optimized for your needs.

Consider your intended application, performance needs, connectivity, and physical deployment when choosing a model. Properly deployed, the R2 NUC can streamline your workflow, save space, and reduce energy costs—all without sacrificing essential performance or expandability.

FAQ

  1. What is an R2 NUC and who should consider buying one?
    An R2 NUC is a mini PC or motherboard platform featuring modern Intel processors, designed for compactness and versatility. It’s ideal for users seeking a full-featured PC in a small footprint—ranging from home computing to firewall, server, or industrial applications.

  2. What is the difference between the iKOOLCORE R2 NUC and ASRock NUC-155H R2?
    The iKOOLCORE R2 NUC is a ready-to-use mini PC, highly compact, and optimized for lightweight tasks, home use, and simple networking. The ASRock NUC-155H R2 is a more versatile industrial motherboard, supporting higher memory, dual LAN, advanced expansion, and industrial deployment.

  3. Can I upgrade the memory or storage in an R2 NUC?
    Memory on the iKOOLCORE R2 NUC is onboard and not upgradable. However, you can upgrade the M.2 NVMe/SATA SSD (up to 2TB). ASRock NUC models offer user-upgradeable SO-DIMM DDR5 memory and multiple M.2 storage options.

  4. Does the R2 NUC support multiple monitors?
    Yes. The iKOOLCORE R2 NUC supports up to three displays via HDMI and USB-C, with 4K 60Hz capability. ASRock NUC models support up to four display outputs, using HDMI and DisplayPort (including via USB-C/Thunderbolt).

  5. Is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in?
    Most R2 NUCs offer an E-key M.2 slot for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, but a compatible module must be purchased separately. Check your specific retail package for included hardware.

  6. How does R2 NUC handle cooling and noise?
    All versions use active cooling with small, efficient PWM fans and copper heatsinks. Under normal office or home loads, noise levels are minimal.

  7. What’s the maximum storage supported?
    iKOOLCORE R2 NUC: up to 2TB NVMe/SATA SSD using M.2 2242 slot. ASRock NUCs can use multiple M.2 SSDs (up to 2280) and one SATA 2.5″ drive, with RAID 0/1 support for PCIe SSDs.

  8. Can it run Windows and Linux operating systems?
    Yes, R2 NUC models support various OS choices, including Windows 10/11 and most mainstream Linux distributions.

  9. Is the R2 NUC suitable for use as a network firewall or NAS?
    Absolutely. Its multi-gigabit LAN ports, small form factor

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