The Intel NUC 9 Extreme, also known as Ghost Canyon, is a compact desktop kit from Intel's NUC line that pairs a separate Compute Element with a modular chassis, offering 9th Gen Intel Core processors with up to 64 GB of DDR4 memory. For a compact alternative with a choice of current Intel and AMD processors, the Thinvent Treo Mini PC range is the closest match, offering up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of SSD storage across several processor options.
Intel NUC Ghost Canyon vs Thinvent Treo Mini PC
| Intel NUC 9 Extreme (Ghost Canyon) | Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U | Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel Core i5-1240P | Thinvent Treo Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i9, i7 or i5 (9th Gen, 3 CPU options) | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U | Intel Core i5-1240P | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U |
| Cores/Threads | Not stated | 12 cores | 12 cores | 6 cores |
| RAM | Up to 64 GB DDR4 | 8 GB to 64 GB DDR5 | 4 GB to 64 GB DDR4 | 4 GB to 64 GB |
| Storage | Three M.2 slots (up to 22110) | 128 GB to 2 TB SSD | 128 GB to 2 TB SSD | 128 GB to 2 TB SSD |
| Form Factor | Compact modular kit with full-length PCIe x16 GPU slot | Compact mini PC | Compact mini PC | Compact mini PC |
| Power | 45W TDP (processor); 500W internal PSU | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Wireless | Not stated | No WiFi or dual band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | No WiFi or dual band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | No WiFi or dual band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
Key differences
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Thinvent Treo models offer up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of SSD storage, with options for Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen processors that the Ghost Canyon kit does not offer.
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The Treo Mini PC range is available with Dual LAN and with a choice of Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual band or no wireless.
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The Intel NUC 9 Extreme provides a full-length PCIe x16 GPU slot and a 500W internal PSU, which suits buyers who need discrete graphics expansion.
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The Intel NUC 9 Extreme uses DDR4 memory, while the Thinvent Treo Ultra 5 125U model uses DDR5.
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The Ghost Canyon kit has a 45W TDP processor, while Thinvent Treo specifications for power draw are not stated.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Intel NUC 9 Extreme (Ghost Canyon) if you need a modular kit with a full-length GPU slot and a 500W power supply for discrete graphics. Choose a Thinvent Treo Mini PC if you want a compact, ready-to-use mini PC with up to 64 GB of RAM, up to 2 TB of SSD storage and a choice of Intel or AMD processors.
