Intel NUC 11 Performance Kit upgrades
Released 2021 · end of sale
No CPU slot: the 11th Gen Tiger Lake-UP3 processor (i3-1115G4 / i5-1135G7 / i7-1165G7) is soldered BGA1449 and cannot be upgraded or replaced. Chassis variants share the same board (NUC11PABiX): H = tall with 2.5" bay, K = slim without it, Q = adds a Qi charger. SDXC UHS-II card slot (up to 2 TB per Simply NUC) is built in. TDP is listed as 40 W by Intel ARK vs 28 W in CPU datasheets (different measurement points). 90 W PSU for i3, 120 W for i5/i7. 3-year warranty.
Upgrade guide → What fits, step by step, and official documents.
- 2x DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM (1.2V, non-ECC): 2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM · up to 64 GB total · 3200 MT/s
- M.2 2242/2280 Key M (NVMe or SATA): M.2 2242 / M.2 2280 (NVMe / SATA) · up to 8.192 TB
- 2.5" SATA bay (Tall H chassis only): SO-DIMM (SATA) · max 7 mm thick · up to 8.192 TB
Slot map
2x DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM (1.2V, non-ECC) 2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM · up to 64 GB total · 3200 MT/s
Two 260-pin DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM sockets, 1.2V low-voltage unbuffered non-ECC only (ECC/registered modules will not work). If using one module, install it in the lower socket. Install two identical modules to enable dual-channel mode - a single stick noticeably hurts Iris Xe graphics performance.
| $/GB | Price | Capacity | Product | Condition | Store | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.38 | $19.00 | 8 GB | Micron 8GB DDR4-2666 SO-DIMM (MTA8ATF1G64HZ-2G6E1) DDR4-2666 CL19 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $3.00 | $24.00 | 8 GB | Kingston KCP426SS8/8 8 GB DDR4-2666 SO-DIMM (KCP OEM line) DDR4-2666 CL19 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $3.12 | $24.99 | 8 GB | Crucial 8GB DDR4-2666 SO-DIMM (CT8G4SFS8266) DDR4-2666 CL19 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $3.57 | $28.58 | 8 GB | Samsung 8 GB DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM (OEM module) DDR4-2400 CL17 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $3.75 | $29.99 | 8 GB | SK hynix 8GB DDR4-2666 SO-DIMM (HMA81GS6CJR8N-VK) DDR4-2666 CL19 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $4.06 | $64.95 | 16 GB | Samsung 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM (1Rx8) DDR4-3200 CL22 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $4.06 | $64.99 | 16 GB | SK hynix 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM DDR4-3200 CL22 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +1 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $4.06 | $65.00 | 16 GB | Micron 16GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $4.16 | $33.25 | 8 GB | Crucial 8GB DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM DDR4-2400 CL17 SO-DIMM | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $4.24 | $33.94 | 8 GB | Samsung 8 GB DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM (OEM module) DDR4-2400 CL17 SO-DIMM | Refurbished | eBay US | View deal Amazon Price alert |
All compatible memory with filters → · Compare prices: DDR4 laptop RAM (SO-DIMM)
M.2 2242/2280 Key M (NVMe or SATA) M.2 2242 / M.2 2280 (NVMe / SATA) · up to 8.192 TB
Single M.2 Key M slot: PCIe x4 Gen4 NVMe or SATA3 SSD (Intel Optane Memory/H10 supported). Move the standoff to the 42 mm position for 2242 drives. The 8 TB NVMe / 2 TB SATA ceilings come from reseller Simply NUC, not Intel - treat as validated limits and check Intel's Product Compatibility Tool. A SATA M.2 works but is much slower; no second M.2 slot.
| $/TB | Price | Capacity | Product | Condition | Store | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $75.00 | $299.99 | 4 TB | Crucial P3 Plus 4TB M.2 2280 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe Gen4 | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $97.56 | $49.95 | 512 GB | SC401 512GB M.2 2280 SATA SSD M.2 2280 SSD · SATA | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $97.64 | $49.99 | 512 GB | XG7 512GB M.2 2280 NVMe Gen4 SSD (Lenovo) M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe Gen4 | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $98.75 | $395.00 | 4 TB | Crucial P3 Plus 4TB M.2 2280 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe Gen4 | New | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $101.52 | $25.99 | 256 GB | Samsung PM981a 256GB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (Lenovo FRU) M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $105.00 | $209.99 | 2 TB | Crucial P3 Plus 2TB M.2 2280 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe Gen4 | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $105.00 | $419.99 | 4 TB | Kingston FURY Renegade 4TB (no heatsink) M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe | Used | eBay US +1 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $107.40 | $54.99 | 512 GB | SC401 512GB M.2 2280 SATA SSD M.2 2280 SSD · SATA | Refurbished | eBay US | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $107.40 | $54.99 | 512 GB | PM981A 512GB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (Lenovo FRU 00UP735) M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
| $109.99 | $109.99 | 1 TB | Crucial P3 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe (Gen3) M.2 2280 SSD · NVMe Gen3 | Used | eBay US +2 | View deal Amazon Price alert |
All compatible storage with filters → · Compare prices: NVMe M.2 2280 SSD
2.5" SATA bay (Tall H chassis only) SO-DIMM (SATA) · max 7 mm thick · up to 8.192 TB
Present only on the Tall H chassis (NUC11PAHi3/i5/i7); the Slim K chassis (NUC11PAKi3/i5/i7) and the Qi variant differ - verify what you are buying. SATA3 on a daughter card in the chassis lid, drives limited to 7 mm height (9.5/15 mm HDDs will not fit) - use a thin SSD or slim HDD. 8 TB ceiling is a Simply NUC reseller figure, not an Intel guarantee.
No compatible offers right now.