Is there a better alternative?

That depends on what you’re looking for.

　　The NUC 9 Extreme Kit’s unique modular design leaves it without a direct competitor, but you might cross-shop it with other small PCs like Apple’s Mac Mini, or smaller incarnations of the Lenovo ThinkCentre and HP Z Workstations. The Intel NUC 9 might be a compelling small workstation thanks to its excellent port selection and promises of future upgrades, though I’m not sure its processor performance is price competitive. It’s a great mobile chip, but you can find standard desktop components in some systems at a comparable price point.

　　As a gaming desktop, the NUC 9 is simply too expensive. A system configured like the one I tested would set you back between $2,400 and $2,800, depending on the exact components you source and any sales you might manage to snag. That’s just too much for the performance offered. You can easily snag a desktop with an RTX 2070 Super for that price, and it doesn’t have to be much larger. The Origin Chronos and Falcon Northwest Tiki are great lesser-known alternatives.

　　

How long will it last?

Like most powerful desktops, the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit will remain useful for many years. It will easily last a decade or more, though it obviously will pale in comparison to new hardware after a few years go by.

　　Intel delivers a standard 3-year limited warranty for NUC hardware. This is unusual. Most competitors only provide a 1-year warranty.

　　

Should you buy one?

No. Intel’s NUC 9 Extreme Kit, as it exists today, works better as a thought experiment than an everyday desktop.