Deskmini110 vs a NUC??

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 alinescoo wrote:

Now that the new Kaby Lake is out, I have a few options to choose from: 
i7 7700 vs i7 7700T vs i5 7600 vs i5 7600T vs maybe i3 7320

The really main question for me now is use a T or a regular CPU. 

Intel does not include a CPU cooler only for the 'K' processor models, all the other models have a CPU cooler in the box.

If the question is between a T model and the standard processors, then let's compare them and include what your priorities are for a CPU in making the decision.

I'll compare the i7-7700 and i7-7700T. Both seem to have the same price. Both are four core, eight thread processors. They have the same suggested retail price, by Intel. You may need to search more for someone that sells the T processor, as they are more unusual.

The i7-7700 has a TDP of 65W, and i7-7700T has a TDP of 35W. The i7-7700T will run cooler an use less power. But the max CPU temperature of the i7-7700T processor is 80C, and 100C for the i7-7700. 

The i7-7700's base clock speed is 3.6GHz, Turbo up to 4.2GHz, and i7-7700T base clock is 2.9GHz, Turbo up to 3.8GHz. The i7-7700 will be faster compiling code than the i7-7700T.

Both processors will allow any M.2 SSD to operate at its full speed, they have the same PCIe 3.0 x4 interface for the M.2 slot.

You plan on using the DeskMini 110 PC, which is a nice small PC, but being small it can't cool the CPU as well as a large PC case with a bigger CPU cooler and more fans. That seems to be a compromise you have decided to stay with. You are also worried about noise and CPU temperature.

You must decide what is most important to you, in an order from most to least important.

Over heating will not be a problem with either CPU. If they reach 60 - 70C during a compile, that does not hurt the CPU. The faster CPU will get its work done faster than a slower CPU, so will be at a higher temperature for less time.

While this made add more confusion to your choice, I would not discount the i7-6700 Skylake processor. It is well known now that the i7-7700 processor does not have any improvement in performance, besides the slightly higher 200MHz base and Turbo speeds. If you can find an i7-6700 for less money than the I7-7700, you won't be missing anything except for a slight improvement in the integrated graphics.

If it was my PC with the same purpose as yours, I would get the i7-7700 or i7-6700. I would compromise the noise difference for faster compile times. I would also locate the DeskMini away from my work area as much as possible, to prevent any CPU cooler fan noise from bothering me. Also, when you are compiling, as I used to do in my job, that was break time for me, and I would walk away from the keyboard and monitor. If the noise level, which should only be an issue during a long compile, was too much, I would get a different CPU cooler. You can always adjust the CPU cooler's fan to not run as fast at higher CPU temperatures. As long as you stay about 20C under the maximum CPU temperature, nothing will be damaged. You have more temperature headroom with non-T processors.

The only advantage I see for the T processor is it will need less cooling, and be quieter in general. Other than that, the non-T processors are better in performance, lower compile times, and can handle higher temperatures.

In the end, only you can know and decide what factors have priority over others. My advice, since getting the "wrong" processor is not something you can easily replace (unless you are willing to sell it used for some loss), determine your priorities clearly and don't change your mind. 

Don't forget your choice of the DeskMini 110 affects all your other decisions. If you can't feel confident about a top level decision like that, you'll never be happy with the other decisions you make.