What different nuc to try ..

[Anwar]

If you want to upgrade from NUC, I recommend go straight to desktop motherboard.  To keep cost down, you can start with Intel Pentium SoC mini-ITX motherboards where the CPU and passive heatsink are already included.  I have good results with Pentium Silver J5040 and its cost is lower than NUC.

 

Start with 12V DC LPSU powering DC-DC ATX like PicoPSU, and 5V DC for SSDs and USB regen card, if any.  Later you can upgrade to full ATX LPSU.

 

NUC has limited / no upgrade path unlike the cheaper mini-ITX Intel SoC-onboard motherboards.