Bringing your computer into the living room has got easier over recent years due in large part to an influx of mini PCs hitting the market. These compact computers bring the benefits of streaming movies, access to thousands of photos, or couch time gaming all in stylish and compact devices that take up very little space.

Intel has been a pioneer in the mini PC industry with the Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing), which is now in its 5th generation. One of the main features introduced in this generation of NUC is the adoption of the M.2 NGFF (M.2) form factor solid state drives over PCIe mSATA SSDs. The M.2 form factor offers greater and more affordable storage expansion options with 42mm (2242), 60mm (2260), and 80mm (2280) board sizes available.

Upgrading/expanding storage with an M.2 or using it as a boot drive with the Intel NUC are great ways to get more out of your mini PC experience. An M.2 SSD is a surefire way to improve loading times of movies, or even games, and the benefits are instant. Considering that the power supply on mini PCs is generally a lot lower than a regular desktop, an M.2 SSD would not add too much strain on the system.

Check out the chart below to see what M.2 NGFF SSDs are right for upgrading your Intel NUC.

Unsure if your device is M.2 or mSATA compatible?

MyDigitalDiscount.com also has frequently updated device compatibility lists to look up your make and model.

• M.2 NGFF SSD Compatibility List
• mSATA SSD Compatibility List