"Intel® Iris™ Pro Graphics unleashes maximized performance for intense game play"
So: straight out no. Intel graphics does not play games; it will probably run the base game to some degree and crash before even reaching the main menu in Horizons. It's below specs for either.
Is a NUC type PC capable of running Elite?
Anything can "run" Elite, but you need to lower graphics resolution / settings (and expectations) on less powerful machines. What matters is how much compromise you want to make and we can't answer that. Only you can.Is a NUC type PC capable of running Elite?
Obviously the higher spec ones.
Anyone tried it? Would need to run at 1080P / 60Hz.
No. I looked at https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/nuc/nuc-kit-nuc7i7bnh-brief.html and neither the CPU or not hte the graphics processing capabilities are not sufficient. You can find benchmarks of the Intel Iris Plus 650 chips here:
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Iris-Plus-Graphics-650.190370.0.html
While they haven't tested Eyou quickly see that 1080p is not doable for any game at decent performance. Notice how the settings are already low to medium, never high.
The CPU is a 28W TDP dual-core running at 4GHz tops but with that TDP you will likely have constant throttling. At that price point you essentially pay for the way oversized 32GB RAM which are expensive as hell right now and are a total waste for the low performance you can expect from the rest of the machine.
This thing is not meant for gaming. I'd personally not even use it for daily productivity office tasks as even a web browser will be slow.
Thanks - it's not for me, it's for someone who wants a small NUC type machine in their lounge and was wondering if a NUC could cut it. They have a gaming PC in another room, but it's way too noisy for the lounge. I said I didn't think the current NUC's were up to it, and they'd be better building a HTPC machine with quiet fans or whatever.