Bean Canyon NUCs Officially Launched
Intel has officially launched the Bean Canyon NUCs also known as Coffee Lake NUCs. It seems like we’ve been waiting for these to hit the shelves forever, but according to Simply NUC these should be available next month finally.
The specifications were pretty much known to us already:
- CPU depending on the model: Intel Core i3-8109U (dual-core), i5-8259U (quad-core) or i7-8559U (quad-core), all with hyperthreading and 28W TDP
- Intel Iris Plus 655 GPU (GT3e), 48 EUs, 128MB eDRAM-cache, up to 1050 (i3/i5) or 1200 MHz (i7), HDMI 2.0a only via LSPCon
- 2 slots for DDR4-2400 RAM, max. 32 GB
- M.2 slot for 2240 and 2280 form factor cards, NVMe support
- One HDMI 2.0a port and DisplayPort via Type-C
- Four USB 3.1 Type-A ports
- One USB 3.1 Type-C ports
- Thunderbolt 3 via Type-C port
- Gigabit LAN with I219V
- Intel Wireless-AC 9560 wifi with Bluetooth 5.0
- MicroSDXC slot
Full technical product specification document is available here.
What’s important here is that the cooling solution seems finally updated. The technical product specification shows a picture of a much larger fan which hopefully will be able to keep the these NUCs cool with less noise.
It’s a bit shame that the Coffee Lake CPUs do not support native HDMI 2.0a. It’s 2018 after all. The MegaChips MCDP2800-BCT LSPCon is used convert DisplayPort 1.2a signal to HDMI 2.0a with HDCP 2.2 support. This is the same solution we saw in the previous generation NUCs, so I guess we can expect that this time it’ll work fine. :)
The DP converter solution never worked fine, not for 3D MVC for sure. So, as not even native 1.4 this time, we can just say goodbye to 3D video playback with this NUC generation. Not what I’ve expected, and I will definitely skip these for sure. Time for Intel to get hurry up with their IGP development or just apply some GPU’s from AMD (even in their entry-level NUC versions).
Thanks again for your comment Peter! To be fair, I think the industry seems to be saying goodbye to 3D video in general… I was recently on a market for an OLED TV and found out that none of them support 3D any more!
As far as I am informed the latest APU Vegas still all support 3D MVC properly. So i’m still hopeful towards that at least they won’t dumb the hardware decoding support from any further IGP’s and GPU’s. It’s been developed perfectly and working for ages, needs no more to work on it, so why just do such a direct reduction by any means? Also hope that 3D will return to the TV industry, maybe not “tomorrow”, but again, why just cut-off entirely a such a technically improved and fun feature? 3D BD movies still are all around the place, and they still keep on coming. And irrespectively, many of us still have 3D TV’s and have choose them for a reason. As things stand i simply wouldn’t buy anything HTPC wise, that lacks the support for 3D MVC. And I hope I don’t have to do ever.
But yes, agree – native HDMI 2.0a and more Radeon GPUs would be great!
can this device be used as Hackintosh?
I would be interested in it too. And i am optimistic.
Only if not too noisy though, otherwise Zbox ci640
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27894/Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10
If you are going to review Bean Canyon, please test with Intel 24.20.100.6229 or whatever newer drivers Intel releases in the future.
If you look at page 11 of TechProd-Spec (your link above) you will get the answer for 3D at “NOTES”:
“HDMI 2.0a is enabled by LSPCON (DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0a protocol converter); Stereo 3D (S3D) technology is not supported.”
Maybe next times with the next gen of CPUs supporting LSPCon-“without” and more HDR version, not only HDR10.
Another point and informative link:
https://www.whathifi.com/advice/dolby-vision-hdr-everything-you-need-to-know
As it is using the DP converter for 2.0 and has no native 1.4 HDMI, we already figured out that 3D MVC is not possible with this spec. Tho’ the tech spec doesn’t state anything concretely regarding that if the 3D MVC decoding and technology feature would have been cut-off completely from the IGP. My presumption is that if it would have a an 1.4 HDMI output, it would work well just like before.
I am really struggling with Intel’s naming schemes. So just to make sure: “Bean Canon” is the code name just for this generation of NUCs and “Coffee Lake is the code name of the processors, correct?
Yup, bean canyon is real location as are all the code names for the nuc products. Coffee lake u series are the processors. They seem to choose canyon names appropriate for the device though. Hades and skull for their gaming nucs, and bean canyon possibly referring to a coffee bean reference due to the coffee lake cpu’s, or maybe whoever is in charge of naming the nucs for this generation is just a big fan of Mr Bean..
Thank you Joshua. I appreciate the reply.
Considering that the cooling solution was holding back higher performance in all of the dual core 4×4″ NUCs when doing light gaming on the IGP, I’m hoping for big improvements with this upgraded fan/cooler. Double the cores and double the eDRAM/L4 cache will require seriously better cooling to deliver all the increased performance that these upgraded specs promise.
https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-introduces-new-nuc-kits-nuc-mini-pcs-intel-nuc-family/
Intel officially launches Bean Canyon & Crimson Canyon NUCs.
I need to replace my PC. I’m pretty sure I’ll go for a NUC instead of a PC. But I’m wondering. Sould I buy a 7th generation that will be on sale NUC7i7BNH 500€
If performance is important to you, it would seem the new i5 variant would bring quad-core performance and better graphics. You can get the 7th gen i5 for around $340 US on Amazon. The 8th gen will probably launch close to $440 or so. If that extra performance is important to you, I’d go with the newer 8th gen when it’s out.
The functional difference between the NUC7i7 and NUC7i5 is very small in almost all use cases. In previous generations, the performance difference between i5s and i7s was much greater but not with the particular Kaby Lake chips Intel chose for the 7th Gen NUCs. I have both and money is better spent on the i5 + more RAM for the same cost.
Now, the 7i5 vs the 8th gen. The 8th Gen i5 & i7 NUCs will have quad cores but you won’t be getting 2x performance, though 1.5x overall is a reasonable expectation. Cooling in such a small case will be the limiting factor and if you do any light gaming, you won’t see a huge increase as the iGPU is only modestly improved.
Based on owning 6 NUCs now (all 4×4″ ones), I’d bet the quad core NUCs will be noticeably better for medium home/office use with the added grunt of 2 more cores, while mixing home/office with light gaming might find the 7i5 as the better deal if you can find it cheap. I got my 7i5 at $322US and I’ll wait for the 8i5 to approach that price before I bite.
Hi. I’m new to these Intel NUCs.
I like the idea of having a tiny fully functioning multipurpose pc. It will be used for everything except gaming (htpc, office, programming, other general purpose).
Maybe a silly question but how do you plug external speakers into these? I have been researching a little and all these mini pcs and mini-stx motherboards seem to have no 3.5mm line-out or optical port on the rear IO. Only a headphone/mic socket on the front.
I would rather not have speakers permanently attached to the front. Are they relying on monitors/tv with audio via hdmi/dp? Seems strange.
Maybe i am missing something… Thanks :)
USB to 3.5mm adapters are common and inexpensive
He will most likely get better result simply with the integrated Phone jacks, than with any cheap USB->Jack adapter (which are basically “sound cards”). Another solution is to get a better -and sometimes just a bit slightly more pricey, but the limit is the sky- USB sound card (Sound Blaster, or ASUS), or even more advisably a decent USB DAC/interface. Whit this last suggestion you will get better SQ (for music and 2.0 stereo at least) than with any other on-board integrated or even dedicated sound cards out there…
When you say integrated phone jacks, do you mean the one on the front? Speakers should work on that jack, right? (Though it’s an inconvenient location.)
Sure.
Thanks for the comments.
I will probably go with a USB sound card. I’m not an audiophile but I do appreciate good quality audio. Something like the Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 seems good value and good quality.
I was just wondering if there are any mini-stx boards or equivalent mini pcs with rear audio sockets. Is this something that mandated in the mini-stx form factor or just because there is not enough room?
Gigabyte makes the Brix series, but they seem to have the audio port in front as well: https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Mini-PcBarebone/GB-BRi7H-8550-rev-10#ov
are these nucs 4k capable? I need to provide my father a new PC and I think these nucs could be a solution. He use the PC only to watch sports events, films an TV Shows.
4K and HDR capable for sure.
Thanks for the reply! Now I only need to find a Europe Store selling these new nucs!
It looks like that the larger case variant has also a larger intake (punched plate). Is there anything known about a difference regarding noise and cooling performance between both case sizes?
Intel: delay delay and delay
Does anybody know when those NUCS will be (really) available?
Local distributor here (Sweden) says the first week of October
thanks julian123. Yeah, you can order them now!
These NUCs are a couple of features short of ideal. They really ought to have a speaker port in the back, and the MicroSD slot is much less useful than a normal SD slot or multicard slot.
Earlier in the thread it was mention that Stereo 3D is not support in the NUC. What does this mean in practise, will it possible to play 3D movies at all?
Mostly likely it won’t work at all.
Ist there any information available when Bean Canyon NUC will be available in Sweden and what will be the price tag?
Are there any reviews of the NUC8I5BEK? I have the NUC5i5RYK as I was wondering if it is worth an upgrade. My NUC5i5RYK has a fan which can be reduced in the BIOS which makes the unit silent. Would like to know how noisy the new model is?
Any idea when the next models due with HDMI 2.1 etc. might be due?
Review: https://www.msn.com/zh-tw/news/techandscience/bean-canyon-導入-128mb-l4-快取性能飆速，intel-nuc-nuc8i7beh-套件實測動手玩/ar-AAAEaPw
Just to make sure: is it possible to connect a usb-c monitor to the nuc with only one cable for power and getting a signal (display port)? And you only need one power pack (for the display)? That would be very usefull: less cables, one less power pack and you can turn on the nuc via the display on/off.
No. You need 12V÷19V power supply 90W
Still nowhere to be found? Delayed again?
The NUC8i5BEK is avaliable in germany and I have one. First impressions and stresstest here https://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/f89/diy-cooling-head-intel-nuc-1211312.html
Hi omnium, where did you buy the nuc?
I’ve got the i3 model, will publish an article a bit later about it.
Hi Thomas,
i bought the nuc at klarsicht-it.de.
Nice post.
The actual article is not quite ready yet, but the i3 model is really proving to be quite good. Performance, fan noise, etc.. so far so good. Not worth getting a previous gen i5 over Coffee Lake i3.
On windows 10 with latest drivers
Can you test with 4k HDR TV (3840×2160 @ 59Hz) . Playback of 60 fps video like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1La4QzGeaaQ
What is the power consumption and noise?
And download sample from here:
https://4kmedia.org/samsung-chasing-light-4k-demo/
Test with window size of the player closely to full screen, but not full screen. We want video surface close to 4k and at the same time DWM (desktop window manager) to be working compositing the desktop.
Are there skipped frames?
What is the power consumption and noise? Is there a difference if you go full screen?
First test with Movies & TV app and then If possible test with MPC-HC 1.8.3 and MadVR v0.92.17
For Lav video filters setting select “DXVA2 native”
I wanted to add that the “HDR mode” and “HDR streaming” shoud be enabled in Windows when you do the tests. Then you playback the youtube video at 2160p60 HDR in fullscreen wait for the playback controls to disappear and then move the mouse so that the controls appear again at this moment is the video stuttering? Or open the taskmanager with “Always on top” option enabled, and drag it over the playing in fullscreen mode video. You can observe what happens with GPU 3D usage at this moment. Is the playback smoot? Does the fan speed up loudly?
I am asking this because on Nuc7i7BNH I see droping frames and stuttering in HDR mode . I dont see it in “SDR” mode even with if i playback 4320p (8k) version of the clip.
And I don”t know if this is windows 10 1803 problem (wddm 2.4), intel graphics driver problem or some hardware limitation – (only 2 channel DDR 2133 and only 64MB eDRAM).
I have not tested with windows 10 1809!
Do you see the same with NUC8i3?
Thanks, and sorry for the long post.