[Zokkel]

The Intel Coffee Lake NUC's (Bean Canyon) are here.
More specific in the formfactor of the NUC's.
There are 5 models:

NUC8i3BEH/K, Core i3-8109U CPU
NUC8i5BEH/K, Core i5-8259U CPU
NUC8i7BEH, Core i7-8559U CPU
(models ending in letter H will have a higher case with a 2.5″ drive slot)

Some details:
i3: dual-core with hyperthreading, i5/i7: quad-core with hyperthreading
TDP of 28 watts
Iris Plus 655 GPU
128 MB EDRAM
DDR4-2400 RAM, max. 32 GB
WiFi Wireless-AC 9560 (802.11ac, Dual Band, 2×2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5)

There are some concerns about the TDP of 28 watts and the noise of the cooling fan.
Reviews will sure soon be clarifying that (see below).

They still haven't native HDMI 2.0, so the LSPCon is still present.

Since Gemini Lake has native HDMI 2.0, but no HDR support (say what?)
And Coffee Lake has no native HDMI 2.0, but should have HDR support (come again?)
I'm very curious how the Coffee Lake boxes will perform.

I know there is much scepticism about the need of HDR. But if I buy a player, it should last 3 years with me, so yes, I want HDR support

Reviews from The NUC Blog:
NUC8i3BEH: https://nucblog.net/2018/10/coffee-lake-...eh-review/
NUC8i5BEK / NUC8i5BEH: https://nucblog.net/2018/11/coffee-lake-...nuc8i5beh/
NUC8i7BEH: https://nucblog.net/2018/11/coffee-lake-...nuc8i7beh/

Take a look at this thread if you're running Windows and the colors seem washed out/pale:
https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=337496 and https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=337766

[Platypus2]

Interested to see how the HDR support for these turn out. Hopefully the LSPCon isn’t an issue (again).

Do you think fanless cases will be available for the i3/i5s? Would help with the fan noise.

[Zokkel]

Fanless, probably yes. External companies did it with the other NUC’s too.

But the 28w TDP could be an issue. Personally I’m more interested in the stock fan. Normally when it should be quiet (as KODI mediaplayer) all Is hardware decoded, so that means minimum stress and minimum heat.
When I run a modest steam game, I don’t care that much about silence, but it shouldn’t be a hovercraft lift-off either.

[Platypus2]

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13113/int...processors

Seems like you can turn down the TDP. Could be worth doing for a media player?

[InNursery]

On the intel datasheet the nuc have hdmi 2.0a
https://www.intel.com/content/dam/suppor...odSpec.pdf

1.5.1.3 High Definition Multimedia Interface* (HDMI*) HDMI is supported through a MegaChips MCDP2800-BCT DisplayPort 1.2a to HDMI 2.0 Level Shifter/Protocol Converter (LSPCON). The HDMI port supports standard, enhanced, or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. The port is compatible with all ATSC and DVB HDTV standards and supports eight full range channels at 24-bit/192 kHz audio of lossless audio formats. The maximum supported resolution is 4096 x 2160 @ 60 Hz, 24bpp. The HDMI port is compliant with the HDMI 2.0a specification.

1.5.1.1 Intel® High Definition (Intel® HD) Graphics The Intel Iris™ Plus graphics controller features the following: • API support ― Direct3D* 2015, Direct3D 11.2, Direct3D 11.1, Direct3D 9, Direct3D 10, Direct2D ― OpenGL* 4.5 support ― OpenCL* 2.1 , OpenCL 2.0, OpenCL 1.2 support • Next Generation Intel® Clear Video Technology HD support is a collection of video playback and enhancement features that improve the end user’s viewing experience • Encode/transcode HD content • Playback of high definition content including Blu-ray* disc • Superior image quality with sharper, more colorful images • DirectX* Video Acceleration (DXVA2) support for accelerating video processing • Full AVC/VC1/MPEG2/HEVC/VP8/VP9/JPEG hardware-accelerated video decode • Full AVC/MPEG2/HEVC/VP8/JPEG hardware-accelerated video encode • Intel HD Graphics with Advanced Hardware Video Transcoding (Intel® Quick Sync Video) NOTES Intel Quick Sync Video is enabled by an appropriate software application. HDMI 2.0a is enabled by LSPCON (DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0a protocol converter); Stereo 3D (S3D) technology is not supported. HDMI 2.0a supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) and 10-bit sampling. HDR requires use of appropriate software and display hardware

[docwra]

50% higher power consumption :/

[P.Kosunen]

On the intel datasheet the nuc have hdmi 2.0a

Still no native support, same LSPCON DP -> HDMI converter as before.

[HDGMA]

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/.../kits.html

https://ark.intel.com/products/codename/...EAN-CANYON

Intel Bean Canyon NUCs product pages now available on Intel's website.

[The_MjW]

On the intel datasheet the nuc have hdmi 2.0a

Still no native support, same LSPCON DP -> HDMI converter as before.

I’m after the perfect Win10 Kodi machine and always thought the NUC was a good candidate.

What is this LSPCON DP and what’s the drawback against native HDMI 2.0?

[Easy4Breezy]

In the past Intel and some other companies used that converter chip to convert Displayport 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 for 4K60 support (and HDR?) as HDMI 1.4 is only capable of 4K30 and obviously no HDR.
They fu**ed it up a 'little' bit and in the beginning HD-passthrough was an issue besides 3D MVC when connected to an HDMI 2.0 TV or monitor and HDR was only 'working' (or not) when you bought PowerDVD 17 (or 18 now).
I think they fixed the HD-passtrough, but 3D MVC is still an issue.

So people bought the AsRock Beebox with dual HDMI ports (1.4 & 2.0) for HDR via 2.0 and 3D via 1.4.
Atleast that's what i know about it.

Or they did it like I'm still doing it and bought a pi for 3D... with loss of HD sound, but atleast 3D.
Or they installed the MVC 3D Kodi build, which is also working great, except Microsoft did something in their OS with the 1803 release and now it's not...

[The_MjW]

In the past Intel and some other companies used that converter chip to convert Displayport 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 for 4K60 support (and HDR?) as HDMI 1.4 is only capable of 4K30 and obviously no HDR.
They fu**ed it up a 'little' bit and in the beginning HD-passthrough was an issue besides 3D MVC when connected to an HDMI 2.0 TV or monitor and HDR was only 'working' (or not) when you bought PowerDVD 17 (or 18 now).
I think they fixed the HD-passtrough, but 3D MVC is still an issue.

So people bought the AsRock Beebox with dual HDMI ports (1.4 & 2.0) for HDR via 2.0 and 3D via 1.4.
Atleast that's what i know about it.

Or they did it like I'm still doing it and bought a pi for 3D... with loss of HD sound, but atleast 3D.
Or they installed the MVC 3D Kodi build, which is also working great, except Microsoft did something in their OS with the 1803 release and now it's not...

Thanks for the backstory! So this is only an issue for 3D material?

[docwra]

Thanks for the backstory! So this is only an issue for 3D material? 

 Yep and 3D is going the way of the dodo, so its not an issue at all really.

[jjd-uk]

Native is better because full control of the signal path is done by drivers from the gpu vendor, thus it is easier for them to correct any issues. When they use LPSCON they are realiant on the drivers supplied by the LPSCON manufacturer working with their GPU, if there is are any issues then it's more complicated to get something done as they may have to wait for a new driver from the LPSCON manufacturer.

[wrxtasy]

Seems Intel are not the only ones that have gone down this path...

I was sure the Apple TV 4K also has a MegaChips DisplayPort1.4 to HDMI2.0 Converter.

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+TV...down/97511

And sure enough this MCDP2900 model (click) turned up.

[Platypus2]

Seems like these will finally be starting to show up in stores. Anyone planning on getting one?

http://www.fanlesstech.com/2018/10/coffe...e.html?m=1

I’m hoping to upgrade my Haswell NUC at the end of the year.