AnandTech: The Intel NUC8i7HVK (Hades Canyon) Review: Kaby Lake-G Benchmarked

[Glo.]

Want to know what is saddest thing about this computer?

Imagine this: Intel releases 9th gen of CPUs called Coffee Lake-R(efresh) . In this lineup is Core i3, and it has 4C/8T with turbo boost, for 119, 139$. Imagine something like this:

Core i3 9300T 4C/8T 2.7/3.6 GHz for 139$.

Then Nvidia releases next gen. GPUs, with Volta architecture, for consumers. GTX 1150 Ti gives us 15% more performance than 6 GB GTX 1060, and is able to run fanlessly.

Build fanless computer, that beats this in every single metric. Cost efficiency, power efficiency, performance, and you can build it to your dream.
The only place where it would not beat Hades Canyon - it is in volume...

But who would care about it, at this point?

 

[IRobot23]

No, imagine that ms and intel releases fix for flaws after they release their new fixed cpus. And its gonna hurt cpu by 10-15% on ipc.

I am going to build gaming rig for my friend and it is either r5 2600/x or i7 8700k with itx mb. More likely i7 8700k.

 

[moonbogg]

Its a nice little box, but I'd rather just use an AMD APU for whatever weak sauce gaming task I might need this thing for. A grand is ridiculous for this thing IMO.

 

[Shmee]

Way to expensive for what it is IMO, I would be more interested in a 15" laptop with similar specs and cheaper.

 

[Abwx]

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel...eon-RX-Vega-M-GH-Mini-PC-Review.290800.0.html

In a word those NUCs will be more relevant at the next node...

 

[iBoMbY]

Any chance we could get architectural details about the "Vega M" GPU? It seems like TechPowerUp and AIDA64 are referring to the chip as "Polaris 22", plus there is the 'gfx804' OpenCL string (which points to Polaris-generation GCN4), and other oddities. What DX12 feature sets does it support, for example? And does it support Rapid Packed Math, and other Vega stuff? I really would like to know what exactly this is?

 

[PeterScott]

https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/34510590

I think the AMD Fenghuang Raven part could be a single die APU built on GF 12LP . I remember Mark Papermaster saying that all future client products from AMD in 2018 will be built at 12LP. Raven Ridge was a late 2017 product and probably the last 14LPP product. If we are talking of a single die APU I think AMD could deliver GTX 1060 notebook or MaxQ performance depending on how 12LP voltage / freq curve is.

I am 99% certain that the ~28 CU Vega part is NOT an APU but AMDs Vega Mobile discrete chip. I wouldn't mind being wrong on this, but I really don't think so.

Making a Mobile Vega 28 CU discrete GPU is more versatile in usage, and a smaller die for easier production.

The Giant APU will be huge, expensive and niche. Where does it go? Can it even fit in AM4 socket with HBM? I doubt it.

I don't think we will seen an actual APU with HBM until 7nm and probably a new socket design to go with it.

 

[ksec]

So an Intel 100W TDP Chips is performing at 230W, and then compared to a Notebook with1060 Max-Q system?

Something is not right.

 

[PeterScott]

So an Intel 100W TDP Chips is performing at 230W, and then compared to a Notebook with1060 Max-Q system?

Something is not right.

TDP is not the hard limit, that you think it is. The top end part is aimed at averaging something like 100W, but won't throttle to stay at that load. OTOH, I expect all the Kaby-G laptops will use the 60W version and will throttle to stay in their envelope.

Plus we aren't really talking about realistic workloads, we are talking about simultaneously running prime95 and Furmark.

What does it use when playing games? The real case for using both CPU and GPU: Notebookcheck had it at 135W while playing Witcher, PCPer had 140 W while playing Farcry 5.

I believe that is at the wall. So 80% PS has the box drawing around 110 Watts, and it isn't only the CPU in the box, so 100 W TDP seems very realistic.

 

[IRobot23]

So an Intel 100W TDP Chips is performing at 230W, and then compared to a Notebook with1060 Max-Q system?

Something is not right.

Gaming at wall ~130-140W * 0.8 - 15 for other components... there you go.

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/3061/radeon-rx-vega-m-gl
Polaris 22?

 

[Kaido]

Engadget video review:

https://www.engadget.com/video/5ac6a96fd90085013281a9eb/

 

[BeepBeep2]

Any chance we could get architectural details about the "Vega M" GPU? It seems like TechPowerUp and AIDA64 are referring to the chip as "Polaris 22", plus there is the 'gfx804' OpenCL string (which points to Polaris-generation GCN4), and other oddities. What DX12 feature sets does it support, for example? And does it support Rapid Packed Math, and other Vega stuff? I really would like to know what exactly this is?

Based on AIDA results, RPM seems to be turned off. DX feature set goes up to 12_0, not 12_1. PC World article today claimed it had HBCC but had no proof.

Idiotic reddit thread in r/AMD where I throw information right in front of people and they continuously ignore it:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/8aap9l/kaby_lakeg_mystery_why_radeon_vega_m_may_be_more/

 

[IntelUser2000]

Here's an interesting article.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/326...eon-vega-m-may-be-more-polaris-than-vega.html

So the original rumors saying it was Polaris seemed to have some merit. It could be a hybrid between Polaris and Vega, similar to how PS4 GPUs were modified.

 

[BeepBeep2]

Here's an interesting article.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/326...eon-vega-m-may-be-more-polaris-than-vega.html

So the original rumors saying it was Polaris seemed to have some merit. It could be a hybrid between Polaris and Vega, similar to how PS4 GPUs were modified.

Here's my take. It is in r/AMD but I wrote a whole article.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/8agcpj/kaby_lake_gs_rx_vega_m_polaris_22/

 

[jpiniero]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/kaby-lake-g-vega-polaris-graphics,36844.html

Toms tested the rapid packed math, and further confirms that Kaby-G doesn't support it. So yeah it is pretty much Polaris.

 

[wahdangun]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/kaby-lake-g-vega-polaris-graphics,36844.html

Toms tested the rapid packed math, and further confirms that Kaby-G doesn't support it. So yeah it is pretty much Polaris.

To be honest what's make Vega, a Vega and not Polaris ?

 

[PeterScott]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/kaby-lake-g-vega-polaris-graphics,36844.html

Toms tested the rapid packed math, and further confirms that Kaby-G doesn't support it. So yeah it is pretty much Polaris.

Polaris vs Vega game performance is essentially the same anyway.

 

[Olikan]

To be honest what's make Vega, a Vega and not Polaris ?

Higher clocks, ROPs tied to L2 cache (and meme shaders)

other changes are kinda "meh" even theoretically

 

[dacostafilipe]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/kaby-lake-g-vega-polaris-graphics,36844.html

Toms tested the rapid packed math, and further confirms that Kaby-G doesn't support it. So yeah it is pretty much Polaris.

So, the PS4 Pro is confirmed to be Vega? /s

 

[ksec]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/kaby-lake-g-vega-polaris-graphics,36844.html

Toms tested the rapid packed math, and further confirms that Kaby-G doesn't support it. So yeah it is pretty much Polaris.

This sucks.

Which means AMD price their IP on features rather then finished design. Now it make sense how Intel were selling this while maintaining their margin.

 

[ZGR]

Another look:
https://www.anandtech.com/show/12736/intel-nuc8i7hvk-hades-canyon-gaming-performance-a-second-look

I love how capable this little NUC is.

 

[Mopetar]

Seems like a capable chip, but the total system cost is too high for what you get.

The most interesting bit is that they point out this is really just Polaris with Vega’s moniker and HBM controller. I’d be really interested in learning the behind the scenes details on that one.

 

[Qwertilot]

That won't be too interesting - it'll be what AMD had as a secure & stable option at the time Intel were putting this together.

 

[DooKey]

Seems like a capable chip, but the total system cost is too high for what you get.

The most interesting bit is that they point out this is really just Polaris with Vega’s moniker and HBM controller. I’d be really interested in learning the behind the scenes details on that one.

Exactly. There's no bang for the buck performance with this NUC.