Kaby Lake - Netflix 4K support is here!

[nathanddrews]

You need to have:

1. Intel 7th generation CPU (Kaby Lake)
2. Microsoft Edge browser
3. 4K display

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsex...n-4k-with-microsoft-edge/#wMMy31cIOqZj4S5Q.97

 

[mnewsham]

Seems like an artificial limit for no reason.

Most recent dGPUs from the last year should easily be able to playback 4k netflix. But they REQUIRE a 7th generation intel CPU?

So someone with a 6700k and GTX 1080 is out of luck, despite the fact the computer is quite capable of playing back the content? Stupid.

 

[VirtualLarry]

So someone with a 6700k and GTX 1080 is out of luck, despite the fact the computer is quite capable of playing back the content? Stupid.

That's EXACTLY how I feel. And I will have an i5-6400 @ 4+Ghz, 16GB DDR4, and a GTX950 2GB, and hopefully a 4K 40" UHD HDR screen, if it arrives in one piece in a few days.

You would think I would be a prime target customer for 4K streaming services, with that kind of hardware. :|

 

[nathanddrews]

Seems like an artificial limit for no reason.

Oh, there's a reason alright. Gotta get Edge usage up.

 

[mnewsham]

Oh, there's a reason alright. Gotta get Edge usage up.

Its not even about edge usage, i'd use edge if that were the issue.

They're limiting hardware that is fully capable of playing back in edge from using it because of no reason besides trying to push the new kaby lake CPU which is only 5% IPC gain over last gen wew.

 

[coercitiv]

Some of you may chuckle, but it probably has more to do with DRM protection and less to do with improving hardware/software sales.

Both MS and Intel hurt a lot more when a $60 device gets 4K support but a $600 PC doesn't.

 

[nathanddrews]

Some of you may chuckle, but it probably has more to do with DRM protection and less to do with improving hardware/software sales.

If that were true, then all Pascal GPUs (featuring hardware PlayReady 3.0 DRM and HDMI 2.0a/b) would also allow playback. Kaby Lake doesn't even have integrated HDMI 2.0 support, but relies upon mobo support. I still posit that this is a PR move for Edge, much like Microsoft's HD-DVD "support" on Xbox was a PR move to sell Xbox 360 consoles and prolong the disc format war in order to push Microsoft's Xbox digital video service.

I doesn't pass the smell test. However, I have a Kaby Lake laptop, so I'll try it out and see if it works.

 

[mnewsham]

Yeah I don't see it being DRM either, my GTX 960 has HDMI 2.0 output and HDCP 2.2 DRM. It should technically be able to playback netflix UHD just fine.

 

[PingSpike]

Exciting news for the 3 people these criteria apply too. I guess it technically checks a box on a marketing brochure somewhere.

 

[coercitiv]

I doesn't pass the smell test. However, I have a Kaby Lake laptop, so I'll try it out and see if it works.

It's their burial anyway: these days more and more users relegate their HTPC to storage / media server duties, while using cheap and efficient devices for playback.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

Guys what are you freaking out about? They are saying this can be done with the IGpu on the 7700k is going to be able to play back the 4k streams jeez. Of course any DGpu like the GTX 960 and up should play those streams just as well. I think you guys are getting worked up over nothing. VirtualLarry, as long as that GTX 950 has a HDMI 2.0 port you'll be golden and able to play 4k just fine!!

 

[mnewsham]

Guys what are you freaking out about? They are saying this can be done with the IGpu on the 7700k is going to be able to play back the 4k streams jeez. Of course any DGpu like the GTX 960 and up should play those streams just as well. I think you guys are getting worked up over nothing. VirtualLarry, as long as that GTX 950 has a HDMI 2.0 port you'll be golden and able to play 4k just fine!!

It specifically says a 7th generation CPU is a requirement. If it's specific to the iGPU it should say something more like, "requires HDMI 2.0 capable GPU" or similar. As it stands all it says is it REQUIRES a kabylake CPU.

 

[coercitiv]

Guys what are you freaking out about? They are saying this can be done with the IGpu on the 7700k is going to be able to play back the 4k streams jeez. Of course any DGpu like the GTX 960 and up should play those streams just as well. I think you guys are getting worked up over nothing. VirtualLarry, as long as that GTX 950 has a HDMI 2.0 port you'll be golden and able to play 4k just fine!!

This is not about hardware capabilities, it's about DRM clearance.

Here's the short version.

Netflix launched 4K streaming in 2014 on a select number of TVs before rolling it out to dedicated streaming boxes like the Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Nvidia Shield. 4K streaming on PC was notably missing from the rollout, due in part to piracy and DRM concerns from Hollywood studios and TV networks.

In an effort to placate the studios, Microsoft introduced "PlayReady 3.0" with the Windows 10 Anniversary update. PlayReady 3.0 is a hardware-based DRM (digital rights management) system that requires dedicated decoding hardware, either on the CPU or on the graphics card, preventing the video stream from being captured in software or via an external capture device.

There's also the matter of hardware decoding support for 10-bit HEVC, the 4K codec used by Netflix and other streaming services. Currently, only Intel's seventh generation Kaby Lake processors support 10-bit HEVC decoding. Older sixth generation Skylake CPUs only support 8-bit HEVC decoding. Technically, Nvidia's 10-series graphics cards—including the GTX 1080, GTX 1070, and GTX 1060—feature 10-bit HEVC decoding and PlayReady 3.0 support, but aren't listed as compatible.

And then there's the browser: 4K streaming only works in Microsoft Edge, because it's the only browser that supports PlayReady DRM.

 

[daxzy]

This is 100% about DRM, and it extends beyond HDCP 2.2.

For those who aren't aware, it is still impossible to remux a 4K Blu-Ray into native 4K HVEC/H264. To say this is a conspiracy by Microsoft and/or Intel is just asinine. The last thing they want is to make a $200-$2000 PC have less streaming capabilities than a $50 Roku stick.

 

[poofyhairguy]

This is 100% about DRM, and it extends beyond HDCP 2.2.

Yup.

Sad part is 4K Netflix and Amazon content is already being pirated. The emperor has no clothes.

 

[Arachnotronic]

I thought the initial Kaby Lake CPUs didn't even have HDCP 2.2; just 1.4?

 

[master_shake_]

whenever microsoft feels threatened they throw money at things to make the fear go away.

 

[Phynaz]

whenever microsoft feels threatened they throw money at things to make the fear go away.

Why would Microsoft feel threatened. And who did they throw money at to make go away?

 

[Rifter]

What a BS move by intel/Netflix, i know new CPU sales are hurting but this is ridiculous. Im hoping more and more by the day that Zen is a home run and knocks intel off their high horse.

 

[Phynaz]

Ok, now it's Intel's doing

 

[Arachnotronic]

What a BS move by intel/Netflix, i know new CPU sales are hurting but this is ridiculous. Im hoping more and more by the day that Zen is a home run and knocks intel off their high horse.

Earlier in the thread, it was discussed that this has nothing to do with Intel and everything to do with DRM. But thank you for letting us know how much you want to see Zen knock Intel off of their high horse

 

[Rifter]

Earlier in the thread, it was discussed that this has nothing to do with Intel and everything to do with DRM. But thank you for letting us know how much you want to see Zen knock Intel off of their high horse

Impossible, what DRM does KL have that new GPU's do not? I dont even think KL has as high of HDCP compliance as new GPU's.

Edit to add:

I read above article now. Which to me confirms this is indeed a move by intel/netflix. Both the Nvidia 10xx and AMD RX4xx support 10 bit HEVC decoding, so that is NOT the reason this is locked to intel as any modern GPU supports the proper decoding capabilities.

So why , other than intel paying netflix to make it so, is this only locked to intel CPU's.

 

[Arachnotronic]

Impossible, what DRM does KL have that new GPU's do not? I dont even think KL has as high of HDCP compliance as new GPU's.

No, seriously, video freaks will want Kaby Lake. Like a Ginsu knife, there’s more. Intel says it built the media block of Kaby Lake for where we’re going with video, not where we’re at. Kaby Lake machines, for example, can stream up to eight 4K-resolution AVC and HEVC videos simultaneously. That means a single tiny NUC-style PC could power a massive video wall of 4K TVs. Intel officials say the engine can actually decode 4K-resolution video at 60fps with a bit-rate up to 120Mbps. Kaby Lake also includes support for Microsoft’s PlayReady 3.0 and HDCP 2.2 DRM, so, in theory, if Netflix and Amazon decide to stream 4K to a PC, the pieces are now all in place for that to happen.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3111...ings-to-know-about-intels-kaby-lake-cpus.html

 

[daxzy]

Sad part is 4K Netflix and Amazon content is already being pirated. The emperor has no clothes.

Are they true 4K source from Netflix? I know a lot of "downloadable" 4K content that is just upscaled 1080p. I don't know enough about Amazon or Netflix to make any conclusions, though.

I thought the initial Kaby Lake CPUs didn't even have HDCP 2.2; just 1.4?

I think you're mixing HDCP and HDMI. HDCP is a protection mechanism. 2.2 protects 4K video and 2.1 protects 1080p. Kaby/Sky Lake should both have HDCP 2.2 support. However, they are limited to native HDMI 1.4, but you can easily use DP or USB-C for HDMI 2.0 output.

whenever microsoft feels threatened they throw money at things to make the fear go away.

Reading comprehension fail.

Impossible, what DRM does KL have that new GPU's do not? I dont even think KL has as high of HDCP compliance as new GPU's.

PlayReady 3.0 (first version was dated 2007) has two halves, a HW and SW side. Basically it's supposed to ensure that the MPAA's precious decoded video and audio has to pass through a protected channel that cannot be modified or split. Supposedly Pascal's have PlayReady 3.0 support, so you can blame Nvidia for being late on driver implementation. Not sure about Polaris.

 

[master_shake_]

Why would Microsoft feel threatened. And who did they throw money at to make go away?

google owns the browser market.

they make a couple deals with netflix and intel and netflix and boom they get their walled garden they are trying so hard to keep people in.