Broadcom Crystal HD hardware decoder with MP (1 Viewer)

[Sno Crash]

Broadcom has recently released their mini PCIe hardware decoder card, with drivers for Linux, OSX, and Windows. This is a game changer, since it means a $250 Atom box can play 1080p content and barely break a sweat.

Broadcom.com - Crystal HD Video Decoder Drivers

I have such a card installed on an Asus eeeBox 202, and have been able to get it working with XBMC under Linux, though only after a painful "compile your own software" session.

I have attempted installing MP 1.02 and 1.1 under Windows, with the Windows Broadcom drivers. I am at a loss for how to get it to actually use the card though. Since it is not actually a GPU, how could MP use DXVA and direct the decoding to the card, and not to the onboard Intel chipset?

Do I need a third party decoder that has support for the card? I've tried using Hoborg's SAF, but the Cyberlink driver doesn't seem to recognize the Crystal HD card. Am I on the right track with this thinking?

Has anyone else attempted this, or possibly understand how it could be utilized?

 

[mironicus]

AW: Broadcom Crystal HD hardware decoder with MP

Yes, you need a decoder that actually supports the broadcom chip. Since it's so new I don't think it's already supported, so you have to wait for a software update.

 

[Sno Crash]

Well, I got it!! I can now play HD vids on the eeeBox with MediaPortal. MP shows the Broadcom as an available decoder in the configuration.

Broadcom Decoder Card Driver HP Mini 110-1050TU PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

This link has a driver download for the HP Mini, for the Broadcom Crystal HD card. Install it and you are done. Go to MP configuration and set Broadcom as the H264 decoder.

Now, the only problem I have at the moment is I can't play m2ts VC bluray movies. Says there is no decoder for VC. Any idea why that might be? The Crystal card should support VC.

oops, spoke too soon. And I meant VC-1 above, not AVC. sorry for typo. I did get the blurays to work now too. Had to add the Broadcom post-process to the list and check the box for VC-1.

so, to summarize: Asus eeeBox202, Broadcom Crystal HD card, driver and decoders from the HP Mini. Configure MP and voila, instant HD capabilities on a puny Atom.

 

[Kotik]

Hello,

Did you try HDTV with this decoder?

 

[woddog]

Anyone have any experience playing Live TV with this chip?

 

[SiLenTYL]

so this card has hdmi-out?

nvm i found a pic here

http://www.logicsupply.com/products/bcm970012

 

[tourettes]

Formats H.264/AVC HP at L4.1 1080i/1080p, 40 Mb/sec.
H.264/AVC HP at L3.0 480i/480p
H.264/AVC HP at L3.2 720p
SMPTE VC-1 AP at L3 1080i/1080p, 40 Mb/sec.
WMV9 (VC-1 SP and MP)
MPEG-2 MP at ML
MPEG-2 MP at HL

Not good if you are planning to play something else H264 material than the Blu-rays (L5.1 profile is not supported). Not sure if there are any broadcasters that use L5.1, but at least other sources will contain such material.

 

[woddog]

Here in Australia we have mpeg 2 DVB-T live tv at the moment and I am interested to know if anyone has used the Crystal HD with MP and if so, how they did it. I am thinking about getting the Dell inspiron Duo when it comes to Aus and this will be a dealbreaker for me if it can't decode in MP.

 

[SiLenTYL]

this forum thread has links for some desktop mini-pcie adaptors if u wanna use this mini pcie device on a desktop instead of a laptop

mini pci-e to desktop pci or pci-e??? - Network-Interface-Cards - CPU-Components