[mythtv-users] Mac Mini and Broadcom Crystal HD PCI Express mini-card

Jarod Wilson jarod at wilsonet.com
Fri Jan 1 02:01:55 UTC 2010


On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 02:34:33PM -0800, Yeechang Lee wrote:
> Jarod Wilson <jarod at wilsonet.com> says:
> > > Just want to get an idea.  Also how does this compare to VDPAU?
> > > Better? Worse?  Same?
> > 
> > As Byron said, it'll use a bit more cpu, as we have to move buffers
> > around from the crystalhd decoder to your video card . . . It can be
> > used with any video output card, assuming you have a slot to put the
> > decoder in
> 
> But the Broadcom card still requires a slot. I am still seeing the
> rationale for buying one when a $40 Nvidia card today is a) fully
> supported by MythTV, mplayer, XBMC and other software, and b) has the
> latest-and-greatest video-output hardware built in too.

Think laptops, netbooks and small form-factor systems. I have one in an
older x86 Mac Mini with Intel graphics and one in a ThinkPad T61 with Intel
graphics. Two others are in boxes with vdpau-capable video cards, but I
have the option to NOT have to use the binary-only nVidia blob if I so
choose on those systems. That'd be another benefit to some: no need for
binary-only drivers. The Broadcom bits are now 100% open-source (save of
course the firmware, but that's pretty much industry standard).

-- 
Jarod Wilson
jarod at wilsonet.com



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