Anyone using Crystal HD card want to give me pros & cons?

is there really that much of a difference in performance between bcm70012 and the bcm70015? specifically when the atv isn't running osx (wiped hdd with crystalbuntu).

i'm curious because i'm thinking about throwing the card in.

atv420 Wrote:70015 card can play the 1080p files but, for me it's not as smooth as 720p. If it works for you then it's great!
Re: ATV1 or ATV2, if you have HDMI connection then go with ATV2. Because, lot of the addons will work better with ATV2 + Eden.

Look into installing Crystalbuntu. I've got both ATV1 and ATV2, and with BCHD and Crystalbuntu, there's nothing the ATV2 can do better than the ATV1 (as far as XBMC goes).

I still like both devices, though. ATV1s will eventually dry up, too.

I put a CrystalHD card in my Apple TVg1 some time ago, all went smooth and can play most 1980 movies smooth as silk.

Here's a link to my shameless set-up...

phi303 Wrote:is there really that much of a difference in performance between bcm70012 and the bcm70015? specifically when the atv isn't running osx (wiped hdd with crystalbuntu).

i'm curious because i'm thinking about throwing the card in.

The 70015 can play as well all the codecs typically used in SD material (XviD, DivX, etc). With the 70012 those will be played without accelaration (done by the CPU).

I have an ATV1 almost since day one and I added the 70015 card some weeks ago, I feel stupid now for not doing it before.

Krieg Wrote:The 70015 can play as well all the codecs typically used in SD material (XviD, DivX, etc). With the 70012 those will be played without accelaration (done by the CPU).

I have an ATV1 almost since day one and I added the 70015 card some weeks ago, I feel stupid now for not doing it before.

thanks! i also found a comparison in the wiki

the 70015 is so expensive though lol i guess i'll just have to wait for a sale or something.

Ned Scott Wrote:Look into installing Crystalbuntu. I've got both ATV1 and ATV2, and with BCHD and Crystalbuntu, there's nothing the ATV2 can do better than the ATV1 (as far as XBMC goes).

I still like both devices, though. ATV1s will eventually dry up, too.

Hudson_Hawk04 Wrote:Good deal, glad you are making progress. Keep me updated.

Ok after 3 days of using ATV1 w/ Crystal HD card BCM70015 and Eden Beta 3, everything looks good. Both 720p and 1080p files are playing without any issues, I'll get the hiccup at the start of the video but, after that it will sail through.
My initial problem was solved by restarting all; router, switch, and NAS.

Ned Scott, I am looking into on how to install Crystalbutnu (on Sam's Website) and run it through USB drive. But, I am just not clear on how it exactly works with original OS of ATV1? when I reboot the ATV1, will it go straight into XBMC using Crysatalbutnu software from USB stick or still go through ATV1 frontrow to XBMC? so, still trying to figure things out!

Thanks for all your help!

If you boot it from USB then it will boot directly Linux and it will go straight to XBMC.

There's two options, one is to run it from a USB stick, the other is to install it to the HDD which will erase the original OS. Since you are just trying it out I would recommend installing it to a USB stick and running it off there. When you boot with the USB stick inside then it will boot into linux and start XBMC up automatically. To go back to the original ATV OS you just remove the stick and reboot.

Krieg Wrote:If you boot it from USB then it will boot directly Linux and it will go straight to XBMC.

Ned Scott Wrote:There's two options, one is to run it from a USB stick, the other is to install it to the HDD which will erase the original OS. Since you are just trying it out I would recommend installing it to a USB stick and running it off there. When you boot with the USB stick inside then it will boot into linux and start XBMC up automatically. To go back to the original ATV OS you just remove the stick and reboot.

Thanks for all your help guys! It seems that best option would be to go with USB stick.

Anyone hear of a sale on the Broadcom card coming soon?