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TrogdorJW
Participating Frequently
September 14, 2010
Question

Broadcom BCM70012 slow with Flash 10.1 Video

  • September 14, 2010
  • 2 replies
  • 5470 views

I have an HP Mini 5102 netbook, with the standard Atom N450 CPU and GMA 3150 graphics. Obviously, such a netbook can't handle Flash video very well (especially not HD video). However, it is my understanding that the Broadcom CrystalHD BCM70012 CrystalHD handles H.264 offload and should noticeably improve the situation. So I installed one in my netbook.

After testing, I can confirm the CrystalHD with the latest 3.5.0 drivers is working properly in some situations. Specifically, I am able to watch a 1080p x264 ~10mbps video in Media Player Classic Home Cinema that previously caused the system to choke. CPU usage for that video was previously 100% with video and audio stutters, and now CPU utilization is down to ~30%. So, the chip is working. On to Flash 10.1 video....

I've tried YouTube and Hulu, and while it appears CPU utilization is lower, it's still near 90% in fullscreen mode and the video is clearly dropping frames and running slowly. YouTube HD at 1080p is definitley out, and even 720p fails to work right in fullscreen mode. In a window (so the resolution of the video is downsized to maybe 360p), I can watch the 720p feeds, but for fullscreen playback even regular YouTube videos struggle. The same goes for Hulu; 360p works okay in a window, and slows down fullscreen. 480p is sluggish in a window, and drops to probably 15fps (dropping half the frames) fullscreen.

If I uncheck the GPU Acceleration option, CPU usage goes even higher and frame rates get worse, but everything I've seen discussed elsewhere suggests that YouTube HD playback with the CrystalHD should be "smooth". Help? Any suggestions on what might be missing? I've tried both Firefox 3.6.8 and IE8 with Flash 10,1,82,76.

Specs for the netbook:

HP Mini 5102

Atom N450 CPU

"Azurewave" CrystalHD BCM70012 mini-PCIe chip

Windows Starter 32-bit

1GB DDR2-667 RAM

160GB HDD

Latest Intel GMA 3150 drivers (8.14.10.2117 dated 4/21/2010)

Broadcom 3.5.0 drivers

BIOS revision: F08 (latest)

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    A
    Anonymous
    September 17, 2010

    Hi, There are a few active threads on this, but the only thing I can suggest is to look at the threads "More like this". I have read several of them and a very long thread that is very technical. The opinions are varied from chips, hardware, software, programming, coding, the websites, the videos and on and on.

    I have no understanding of any of it, as I volunteer here and help users with Flash Player. You can take a look at the Flash Forum since they discuss this over there also.

    Hopefully another user will see your thread and reply, since I can be no help, since it is over my head:-)

    Thanks,

    eidnolb

    T
    TrogdorJWAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    September 17, 2010

    Thanks for the reply, eidnolb. Unfortunately, the only other thread even remotely related that I could find (http://forums.adobe.com/message/2412507) just points to the new driver, and that thread is from last year. No one else is talking about the Broadcom CrystalHD that I can see. It's "supposed" to work with the latest drivers and the release version of 10.1, but at least in my experience that isn't happening.

    If you - or anyone else - can find me a link, that would be greatly appreciated. My searching skills have hit a dead end. The closest thing I've got is someone from a while back said changing the graphics aperture size to 128MB fixed their performance, but the HP Mini 5102 doesn't give me that option in the BIOS.

    A
    Anonymous
    September 17, 2010

    Hi, Well it seemed in the beginning that it was helpful to you. I'm going to re-read your post and see if I can pick up anything. Usually I do pretty well on researching, so I'll see what I can find.

    Just be careful trying what other people post that works for them. I don't like experimenting, don't do it with my systems and won't recommend it to others. Especially Installing something. Perhaps disabling an add on, but that is different.

    Computers are so complicated that Installing one thing to make a program work better, etc, just may cause another issue. I like to know the outcome of whatever I do and research a lot until I make sure of that. I'm like the Doctor's ....

    "Do no Harm" :-)

    Will let you know, it may not be tonight, but will give a quick search and post whatever I find.

    Thanks,

    eidnolb

    T
    TrogdorJWAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    September 17, 2010

    Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ....


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