Broadcom BCM970012 Crystal HD Mini PCI-e Decoder Card
Product Overview
Also known as the Crystal HD HD Card, with OEM model AzureWave AW-VD904, this is a dedicated hardware video decoding solution launched around 2010, designed for low-performance netbooks and mini PCs to enable smooth 1080p HD playback.
Physical & Hardware Specifications
| Item | Details |
| Interface | Standard Mini PCI-e gold finger, compatible with laptop/mini PC Mini PCI-e slots |
| Main Controller | Broadcom BCM70012 (BCM70010KFB0G) |
| Auxiliary Chip | Broadcom BCM70012KERG |
| On-board Memory | 2x Micron DDR2 SDRAM |
| Board Number | BCM970012REF1 |
| Key Components | Power MOSFETs, crystal oscillator, capacitors, inductors |
| Unique Identifier | On-board serial number (e.g., 022T705540) |
Core Technical Features
Decoding Performance
| Video Codec | Supported Profile/Level | Max Resolution | Max Bitrate |
| H.264/AVC | High Profile Level 4.1 | 1080p/1080i | 40 Mbps |
| VC-1 (WMV9) | Advanced Profile Level 3 | 1080p/1080i | 40 Mbps |
| MPEG-2 | Main Profile @ ML/HL | 1080i | 40 Mbps |
| Resolution Range | QVGA (320×240) to Full HD 1080p (1920×1080) | - | - |
Additional Capabilities
- Offloads 100% of video decoding from CPU, enabling smooth 1080p playback on low-power Intel Atom platforms
- Supports Blu-ray disc playback and protected HD streaming content
- Compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7 and Linux (requires dedicated drivers)
- Low-power design optimized for mobile/embedded devices
- Supports YUV 4:2:0/4:2:2 video output formats
Application & Product Line
Use Cases
- HD playback upgrade for legacy netbooks/mini PCs
- Hardware acceleration for 1st-generation Apple TV
- Local/streaming HD playback for low-power NAS and embedded systems
Successor Model
Broadcom BCM70015 (Flea): Next-generation Crystal HD decoder with improved performance, lower power consumption, and the same Mini PCI-e form factor.
