Broadcom Introduces Complete Media PC Solutions, Enabling Flawless Playback of High Definition Video on the Widest Range of PCs
New Broadcom Media PC Solutions Enable Blu-ray Disc™ and HD DVD Playback, HD Downloads and HD Broadcasts for Mid-range PCs with Integrated Graphics Chipsets, Driving HD-enabled PC Laptop Prices Down to the $1,000 Level
TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 4, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Computex 2007 -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced new media PC solutions that enable flawless playback of high definition (HD) video content across the widest range of PCs in the industry. By lowering CPU utilization, and integrating seamlessly into Microsoft Windows Vista™ and Windows XP environments, Broadcom's media PC solutions enable mainstream PCs featuring integrated graphics to play back high definition content from either a Blu-ray Disc™ or HD DVD, as well as from HD downloaded or broadcast content. The new Broadcom media PC solutions are available in three add-in card formats (including desktop PCI Express , PCI Express mini-card or ExpressCard™ 34), and as a chipset solution for PC motherboard applications.
The use of HD DVD and Blu-ray formats represents a key transition in the gaming, storage and consumer entertainment markets. Both optical disc formats offer new and exciting features such as high definition video at 1080p resolution, picture-in-a-picture, high definition multi-channel audio, 3D style graphics and user interactivity (for games, trivia, web-enabled content, etc.). These new and exciting capabilities require intensive CPU processing and additional components such as discrete graphics processors with video hardware acceleration that drive up the cost for this level of personal computers. Additionally, intensive CPU processing to reconstruct data is required for HD download and broadcast content. As a result, PCs/laptops capable of playing HD content can be very costly, typically ranging in price from $2,000 to $3,500.
To address the growing consumer demand for high definition content playback on cost effective mainstream PCs (typically in the price range of $999 to $1,499), Broadcom today announced its media PC family of products. Leveraging Broadcom's widely deployed and field proven technologies in the high definition set-top box and consumer HD DVD and Blu-ray player markets, Broadcom's media PC technology provides the highest quality video playback of multi-format (VC-1, H.264 and MPEG-2) HD content for the mainstream PC market. With total power consumption of approximately 2 watts, Broadcom's media PC solutions help extend battery life on notebook PCs, enabling full-length movie playback.
"In-Stat predicts that the market for HD DVD and Blu-ray enabled PCs is expected to grow to 15 million by the end of 2008," said Chris Kissel, Semiconductor Research Analyst for In-Stat. "Pushing high definition content to consumers is critical to the success of the PC as the entertainment hub for the home. As studios begin to offer new movie titles as soon as they are released on HD DVD or Blu-ray discs, we believe that media PC technologies such as Broadcom's low power, cost-effective solutions will help accelerate HD proliferation into the mid-range PC segment."
"In comparison to other solutions in the market, our media PC technology excels when system cost, power consumption, CPU utilization and fan noise are key factors," said Greg Young, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's High-Speed Controller line of business. "By leveraging our robust and proven HD video cores, as well as our outstanding collaborations with leading technology providers such as Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Corel and CyberLink, Broadcom is poised to establish significant market leadership in the media PC space by providing the highest quality, lowest power HD video playback solutions for mainstream PCs."
Media PC Receives Widest Industry Support
"Broadcom's media PC technology is designed to enable high performance HD DVD playback on Windows Vista-enabled PCs," said Amir Majidimehr, Corporate Vice President of the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft Corp. "By supporting the new A/V infrastructure in Windows Vista, and as a fully compliant solution in support of the SMPTE VC-1 codec, Broadcom's media PC technology provides a more protected environment while enabling an excellent high definition playback experience with virtually any class of PC hardware."
"We constantly strive to enhance the high-definition experience delivered by Intel chipsets with GMA 3000 series integrated graphics and the Intel Core™ Duo and Core 2 Duo family of processors, therefore we are excited to enable support for Broadcom's media PC products," said Richard Malinowski, General Manager of the Intel's Chipset Group. "Our combined efforts not only yield superb video playback but also significantly lower the price point of high definition capable PCs."
"Having collaborated with Broadcom on its media PC technology, we are pleased that CyberLink's PowerDVD solutions can now leverage Broadcom's proven quality high definition multi-standard (VC-1, H.264, MPEG-2) hardware decoder technology in the PC environment to deliver the ultimate user experience when playing back high definition content such as HD DVD and Blu-ray," said Alice H. Chang, CEO at CyberLink.
"We are very pleased to fully support Broadcom's new media PC technology with the release of our newest InterVideo WinDVD 8 solution," said Blaine Mathieu, Vice President and General Manager Products and Strategy, Digital Media at Corel Corporation. "As a result of our collaboration, PCs equipped with Broadcom's media PC technology will have superior high definition video playback, real-time interactive content and longer battery-life when playing full length HD DVD and Blu-ray content on notebook PCs."
Media PC Technology Showcased at Computex 2007
Broadcom's media PC technology will be featured in the following booth locations at Computex 2007 in Taipei, Taiwan, from June 5-9, 2007.
Broadcom booth#: T101C at Taiwan International Convention Center (TICC)
Intel booth #: T4VIP and T401, Hall 4 at TICC
AMD booth#: TF1I and T105, Hall 4 at TICC
CyberLink Suite#: 1024 and 1049 at Grand Hyatt, Taipei
Corel Suite#: 1041 and 1042 at Grand Hyatt, Taipei
Availability and Pricing
Broadcom's media PC solutions are available in three add-in card formats that include the BCM970012NB for PCI Express mini-cards; the BCM970012PQ for PCI Express desktops; and the BCM970012IC for ExpressCard 34. The new technology is also offered as a chipset that includes the BCM70010 and the BCM70012. All products are in full production today and priced at under $40 each in high volumes.
