Tempted by 1080p even on an underpowered Mac?

For lack of optimized drivers, our Macs are obliged  to use their main processors to decode HD videos. Even though 720p does not pose a problem on Mac Intel, it is a different story on the least powerful machines like MacBook, or mini Mac, except the latest model with the 2,66 GHz option that just about works. Of course, this is still more of a fantasy for machines equipped with a GMA. It is however now possible thanks to XBMC and via the addition of a small card. It has a name, Crystal HD. It is a new magic chip manufactured by Broacom which is a hardware decoder of the MPEG2, VC1 and of H.264 up to 1080p. 

As icing on the cake, this chip it is sold for $69 with PCI Express 1x compact format. All Mac Intel have such a connector on their mother boards. It is simply that which is used to connect the Airport cardt. You will understand that if you are ready to give up the integrated Wi-Fi card, you will have the possibility of decoding the 1080p even on an Apple TV! 

And as the cherry on the cake, you will be happy to learn that the OS X drivers are available free on Google Code.