Blackmagic Design announces Intensity, first HDMI PCI Express card

Everyone needs a little more high-definition in their lives, don't you think? Apparently Blackmagic Design thinks so, as it's just released a new PCI Express card (Mac and Windows compatible) with direct HDMI-in to connect to your HDV digicam or your digital set-top box for a very high-quality capture. The company's site says that this works by bypassing the HDV compression chip, allowing you to access raw superior-quality video, but gives no word on whether or not it supports HDCP. The Intensity, which is shipping on October 15, also supports HDMI formats at 525 NTSC, 625 PAL and 720p or 1080i -- a bargain for only $250. Because after all, technologies that are sufficiently high-def are indistinguishable from black magic.

[Via BIOS magazine]

[James Stringer @ Sep 12th 2006 4:16AM]

yay finaly something to put into that pci-e 1x slot that is just a waste of space.

[Tony Rayo @ Sep 12th 2006 4:39AM]

Good price, but I wish it would support 1080p (just because I think all HD products forward should, but I guess there is still that bandwidth issue...).

- Tony R.

[wayne @ Sep 12th 2006 4:40AM]

no 1080p capture?? bleh what garbage...

[Tom @ Sep 12th 2006 4:53AM]

Pretty cool, but this isn't the *FIRST* PCIe card with HDMI. Sapphire makes one, the Radeon X1600PRO.

Like the caveman said, next time try doing a little research.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102032

[Ultim8fury @ Sep 12th 2006 4:57AM]

No doubt it doesn't and won't ever support HDCP as the entire purpose is is to prevent you from capturing high-def sources in all their digital glory. Whilst I welcome this idea to the market. It's usage will no doubt be limited to strictly legit capture from non-hdcp hardware like HDV cams.

[Me @ Sep 12th 2006 5:32AM]

Tom youre a retard, this is HDMI IN, the ATi graphics card is HDMI OUT.

[EdZ @ Sep 12th 2006 5:49AM]

This isn't a bargain, it's a REALLY F'IN GOOD BARGAIN! SDI cards cost an arm and a leg, s-video cards can cost as much, and component-in cards are scarce (the only one I've ever seen only did up to 480p, and that cost more than this one)!

The live video-out is great: Now I can plug a PS3 orthelike HDMI outputting device into my computer and use my nice HQ CRT rather than having to drop £600 on a HDMI flatscreen. (HDCP be damned, it's not a problem).


@Tom
That card is HDMI OUT! This is HDMI IN! Next time try doing a little research.

[JD @ Sep 12th 2006 6:30AM]

HD Format Support 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080i50, 1080i59.94, 720p30, 720p59.94, 720p60


looks like 1080p there...

go to their website itself.

and yeah, this rocks. ive been using a HD Pro via HDLink to an apple 23"....great setup, but this now does everything I want (1080p output, via DVI / HDMI) for the cheap.

[Rick @ Sep 12th 2006 9:05AM]

Can this capture a signal off a HD satellite? If so, cya TiVo!!

[Jones @ Sep 12th 2006 11:30AM]

Actually Tom's not the retard, the title clearly says "...first HDMI PCI Express card", note that it doesn't say first HDMI input card, just first HDMI PCI Express card. So Tom was right. Dumbasses.

[David @ Sep 12th 2006 3:14PM]

Looks like only one of those plugs is Input, atleast if you believe their press release. They claim you need 2 cards to capture from 2 HDMI sources. I guess the second HDMI plug is just a passthru to your monitor.

Now all we need is linux drivers for this card, put that together with a Gefen Component 2 HDMI + MythTV and you have a highdef pvr w/o any DRM crap that can recieve encrypted HDTV with the help of a STB.

$500 isn't that bad to pay for having control of when I watch my HDTV programs.

Only thing left to solve is a compression codec capable of compressing 1080p in realtime on a 3GHz cpu.

[Greg @ Jan 13th 2007 7:28PM]

Card won't record/capture HDCP protected signals:

Tech Spec page for this card says:

"The HDMI standard can include copy protected encryption, such as DVD players. The Intensity card therefore will NOT capture from copy protected HDMI sources"

It will presumably still pass HDCP protected signals through from the HDMI input to the HDMI output.

[Dave @ Sep 13th 2006 2:31AM]

@Jones + @Tom. RIGHT ON!!

[Kwasiblind @ Oct 2nd 2006 3:00PM]

Alright this might be a dumb question but im not a tech guru like most of you on here. Will this work in my media center computer capturing a HD signal ability to record and spit it back out to my TV in HD? Im seeing yes' and no's to this in all of the posts.
Thanks

[JustPlainNuts @ Feb 27th 2007 10:26PM]

Has anyone found a way to use this for a PVR assuming you can bypass the HDCP?

[John @ Mar 8th 2007 1:14PM]

I don't know for sure but I think you could use it with an HD satellite reciever if you used AnyDVD HD. AnyDVD HD will let you bybass HDCP with HD DVD players such as the XBOX 360 HD DVD player so why not a satellite reciever. You would of course need PowerDVD Ultra. Windows Media Center compatibility would be questionable too. I would really like a Windows Media Center PC that could handle HD through HDMI Sattellite.

[Bunny @ Mar 23rd 2007 6:28PM]

Has anyone figured out how to use this with a satellite set top box, anyone tried and succeeded? How about with a Powermac G5?

[KINGLIFER @ May 2nd 2007 9:44AM]

All has asked good questions... I too am wondering.
I have a media center... and it seems backwards when I put it to my HDTV. (Well seems... it is) because I get Hi def from my cable company that I am paying for... then loose it when it goes thru my Media Center.

There has to be a work around... just has to be. I personally use a Harman/kardon reciever to switch back and forth now... so my Media Center is on video 2 and live TV is on Video 1

[peter brennan @ Jul 11th 2007 5:43PM]

The intensity PRO has component in which dosent carry
hdcp,so if your hd-sat box has analogue component out you can capture hd movies in real time,no prob and watch via hdmi or component or via hd media player such as tvix m-5000a

[Rod @ Dec 10th 2007 1:47AM]

Okay, Howdy and thanks for all your comments. Can anyone give us a straight and plain answer regarding the following:

1. would like to use HDMI out of DirecTV Satallite set top box to HDMI input to my
Linux box - windows if only choice
2. Then I would like to take the signal and output HD/SD Signal from my Linux
pc/Home Theater box to my HD TV.
3. Doen't HDMI TV's have HDCP decoding? Hence, as long as it passes the signal along
to the TV HDCP encoding is not an issue?
4. Component anolog output? What is the difference in component analog out and any
other type signal - Am I to assume the other type of signal is Digital? Do both
carry HD 720P?

[alex @ Feb 22nd 2008 9:27PM]

Will the HDMI-in work with a PS3? and if so what does it go to?

[Nishu @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:57PM]

Hello All,
Guess no one has finally given te answers to the questions what most of us here want.

Did any one get this working with set top box?