blackmagic DeckLink HD Extreme is it just for uncompressed?
 

blackmagic DeckLink HD Extreme is it just for uncompressed? or can you edit compressed hd with it?

It's an I/O card - used for input/output of video and audio. It does SD and HD very well. I own one - it and the Mac Pro were the best purchases I've made for my setup, period.

It will not speed up your video - get a fast computer (Mac Pro) for that. It will let you watch it on any SD or any HD monitor. Which is very important and it's the best in it's price class I think.

If your needs are less or you don't need HD-SDI and rather, need HDMI input/output, go for the the Blackmagic Intensity Pro. A lot of HV20 users on this site own and swear by that particular card.

Can't you monitor through your graphics card?

Well, depending on the card.... Also keep in mind that a lot of people have 2 or more monitors just for screen real estate, besides a preview monitor. :) Also, certain cards (like my geforce 8800) are problematic for preview....

C

Sure, you could if you have an S-Video or Component (or Composite) out in addition to the necessary two DVI connectors. I run two LCDs and then another monitor.. for now it's SD, but when I move to an HD monitor, then this card will shine. Also, it's not just regular video it does - it does HD-SDI (professional level) in and out.. wayyy better than firewire or what-not. And true 24-bit audio I/O, etc etc. When you add it up, it's really worth it. I'd like an HDMI I/O on my Decklink HD Extreme, but since then I've bought an HDMI to HD-SDI convertor, so I'm fine.

I'm confused then why anyone would need one of these cards since you can capture over a cheap firewire card and use your video card for monitors.

There are many answers to that question:
HD-SDI I/O
10 or 12 bits of color depth
1920x1080
Uncompressed Video
High Quality Audio
Professional Deck connections

Firewire doesn't evven come close. It is DV and HDV only. Both are highly compressed and low quality.