The DVI/HDMI output from most consumer electronic devices is encrypted using HDCP. In order to purchase devices/boards that can decrypt this signal, you would need to be an HDCP licensee.
Furthermore, consumer electronic devices expect a DVI/HDMI receiver to contain a valid EDID. Even laptops that can output a non-encrypted HDMI signal will typically want to see a valid EDID before outputting anything. That's part of the spec.
As a result, we typically suggest customers who are working on their first DVI/HDMI project to use a DVI/HDMI generator as a source.
-Matt