Game Capture Cards are being widely adopted by gamers for recording gameplay clips on consoles that can later be edited and uploaded onto the Internet. Capture cards are also the easiest way to live stream gameplay as it is very close to plug and play. With so many companies developing advanced capture cards of different types, how do you choose the right one? We’ve done our research and got you covered, read on to get our best picks!
Firstly, There are two types of Capture cards
Internal Capture Cards
An Internal Capture card is installed directly onto the motherboard of a PC via a PCI slot. The video & audio signals are sent from the card to another streaming PC.
External Capture Cards
An external card connects to any console, mobile phone, or PC via HDMI, USB-C, or Thunderbolt 3. This card will then be connected to another PC that will be used for streaming.
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How do Capture Cards Work?
A Game Capture Card is a device that’s used in conjunction with a PC to capture on-screen content and encode it for playback in either a live stream or a high-quality video file. Capture cards are most frequently used for consoles, computers, and cameras. Capture cards suffer from latency issues and depending on the type of capture card this will vary.
Today we’re going to be taking a look at the best capture cards you can use to stream and record footage of your PS5.
Note: Some cards will require you to disable DHCP else there will not be any signal picked up by the game capture card.
To disable HDCP, head over to the Settings > System and untick the checkbox to disable HDCP. (Source: PSN)
1. AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra – GC553
The GC553 is an amazing piece of hardware that’s compact, sleek, and gives off a gamer aesthetic. The GC553 comes with three ports with 2 being HDMI (HDMI in / HDMI out) and a Type-C port. It can record in the following formats – 2160p30 (4k30fps), 1440p60, 1080p120 and 1080p60. The GC553 comes with HDR Passthrough if your TV or Monitor supports HDR, HDR can also be recorded on the GC553 in all the supported formats.
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The AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra or GC553 for short is a great game capture card for the PS5, on which you can record and stream at the highest quality possible.
For a more in-depth review, click here.
Price: Rs.27,000
Buy: Amazon
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2. Elgato HD60 S+
The HD60 S+ game capture card allows you to record and stream your content from PCs and game consoles via HDMI. The capture card is a very compact unit that’s portable and easy to set up.
The HD60S+ captures up to 1080p60 HDR video and stereo audio. The HDMI passthrough allows content to be played at full 4K HDR resolution despite the limitations of the capture card.
Specifications
- Input: HDMI (unencrypted)
- Output: HDMI (lag-free pass-through)
- Passthrough Resolutions: up to 2160p60 HDR
- Capture Resolutions: 2160p30, 1080p60 HDR, 1080p60, 1080p30, 1080i, 720p60, 576p, 480p
- HDR: HDR 10 bit for passthrough and capture (HDR capture is currently only available on Windows)
- Dimensions: 112 x 75 x 19 mm / 4.4 x 3 x 0.75 in
- Weight: 115 g / 4.06 oz
- Includes: HD60 S+, USB 3.0 cable, HDMI 2.0 cable
The HD60 S+ game capture card is an amazing choice if you are thinking of streaming or just want to create professional-looking YouTube videos of your favorite gameplay. However, if you are looking for a version of Elgato that supports 4k recording as well then skip to #4.
Price: Rs.22,999
Buy: Amazon
3. Razer Ripsaw HD
The Razer Ripsaw HD is very easy to use and set up, it offers features such as 1080p60 HD video streaming, 4K60 passthrough, full audio mixing capabilities, and HDMI 2.0 & USB 3.0 connectivity. It is the direct competitor to the Elgato HD60 S+.
The Razer Ripsaw HD connects to your PC via a USB-C to USB-A cable. It also includes a headphone and microphone jack on the front to allow audio mixing.
Specifications
- Max capture resolution: Uncompressed 1080p 60 FPS
- Interface: USB 3.0 only
- Video Input: Digital – HDMI 2.0
- Audio Input: Digital – HDMI
- Audio Mix-in Input: 3.5 mm Mic-in / 3.5 mm Aux-in
- Video Output: HDMI 2.0
- Maximum Supported Pass-Through Resolutions: 2160p60
- Other Supported Resolutions: 2160p, 1080p, 1440p, 720p, 480p
- Includes: USB3.0 Type-C to Type-A cable, HDMI 2.0 Cable, 3.5 mm Audio Cable
Sadly, unlike the HD60 S+, the Ripsaw HD doesn’t support HDR, for capture and passthrough. Another disadvantage is that it doesn’t come with any installation disc, you would have to rely on third-party tools such as OBS or XSplit. Luckily the Ripsaw does support an uncompressed 1080p60 format, meaning you get close to a lossless quality stream or recording.
Price: Rs.22,999
Buy: Amazon
4. Elgato 4K60 S+
Elgato has synonymous with the streaming world, with its products being compact, sleek and also being widely used worldwide. The 4K60 S+ is the flagship product of Elgato and it’s designed for content creators that want to upgrade their channels in a big way.
The Elgato 4K60 S+ offers 4K HDR capture directly to an SD card or PC. The main difference between the Elgato 4K Pro and the 4K60 S+ is the portability factor, meaning you can record footage on the fly using an SD card. It is the best game capture card in the market currently but it does come at a very high cost. It also supports various encoding protocols, it also offers features such as zero-lag and HDR passthrough.
Specifications
- Interface: USB 3.0
- Input: HDMI (unencrypted), 3.5 mm stereo line-in
- Output: HDMI (lag-free passthrough)
- Supported Resolutions: Up to 2160p60 (4K)
- Encoding: HEVC/H.265 HDR, AVC/H.264
- In The Box: Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S+, Power Supply, Two USB 3.0 Cables, HDMI 2.0 Cable
- Dimensions: 142 x 111 x 32 mm / 5.59 x 4.37 x 1.26 in
- Weight: 345 g / 12.35 oz
You can expect an average latency of 250ms while recording or streaming, it also supports most third-party tools like OBS and XSplit. If you have a good internet connection and hardware that can keep up with the game capture card, then this is the best you can get.
Price: Rs.39,990
Buy: Amazon
5. AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus – GC513
The AVerMedia Live Gamer Portal 2 Plus is a very portable and handy capture device for Streamers and Content Creators that want a standalone game capture device. The GC513 offers PC-Free mode and support for high-capacity microSD cards which allows the device to work just as if it did tethered to a PC. The 4K passthrough works like a charm, but it does have a bit of lag, you will need a second monitor to monitor the stream or recording.
The only problem with the AVerMedia Portable 2 Plus is the lag, although you can opt for a faster game capture card like the AVerMedia Live Gamer Extreme 2 or the HD60 S+.
Specifications
- Interface: USB 2.0 (USB Micro)
- Video Input: HDMI 2.0
- Video Output (Pass-Through): HDMI 2.0
- Audio Input: HDMI 2.0 / 4 Pole 3.5mm Jack ( Audio input from controller, Mic pass-through)*1
- Audio Output (Pass-Through): HDMI 2.0 / 4 Pole 3.5mm Jack ( Audio pass-through from controller, Mic input)*1
- Max Pass-Through Resolutions: 4Kp60 / 1080p60
- Max Record Resolutions: 1080p60
- Supported Resolutions (Video input): 2160p, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p, 480i
- Operation Modes: PC mode, PC-free mode, Card reader mode
- Record Format: MPEG 4 (H.264+AAC) / MJPEG / Supports hardware encoding
- Dimension (W x D x H): 147 x 57 x 47 mm (5.8 x 2.2 x 1.8in)
- Weight: 185.5g (6.54 oz)
If you want the ability to record 4k footage you will have to get a better card. The ability to record gameplay anywhere with SD Cards and also being the best budget card, make this a very compelling card to own.
Price: Rs.17,500
Buy: Amazon
6. Av.io 4k
The AV.io 4K is one of our favorite picks on this list. The design of this game capture card is very simple and sleek making it very portable. Don’t let its looks fool you, it is one of the most versatile capture cards available today, capable of recording that has an HDMI output.
The AVio accepts HDMI audio/video inputs and can record 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, it also supports resolutions between 4:3 and 16:10, making it one of the most versatile capture cards in this list. If you can find a device that has an HDMI output, there is almost a guaranteed chance that this game capture card will work.
7. Elgato 4k60 Pro
The 4k60 Pro is aimed directly at content creators and streamers, it does come with all the bells and whistles that you need. Compared to all the other game capture cards it is the best 4K card that can record up to 240 frames.
It does offer all standard features like 4K passthrough and recording, but most importantly the capture card does come at a bit of a premium. Despite this, the 4K60 Pro offers an amazing set of features in a tiny card that you can slot into your PC and forget. If you’re a content creator or Streamer that is looking for better visuals and also a better and smoother stream, then this is an excellent game capture card.
Specifications
- Input: HDMI (unencrypted)
- Output: HDMI (with lag-free pass-through)
- Resolutions: Up to 2160p60
- Framerate: Up to 240 FPS
- HDR 10-bit: Passthrough and recording
- Encoding: HEVC/H.265 HDR, AVC/H.264
Price: Rs.26,999
Buy: Amazon
8. EVGA XR1
The EVGA XR1 is the first device ever to be certified by Open Broadcaster Service (OBS), this means that you’re guaranteed to get the best experience possible. The XR1 offers ARGB lighting and an audio mixer which not many capture cards offer. The XR1 does not require any drivers to function and is entirely plug and play.
The EVGA XR1 game capture card has a 4K passthrough mode. It can also record at 1080P/60FPS while you game at 4K/60FPS. The XR1 offers an Advanced Pass-Through Mode that allows you to switch to 144Hz refresh rate + HDR with the press of a button. You can also download the EVGA XR1 RGB Software to control the ARGB LEDs.
Specifications
- Interface: USB 3.0 Type-C
- Video Input Interface: HDMI 2.0 (up to 4K@60fps)
- Audio Input Interface: HDMI
- Video Bypass: HDMI (up to 4K@60fps)
- Video Resolution Input: 480p / 576p / 720p / 1080p / 1440p / 2160p@60fps
- Video Resolution Pass Through: 480p / 576p / 720p / 1080p / 2160p@60fps
- Video Resolution Advanced Pass Through(NO CAPTURE)*: 720p / 1080p / 1440p@120fps
- Encode Resolution: Up to 1080p @ 60fps
- Encode Format: RAW
- Dimension: 130mm x 86.4mm x 32.95mm w/ Control Dial /130mm x 86.4mm x 24.15mm w/o Control Dial
- Weight: 159g
Price: TBA
Buy: Out Of Stock
9. AVerMedia Live Gamer EXTREME 2 – GC551
The Live Gamer Extreme 2 or GC551 is ideal for streamers and content creators who want a hassle-free device to broadcast their very best gaming moments to the internet. The LGX2 is a capture card that is capable of capturing footage at 1080p60 with 4Kp60 pass through. You can be assured that you get to play with the highest quality settings.
The device itself is pretty small which is handy-dandy which can easily fit your pocket and pretty much plug & play in most of the situations (If drivers are present) where you connect the capture card to PC via the USB 3.0 port, connect the desired console/smartphone/PC to the game capture card and boom, we got an input which can be streamed via the Avermedia Stream engine or can be captured as an input in the OBS or any other streaming software.
Specifications
- Interface: USB 3.1 (Gen1) Type-C
- Video Input: HDMI 2.0
- Video Output (Pass-Through): HDMI 2.0
- Audio Input: HDMI 2.0
- Audio Output (Pass-Through): HDMI 2.0
- Max Pass-Through Resolutions: 4Kp60 / 1080p60
- Max Record Resolutions: 1080p60
- Supported Resolutions (Video input): 2160p, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p, 480i
- Record Format: MPEG 4 (H.264+AAC)
- Dimension (W x D x H): 145.3 x 97.2 x 29 mm (5.72 x 3.83 x 1.14 in)
- Weight: 182 g (6.42 oz)
Overall, this is an all-rounder game capture card and well future proof with the 4K60 recording feature and the ease of usage. This capture card retails around 20K to 25K given that the technology it uses and the value for money is high here.
Price: Rs.15,990
Buy: Amazon
10. AverMedia Live Gamer Bolt – GC555
Finally, we’ve saved the best for last, the AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt is the best game capture card that AVerMedia offers. The Bolt has a very simple design making it very sleek and compact, behind the hood this capture card packs some powerful hardware. The Live Gamer Bolt maxes out with 4K at 60 FPS with/without HDR. It offers uncompressed video, you can choose between h.264 or h.265 at a maximum bitrate of 240mbps.
This directly competes with the Elgato 4k60 S+ and might even be better due to it offering Thunderbolt 3 giving it almost zero latency while also offering to capture framerates up to 240FPS.
Specifications
- Interface: Thunderbolt 3*
- Input & Output (Pass-Through): HDMI 2.0
- Max. Pass-Through Resolution :
2160p60 HDR /1440p144/ 1080p240 - Max. Recording Resolution:
2160p60 HDR* /1440p144/ 1080p240 - Supported Resolution:
2160p, 1440p, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p - Record Format: MPEG 4**
- Dimensions (W x D x H):
120 x 120 x 29.3 mm (4.72 x 4.72 x 1.15 in) - Weight :348 g (12.27 oz)
This capture card adds no load onto your system and also is one of the most expensive ones in the market currently, but if you are looking for the ultimate game capture card then this is it!
Price: Rs.43,000
Buy: MdComputers
