What is the best capture card? Securing a high-quality capture card is paramount for an excellent recording and streaming experience, especially when capturing console gameplay. These devices handle video encoding, significantly reducing the load on your PC and ensuring a stable, high-quality output.
For most gamers, the top recommendation is the Elgato HD60 X. It offers superb video pass-through capabilities, supporting up to 1440p at 240Hz for your monitor, while capturing at a respectable quality. If you require even higher fidelity, the Elgato 4K X is the professional choice. For budget-conscious users, the NZXT Signal HD60 delivers excellent value. Be sure to check our detailed ‘how to choose’ and ‘FAQ’ sections for further guidance.
Our Top Picks for 2025:
- Elgato HD60 X – Best for 1080p/1440p
- Elgato 4K X – Best for 4K
- AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K – Best value
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 – Best plug-and-play
- Elgato 4K Pro – Best for professional setups
- NZXT Signal HD60 – Budget choice
- Genki Shadowcast 2 – Smallest option
Elgato HD60 X
Ideal for 1080p/1440p gaming and streaming.
Specifications:
| Capture quality | 4K30, 1440p60, 1080p60 |
| Passthrough quality | 4K60, 1440p120, 1080p240 |
| Connections | USB 3.0 |
Pros:
- High-quality capture
- Features gameplay rewind
- Competitively priced
Cons:
- Limited to 4K60 capture
- Not compatible with Mac
- Only a modest upgrade from previous versions
The Elgato HD60 X is a top recommendation for gamers who enjoy playing on high-refresh-rate monitors (up to 240Hz at 1440p) but don’t necessarily need to capture ultra-high-frame-rate footage. This card excels at 240Hz pass-through for 1080p or 1440p, while capturing at a solid 60Hz. This balance is perfect for most players to enjoy smooth gameplay and record high-quality clips.
While it can capture 4K at 30Hz, its 4K pass-through is capped at 60Hz. If you’re running a 120Hz 4K monitor, or demand higher capture rates, you might want a more advanced option. Importantly, the HD60 X supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), ensuring your monitor’s Freesync or G-Sync features work seamlessly to prevent screen tearing and stutter.
Its external, USB-connected design makes it incredibly easy to set up and highly versatile. However, you’ll need a sufficiently fast USB port to maximize its performance.
Elgato 4K X
The premium choice for capturing in 4K.
Specifications:
| Capture quality | 4K144, 1440p144, 1080p240 |
| Passthrough quality | 4K144, 1440p144, 1080p240 |
| Connections | HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C |
Pros:
- Captures 4K at up to 144Hz
- Captures 1080p at up to 240Hz
- Compact and user-friendly
Cons:
- Overkill if you don’t game at high frame rates
- Expensive
The Elgato 4K X is a high-performance capture card designed for serious PC gamers aiming to capture high-refresh-rate gameplay in stunning 4K. With its ability to capture and pass-through video at up to 144Hz at 4K, you can enjoy incredibly smooth visuals while preserving all the intricate details for your video edits. It also supports 240Hz capture at 1080p and 144Hz at 1440p.
This power comes at a premium price, so if you don’t regularly game or capture at such high refresh rates, a more affordable card like the Elgato HD60 X might be a better fit. Conversely, if you’re pushing towards even higher resolutions, the Elgato 4K Pro offers 8K capture and 4K at 240Hz pass-through. However, for the vast majority of gamers, the Elgato 4K X provides all the capture capabilities they’ll ever need.
AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K
Exceptional value for a high-performance capture card.
Specifications:
| Capture quality | 1080p240, 1440p144, 4K60 |
| Passthrough quality | 1080p240, 1440p144, 4K60 |
| Connections | PCle x 4, HDMI in, HDMI out |
Pros:
- Fast, high-resolution capture
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- Requires a powerful PC to fully utilize
- Native software could be improved
The AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K offers remarkable value, bridging the gap between the Elgato HD60 X and 4K X in terms of specifications, but at a price point closer to the HD60 X. This internal card allows for 1080p capture at 240Hz, 1440p at 144Hz, and 4K at 60Hz—capture rates nearly double those of the HD60 X. The Elgato 4K X primarily differentiates itself with its 144Hz 4K capture option.
A notable drawback is its internal PCIe form factor, which isn’t as portable or versatile as a USB card like the HD60 X. Swapping it between a PC and console, or using it with a laptop, is less convenient. Despite this, its significant price advantage makes it compelling. Currently, the AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K is only slightly more expensive than the HD60 X, yet it offers substantial extra capture horsepower, making it a stellar value if you’re comfortable with an internal card residing in your main gaming PC.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
The ultimate plug-and-play experience, earning an 8/10 rating.
Specifications:
| Capture quality | 4K144, 1440p144, 1080p240 |
| Passthrough quality | 4K144, 1440p144, 1080p240 |
| Connections | HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C |
Pros:
- Simple plug-and-play setup
- Phenomenal performance and flexibility
- Compact design with customizable RGB lighting
Cons:
- Primarily designed for PS5 and Xbox consoles
- Expensive
- Port positioning could be improved
AVerMedia’s Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 capture card leverages an HDMI 2.1 connection to support incredibly high resolutions and refresh rates. With a maximum 4K144 pass-through, it captures fluid, lifelike gameplay, elevating your streams to an ultra-high-end level. However, this premium performance comes at a high cost.
While primarily designed for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, it’s also compatible with PC and macOS. Our expert reviewer found the card remarkably easy to use, delivering superb output with no glitches or tearing. Be mindful that such stunning 4K capture files can be very large; an external SSD for gaming might be necessary for storage.
The Ultra 2.1 features an appealing, compact design with customizable RGB lighting, allowing it to blend seamlessly into your gaming or media setup. We would appreciate a USB-C input for an external streaming microphone, in addition to the existing 3.5mm headset option, to consolidate audio inputs. If you demand the absolute best footage money can buy for your PC (and next-gen consoles), the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 is highly recommended.
Elgato 4K Pro
Designed for professional streaming setups.
Specifications:
| Capture quality | 4K60, 1440p144, 1080p240 |
| Passthrough quality | 8K60, 4K144, 1440p240, 1080p240 |
| Connections | HDMI In + Out +PCIe x 4 |
Pros:
- Can output video to two sources simultaneously
- User-friendly operation
- Captures 4K gameplay at 60fps
Cons:
- An expensive capture card
- Optimized for dual-PC setups
The Elgato 4K Pro lives up to its name, standing out as the ideal choice for those building a professional-grade streaming or recording setup. Whether integrated into a dedicated capture PC or your main gaming rig, this card offers incredibly high-quality pass-through, robust capture capabilities, and, crucially, the ability to work with multiple applications concurrently.
This means you can capture video, stream to Twitch, and broadcast to Zoom all at the same time. Furthermore, it boasts pass-through video of up to 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 240Hz. Interestingly, its capture quality settings are slightly lower than the Elgato 4K X, topping out at 1440p144 and 4K60 compared to the 4K X’s 1440p240 and 4K144.
Another consideration is its internal card format, which limits portability and ease of use with a variety of devices or for capturing content on the go. However, for a stationary, high-end streaming setup, especially if you possess a 240Hz 4K monitor, this is a premier choice.
NZXT Signal HD60
The top budget-friendly capture card.
Specifications:
| Capture quality | 4K60 |
| Passthrough quality | 4K60 |
| Connections | USB-C to USB-A |
Pros:
- Remarkably affordable price
- Easy to use
- Decent capture quality
Cons:
- Captures lower frame rates than premium alternatives
- Footage lacks the intricate detail of higher-end cards
This is arguably the most affordable capture card that still delivers reliable performance. Venturing into cheaper options often means risking unreliable products from lesser-known brands. NZXT, however, is a reputable name known for excellent gaming PC components, and this capture card maintains their high standards.
While it may offer lower frame rates and slightly less detailed picture quality compared to premium alternatives, it still provides zero-lag pass-through support for 4K at 60Hz, along with HDR and 1080p at 240Hz. Rest assured, you won’t be getting subpar footage.
Moreover, it’s an excellent entry-level choice for anyone buying their first capture card. It’s straightforward to use and install, requiring no additional software downloads for streaming or recording gameplay. Considering all these benefits and its low price, the NZXT Signal HD60 is truly hard to fault.
Genki Shadowcast 2
The most compact capture card.
Specifications:
| Capture quality | 1080p60 |
| Compatible with | Any HDMI input |
| Connection | HDMI in, USB-C |
Pros:
- Extremely compact and portable
- Plug-and-play functionality across all HDMI-enabled devices
Cons:
- Capture quality can vary by device
Seeking a tiny capture card that’s effortlessly portable and easy to switch between devices? The Genki Shadowcast is an incredibly clever and convenient solution. Simply plug it into the HDMI output port of your source device, then connect its USB-C end to your PC or laptop, which will handle the streaming.
Once connected, you can utilize the Genki Arcade app on your computer to manage and manipulate the captured footage as you wish. This makes it particularly appealing for streamers who want to capture content not only from their PC but also from PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch consoles.
As a very affordable capture card, the Genki Shadowcast’s capture quality won’t match that of more expensive devices, and it may vary across different source devices. However, its unparalleled size and convenience make it a highly impressive and recommended option.
How to Choose a Capture Card
Selecting the right video capture card is quite straightforward, as features generally scale with price. For instance, capturing 4K at 120Hz will naturally cost more than a 1080p 60Hz card.
For most beginner streamers, a lower-end card capable of 1080p, 60Hz recording is perfectly adequate, offering clear and smooth enough footage. However, if your goal is to significantly grow an audience and monetize your content, investing in a higher resolution and frame rate card is a strategic move that should quickly pay for itself.
Key features to look for include additional inputs and outputs. While some basic devices offer just a single HDMI input, others provide HDMI passthrough (output) ports and dedicated sockets for various audio sources, such as your microphone.
Gaming Capture Card FAQs
What is a capture card?
Capture cards are essential devices that facilitate recording gameplay and streaming on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. While not entirely plug-and-play due to software setup and adjustments, they significantly streamline the process and lighten the encoding load on your PC, minimizing performance impact.
They typically come in two main formats: external USB devices, like the Elgato HD60 X, or internal cards that slot into a PCIe expansion slot in your PC, similar to a graphics card. External cards generally offer more versatility, being easy to set up for console output and compatible with devices such as gaming laptops. Internal cards, however, can sometimes deliver superior power and result in a cleaner, integrated PC setup.
Which capture card should you choose?
Leading capture card brands include established names like Elgato and AverMedia, but that doesn’t mean you always have to pay a premium. While smaller brands can sometimes offer surprises, Elgato and AverMedia are prominent on our list for a reason: their devices are tried-and-tested, backed by feature-rich software that receives consistent support and updates.
Your choice of capture card must align with your existing setup. Verify compatibility with your computer’s operating system, preferred streaming platform, and any video editing software you use. Capture cards typically feature input ports for various video sources, including DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, or VGA. For console gameplay, you’ll need a card with HDMI or component video inputs. Also, ensure the output connects seamlessly to your computer, usually via Thunderbolt or USB.
Do you need a capture card to stream?
The short answer is no, but capture cards provide immense benefits. Modern graphics cards feature built-in video encoders, enabling you to record and stream gameplay directly from your PC using software like OBS Studio. Nvidia Shadowplay and AMD Radeon ReLive also offer convenient ways to capture video clips while gaming.
However, these recording and encoding tasks place an additional strain on your graphics card and overall PC system, potentially leading to frame rate drops or unreliable streams/recordings. This is where capture cards shine, offloading much of that work and allowing your PC to focus primarily on running your games. Many professional streamers even use a dedicated, separate PC solely for capturing and managing streams, and a capture card is the next best alternative.
Moreover, beyond some console-specific built-in clip features, a capture card is typically the only way to record and stream full gaming sessions from consoles. They are particularly advantageous if you frequently stream or record from multiple PC setups and various consoles.
What brands make capture cards?
Many brands produce quality capture cards, catering to both gaming and general video production needs. Here are some of the most popular:
- Elgato: A subsidiary of the popular gaming gear brand Corsair, Elgato is renowned for its high-quality streaming products, including a diverse range of capture cards for various budgets. Their offerings include the Elgato HD60 X, with native Xbox and PS5 support, and the Elgato 4K60 S+ for comprehensive 4K capabilities.
- Razer: This well-loved gaming hardware manufacturer offers capture cards optimized for game streaming, such as the Razer Ripsaw HD, known for its exceptional ease of use.
- Hauppauge: Hauppauge manufactures capture cards for gamers, streamers, and content creators. We recommend their dedicated gaming editions, like the HD PVR2 Gaming Edition, which comes with cables for Xbox and PlayStation consoles and simplifies sharing clips to YouTube with just a few clicks.
For additional streaming gear to perfect your setup, explore our guides on the best gaming microphone and the best webcams.