Last update October 30, 2020 by XbitLabs
If you’re into streaming or creating video game-centric content you can either use software tools to record or stream gameplay, or you can use capture cards. While PCs became quite powerful in recent years, allowing streamers to use software recording apps that work great on a powerful PC, you can still use a capture card in case your PC cannot stream/record gameplay and run games at playable framerate at the same time.
And if you own a console, a capture card is by far the best way to stream or record gameplay. The best capture card can record videos in crispy smooth 4K60fps without a hassle. Some models require a PC for exporting videos while others can record videos on their own. You technically can record videos on the PS4 and Xbox One via built-in tools but you’re limited when it comes to the length and resolution. Further, in case you want to stream games on Twitch or YouTube, you’ll have to get a capture card.
Below you’ll find the best capture cards on the market at the moment. We’ve included models that work great with every current console as well as PC. Finally, if you need a capture card for the upcoming PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, we have a couple of models that should work fine with both next-gen consoles. If you’re into streaming, we highly recommend our list that features the best mics for streaming.
Best Capture Cards
Elgato Game Capture 4K60 Pro
The Best Capture Card For PC
- Max Recording Resolution: 4K at 60fps
- Interface: PCIe Port
- Video Ports: HDMI In, HDMI Out
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The Elgato Game Capture 4K60 Pro is a premier capture card for PC that connects to the PC via PCIe port, allowing the card to record and capture crispy 4K footage at 60 frames per second, in HDR. In case you want to use the passthrough, it supports up to 4K resolutions and refresh rates up to 240Hz. Do note that 240Hz works only at 1080p. Recording at 1440p can go up to 144fps and 4K footage is limited to 60 fps. This isn’t a limitation of the card, it’s simply a limitation of the HDMI 2.0 technology. If you want a capture card with HDMI 2.1 that supports up to 4K and 120fps you need to wait a bit since, at the moment, there’s no HDMI 2.1 capture card on the horizon.
Anyway, this card is pretty versatile. You can use any combination of recording/capturing and HDMI passthrough. You can capture videos at 60fps while using a higher refresh rate if the resolution allows (1080p and 1440p). The card itself is pretty straightforward to use. Just hook it up to a vacant PCIe slot, hook up the HDMI port to the card, and turn on your PC. You can use either third-party software or Corsair’s own Elgato capture tool but we recommend the former. Third-party software, such as OBS or XSplit are easier to use and can capture videos at higher bitrates.
The card also supports using multiple software at the same time, which can be handy for some semi-professional users. When it comes to 4K HDR recording, do note that some Pascal (GTX 10xx) graphics cards can have issues with 4K HDR content. The card also supports all current consoles and thanks to its 4K@60 pass through it is a solid choice for PS5 and Xbox Series X owners who also own a PC. Overall, this is a high-end capture card that offers high-end specs, and that works great out of the box. Just remember that you’ll need a powerful PC to edit all that 4K HDR content.
Pros:
- Simple To Install And Use
- Works Great With Third-Party Software
- Excellent Video Quality
- 4K@60fps and HDR Pass-Trough
Cons:
- Can Have Issues When Recording HDR Content On Pascal GPUs
- Works Only On Windows 10
- Pricey
AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus
The Best Capture Card For Nintendo Switch
- Max Recording Resolution: 1080p at 60fps
- Interface: Micro USB
- Video And Audio Ports: HDMI In, HDMI Out, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 2 For Recording Audio
The Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus from AverMedia is a perfect little gadget to carry around capable of recording up to 1080p@60fps without the need of a PC. This makes this card the best choice for Switch owners due to the portable nature of the system. Just don’t forget to carry the dock with you since it’s needed for connecting the card. The recording is saved on an SD card, with the Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus supporting microSD cards up to 128GB. All you have to do is connect the card to the console and press the recording button.
If you carry a laptop with your Switch, you can also use the card for live streaming. The card supports other consoles and while it cannot record in 4K resolution, it does come with a 4K pass-through which can be great for high-end PC owners as well as streamers who own a PS4 Pro or the Xbox One X. Do note that the card offers only two pass-through resolutions – 1080p and 2160p. If you have a 1440p monitor this card won’t work as a pass-through for a console. The card uses a micro USB to USB-A cable to connect to a PC (it requires USB 3.0 connection).
This card will also be a pretty solid choice for next-gen consoles since it offers 4K@60fps pass-through for those who are fine with 1080@60Hz recording quality. On the flip side, the card has high capture latency so you can’t use it to play games via capture software in case you have just one monitor. Also, if you like HDR in your console games forget about this card since its pass-through feature isn’t compatible with HDR content.
The software provided isn’t very powerful but it’s easy to use and offers enough features for amateur streamers and content creators. If you need something more powerful OBS or XSplit are better choices. Overall, the Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus is an excellent capture card for those who need high portability and standalone capture function.
Pros:
- Can Record Gameplay Directly On An SD Card
- 4K@60 HDMI Pass-Through
- Excellent Portability
- Easy To Use
- Works On Windows 10, 8, 7, and Max OS X
Cons:
- HDMI Pass-Through Doesn’t Support HDR
- Comes With Micro-USB Instead Of USB-C
- High Capture Latency
Razer Ripsaw X
The Premium Plug and Play Experience
- 4K30 HDR10, 1080P60
- Plug-and-play device
- HDMI 2.0/USB 3.0
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Razer likes to dip their toes into every single market they can and there is no way they would leave the capture card market alone considering how immensely popular streaming/recording is currently. The Ripsaw X is what we would describe as the perfect plug-and-play experience since all you need to do to make this device work is to plug it in and you got everything running perfectly.
You can do 4K30FPS or 1080P60FPS easily, and can use DSLR cameras for amazing webcam quality for your recordings and streams. To ensure low latency the Ripsaw X uses HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 for fast data transfers. There is no need to configure anything as you can just plug the capture card in and open OBS to configure your streaming settings and be ready for whatever you had planned – no delays.
Overall the online reputation of this device is that it works perfectly out of the box, and for a capture card that is exactly the kind of experience you want, good job for Razer!
Pros:
- Plug the Ripsaw X in and stream/capture – easy as that
- Compact form factor so you can use it on the go
- 4K30FPS capture for those who want pristine image quality
Cons:
- The simplicity of this device also puts the price of 140$ under question since way cheaper devices can do the same for a lot less money
Elgato Game Capture HD60 S
The Best Capture Card For PS4 & Xbox One S
- Max Recording Resolution: 1080p at 60fps
- Interface: USB-C
- Video Ports: HDMI In, HDMI Out
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Corsair recently released an upgrade for its HD60 capture card in the form of the HD60 S. The upgraded model ditches the h.264 encoder but also upgrades its connection interface from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0. The lack of the hardware encoder puts a bit more strain on your PC while streaming or recording but the presence of USB 3.0 (Type-C, another improvement) reduces capture latency, enabling users to play games in the capture window in case they own just one monitor. On the flip side, limited bandwidth doesn’t allow streaming and recording at the same time.
When it comes to base specs, the HD60 S offers 1080p@60fps recording along with a 1080p@60Hz HDMI pass-through. This is a perfect middle-ground for base consoles (PS4 and Xbox One S) that both top out at 1080p@60Hz, as well as for the Switch or smartphone streaming. We don’t recommend using the HD60 S for capturing PS4 Pro or Xbox One X gameplay since both consoles run most games at 4K resolution (native or upscaled). When it comes to recording quality, there are better cards out there, but the overall quality is good enough for most users.
When it comes to the software Corsair’s capture tool is solid for basic needs, but advanced users should stick to their capture software of choice. All things considered, the Elgato HD60 S is the best capture card you can get for the PS4 or the Xbox One S. It’s also a great solution for playing games and streaming gameplay on the same monitor, or playing consoles on monitors that don’t have an HDMI port (iMac for example). Despite lacking a hardware encoder, its hardware requirements are the same as for its predecessor. It’s a bit pricey but other than that, this card doesn’t have any major negative aside from its high price.
Pros:
- Simple To Use
- Great For Playing And Streaming Games On One Monitor
- Portable
- USB-C Interface
Cons:
- 1080p HDMI Pass-Through Isn’t Great For PS4 Pro And Xbox One X
- Pricey
EVGA XR1 lite
Amazing Budget Capture Card
- 1080p@60FPS recording
- Compatible with PC and console
- Low latency capture
- USB Type-C
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If you are looking for a budget capture card that can do what all the other capture cards do but at a fraction of the cost, the EVGA XR1 lite should be a great option for your needs. This is a device that allows you to record at 1080p@60FPS while you game at 4K@60FPS with no issues.
The device has low latency allowing for instant interactions with your chat therefore it is perfect for streaming on Twitch and YouTube. The XR1 lite is driverless and can be used with both PCs and consoles on any OS configuration.
One thing that does separate this device from the many others on the market is that it uses a USB-C instead of the usual USB-A allowing for more connectivity and higher bandwidth.
If you are just getting into streaming and want a solid start with a capture card then this device should definitely be on your list.
Pros:
- Very budget-friendly device
- Great quality streaming capability
- USB-C allows for more flexibility
- Certified for OBS
Cons:
- The XR1 lite is sometimes finicky and needs a couple of restarts to make it work as intended
Razer Ripsaw HD
The Best Capture Card For PS4 Pro And Xbox One X
- Max Recording Resolution: 1080p at 60fps
- Interface: USB-C
- Video And Audio Ports: HDMI In, HDMI Out, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 2 For Recording Audio
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At the moment the Razer Ripsaw HD is the best choice for owners of 4K consoles (PS4 Pro and Xbox One X). This capture card should also be a great choice for next-gen consoles since it comes with a 4K@60fps HDMI pass-through. It doesn’t support 4K@120fps output of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X but compared to other capture cards, the Ripsaw HD is the best choice for next-gen consoles at the moment.
The card supports 1080p capture quality and while it doesn’t come with any capture software the setup is pretty straightforward. The Ripsaw HD working fine with the most popular capture software such as the OBS and Xsplit. Capture lag is low so you can play and stream games on the same monitor. The card uses USB-C to connect to the PC and it supports USB 3.0 interface. You can also find headphone and microphone inputs on the card, so you can record yourself along with the game audio during streams.
Now, while this model scored well in expert reviews, there’s a bunch of user reviews mentioning all kinds of issues, mostly audio related. It seems that the Razer Synapse software is needed in order to eliminate some audio bugs but still, many other issues remain. If you’re eyeing the Ripsaw HD, be ready for some troubleshooting and a host of potential issues. Also, the card supports 1440p output resolution, but only at 30 frames per second. Other than that, this is a phenomenal capture card that sells at a very competitive price.
Pros:
- Easy To Use
- 4K@60fps HDMI Pass-Through
- Excellent Price Considering The Features
- Great For PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, And Next-Gen Consoles
- Perfect For Streaming And Playing Games On The Same Monitor
Cons:
- User Reviews Mention A Bunch Of Issues With Sound, Set-Up Process
- HDMI Pass-Through Supports 1440p, But Only At 30fps
- No Capture Software Is Included With The Card
Elgato HD60 X
The Perfect 1080P60/4K30 Capture Card
- 4K30 HDR10, 1080P60 HDR10 quality, 4K60 HDR10, 1440P120, and 1080P120
- Plug-and-play device
- Sub 100ms audio/video syncing
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Elgato is known as the to-go manufacturer when it comes to streaming/capturing gear so it is no surprise that one of the most popular options for 1080P60 (which is still the main resolution used online for YouTube and Twitch streaming) is the Elgato HD60 X.
The HD60 X can technically do 4K30 HDR10, 1080P60 HDR10, 4K60 HDR10, 1440P120, and 1080P120, but the main resolution most people care about is 1080P60 for now. The reason it is important to know that the HD60 X can do more is for future-proofing reasons and if you mainly record gameplay for YouTube where you can upload videos in 4K or higher.
As with other Elgato devices, this is a plug-and-play experience and you can stream and game on any service with low-latency audio/video sync without any pesky watermarks or limited trials.
Elgato products are also on the pricier side but you are mainly paying for a fuss-free experience where you plug in your HD60 X and proceed to play, stream, and capture gameplay without having to deal with any issues – which for many is very important.
Pros:
- Plenty of resolutions and FPS choices for different scenarios and services
- Optimal latency for video/audio syncing
- Elgato is a big name in streaming so you can expect a hassle-free experience
- Can be used with PC/consoles
Cons:
- Pretty expensive and overkill for general users
- You need the hardware to make use of this capture device
How To Choose A Capture Card
Below you’ll find a list of the most important features to look for when buying a new capture card. Stuff like the quality of the HDMI pass-through, recording quality, capture lag, etc.
System Requirements
Even capture cards that come with a hardware encoder require more than a potato PC. While hardware requirements for all sans 4K@60Hz capture cards are relatively humble (most require five years old CPUs such as Core i5 4xxx series, and even older graphics cards such as the GTX 6xx) you should definitely check system requirements for each card before making a purchase.
If you want to get a capture card that can record videos at 4K, you’ll need a beefy graphics card, relatively capable CPU (think something like the Intel Core i5 6xxx series, 1st gen Ryzen 7 CPU, or higher), and lots of RAM (minimum 8GB). And if you want to comfortably edit 4K videos, you’ll need an even beefier PC.
Capture Quality And HDMI Pass-Through
Most capture cards can capture and record gameplay in 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. You can buy a 4K@60fps capture card but these are pretty expensive so be ready to pay a premium for a high-end capture card. Also, some cards support HDR content but that’s also considered a premium feature, available only on high-end models. Finally, if you want to stream and record gameplay make sure that the card includes the Master Copy or an equivalent feature. In other words, high enough bandwidth to enable streaming and recording at the same time.
If you’re a streamer, 1080p@60Hz is the sweet spot, making for a great viewing experience when paired with a quality webcam for streaming. If you create gameplay videos or reviews, 4K capture quality does matter since there’s more and more 4K gaming content on YouTube. Also, don’t forget that not all capture cards can record more than one audio source. If you need that feature look for cards featuring 3.5mm jacks for headsets and microphones.
When it comes to the HDMI pass-through, you can find 4K60fps quality even on some mid-range models. HDR content is supported only on high-end models, as well as high refresh rates. Do note that even the high-end cards top out at 4K@60hz HDMI pass-through due to the limits of the HDMI 2.0 technology. Finally, most capture cards support only 1080p and lower, or 4K resolution. If you need a card with 1440p HDMI pass-through support you should first take a look at cards made primarily for the PC platform.
Portability And Standalone Video Recording
Some capture cards offer standalone video recording (usually on a MicroSD or regular SD card). These cards are great for portable recording or in case you own a Nintendo Switch, but they cannot be used for live streaming without a PC. Also, standalone capture cards usually suffer from high capture lag.
Playing And Streaming Games On One Monitor
In order to play and stream games on one monitor, or to play games on a monitor that doesn’t have an HDMI input, you’ll need a capture card with low capture latency. This way you can play a game in the capture preview window of the streaming app you’re using without noticeable lag. Not all capture cards come with low capture latency (especially standalone ones) so be careful when buying a capture card if you need that feature.
Using The Card For PC Or Consoles
Depending on your gaming platforms of choice you’ll be either be better with a PC-specific or a console capture card. Capture cards made primarily for PC use PCIe connection, their HDMI pass-through supports a wider range of resolutions and frame rates (especially on high-end models), and they are best in case your game both on a PC and a console.
External capture cards are usually better to use with consoles since they are portable, they connect to a PC via USB, and are usually much simpler to use than PCIe capture cards, which have to be installed inside a PC case, and aren’t portable at all.
Next-Gen Consoles And HDMI 2.1
When it comes to the next-gen console support, you won’t find any capture card at the moment offering full PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X support. In reality, most cards should work fine with next-gen consoles. The issue is that there’s no capture card on the market right now with HDMI 2.1 port, needed for 4K@120fps pass-through since some of the PS5 and Xbox Series X games will work at 4K and 120 frames per second.
If you’re looking for a capture card that fully supports next-gen consoles, you won’t find any. Even the best models on the market top out at 4K@60 so you won’t be able to get the full next-gen experience in certain titles while using any current capture card. We will certainly get HDMI 2.1 equipped capture cards at some point; we just don’t know when.