The best capture cards are a hotly debated item these days. Do you really need one when graphics card software has capabilities of its own, or when the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S make recording gameplay footage so convenient? Well, in our opinion, a capture card is as essential as it has ever been if you want the best recording quality, and don't want to sacrifice performance or risk dodgy playback. Capture cards, whether internal or external are becoming more and more underrated, and our list below will explain why.
In 2024, some of the best capture cards on the market can natively record in 4K, at 60fps or higher. While passthrough in this resolution and frame rate has been available for years now, we're now seeing capture devices that can keep up with the visuals of the Xbox Series X and PS5, even with HDR support. While this is great, especially if you want to capture that footage for later, just keep in mind that Twitch still doesn't allow for streams in 4K, so this is only really a bonus for VODs and videos.
For PC gamers, one of the best capture cards may not be as necessary, but will really take the strain off of hardware components. Depending on your rig and GPU, recording via software or OBS can mean choppy footage and a slew of other issues, so a separate capture card can really alleviate stress.
At the moment, we're testing a new card from AverMedia, and we'll be sure to update you next month when we have our verdict on it. If you're new to the world of video game content creation, it might be helpful to check out how else to get started. There's a lot to think about, and our streaming for gamers guide has everything you need to know. That guide covers it all - from budget kit to the best ring lights, webcams, and microphones. For now, let's tell you about some of the best capture cards on the market.
The best capture cards 2024
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The AverMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 is a truly next-gen capture card. It takes the great features set down by the Elgato HD60X and boosts what we expect from the best external capture cards into current generation standards.
Its design definitely echoes that, since most capture cards don't put a lot of effort into the looks department and yet this does. The Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 has a gentle RGB array on its front that you can sync with your PC components, and a clever horizontal design that helps cable routing to be simple and the product as a whole to be displayable.
In terms of features, you get up to 4K60 capture, VRR passthrough of up to 144Hz, HDR and Ultrawide monitor support, and a slew of in-software recording options. Annoyingly, the companion application, RECentral 4, doesn't have any colour grading settings and doesn't let you change the captured image settings. Luckily, these things are all finely-tuned in the background.
This card performs brilliantly when recording footage, and its passthrough lacks no detail compared to using a regular HDMI 2.1 cable. Captures are crystal clear with really vivid colours, and besides some lacking clarity when recording multiple captures back to back, it's excellent and making your gameplay look just as good as it does in your setup with minimal technical headaches thrown in.
Overall, this is probably the best external capture card you'll find on the shelves at the moment.
Elgato has been the go-to name for capture cards for years and the HD60 X is the sum of that experience. An evolution rather than revolution, it builds on the HD60 S+ to deliver an outstanding experience for both capture and passthrough. Offering impressive features with a simple plug-and-play setup, we think the HD60 X will likely sit at the top of most creators' best capture card leaderboards.
The first mainstream capture card to offer variable refresh rate (VRR) support for passthrough, our testing proved that the HD60 X is the perfect companion for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. There’s 10-bit HDR on offer for both capture and passthrough too, and with latency-free HDMI output, you won’t even know you’re running your gameplay through a capture device at all. Throughout testing I kept my Series X running through the HD60 X, even when just casually gaming, and noticed no impact on picture quality, input responsiveness, or visual performance.
The HD60 X will capture 4K content at 30fps and 1080p or 1440p content at up to 60fps, while offering 4K60fps or a whopping 1080p240fps via HDMI passthrough. Even playing via the preview in OBS responsiveness remained high and all but the most competitive gamers likely won’t notice any input delay at all. Elgato does offer their own capture software, the inspiringly named ‘Elgato 4K Capture Utility’ but my advice is to stick with OBS. I found recording quality to be noticeably worse using Elgato’s software with a few frustrating UI bugs along the way too.
Ignoring their software offering, we think the Elgato HD60 X ticks just about every box and might just be the best external capture card for console gamers and streamers available right now.
Read more: Elgato HD60 X review
The Rode Streamer X promises more than any other capture card on this list because while it's a perfectly capable capture card that can record footage at up to 4K30, it's also an audio interface with all the pedigree of the brand's audio hardware behind it.
The design of this capture card is very in line with Rode's other streaming gear - it has customizable Smart pads, XLR ports for top-drawer microphones, and some handy gain dials that are readable thanks to clear lighting. Conveniently, it has dual-PC output and pretty solid HDMI passthrough for varying resolutions, and its price for the combined efforts of an audio interface and capture card will no doubt be enticing for those looking to consolidate their streaming gadgets.
Of course, with a jack-of-all-trades, there's going to be some trade-offs for those looking for the best capture card out there. Strangely, there's no HDMI 2.1 support, so while captures of up to 4k30 are possible and a passthrough of up to 4K60 is supported, higher frame rates aren't going to be possible above 1080p. Luckily, VRR and HDR are there - here's hoping Rode puts out a sequel in time that can deal with some beefier visual capture.
As an audio interface, it's no surprise that this does the trick. Rode is excellent for audio gear, and in our review, we found it to be almost as solid as the BEACN Mic Create, although it was somewhat hampered by its small form factor and lack of more dials. HDMI gain control would have been really handy, but again, when you go for something aimed at consolidating two gadgets into one, there are going to be some compromises.
Nonetheless, this is a very capable capture card and one that adds a bit more utility than is typically expected.
Elgato is one of the biggest, best-known names in capture, and for good reason: their devices are relatively cheap, easy to use, and function incredibly well. Here's our breakdown of all the Elgato game capture deals, covering all devices in the range. The Game Capture HD60S is easy to set up, simply plugging in between your PS4/Xbox One and the TV. It also does all of the work for you, with the software cycling through resolution options until it finds a signal (although you can also set it up and tweak options manually should you have any problems getting a signal on your TV). Another great bonus is that you don't need the software running to use it: as long as it can draw power it'll send a signal to your screen so there's no need to unplug it when you don't want to capture.
The capture software that comes with it is clear and easy to use, with a few basic, useful options to fiddle with the audio and streaming setups. There's an audio in on the unit itself if you want to add audio directly to your stream, and a range of streaming screens set up for in-set cameras and so on. The only area in which it disappoints is its rudimentary editing package that's only really good for trimming.
Another entry into the best capture card market for AverMedia, the GC551G2 Live Gamer Extreme 3 brings variable refresh rate support to the party. With 4K30 capture and 4K60 HDR passthrough, the spec sheet is pretty attractive for console gamers. It’s also one of the more reasonably priced options at this end of the market: at $169.99/£159.99 it’s nearly 20% cheaper than our top-ranked Elgato HD60 X.
Wonderfully simple to get started with, the Live Gamer Extreme 3 is a plug-and-play option with next to no setup required. Offering latency-free HDMI passthrough in full 4K60 with HDR support you won’t even notice the card is between your console and TV, though be aware, unlike other cards the LGE3 will only capture SDR content.
On the recording side, there’s support for up to 4K30 with super smooth 120fps capture at lower resolutions. Variable refresh rate support is new to the AverMedia range and it works well. In testing I noticed no artefacts or screen tearing while gaming, even at higher frame rates and the experience was smooth throughout.
While it’s not the most powerful capture option available, the AverMedia Live Gamer Extreme 3 boasts an impressive spec sheet and generally performs well across the board. If capturing HDR content isn’t a concern or you’re not looking to push the limit with the highest resolution game capture the LGE3 is a great value pick and won’t let you down.
Read more: AverMedia Live Gamer Extreme 3 review
If you’re serious about capturing gameplay at the highest resolution and frame rates possible then this is the card you need. As the only internal capture card on our list, it does mean that you’ll need pretty some high-end hardware (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series and an Intel Core i7 CPU or better) to use it but the results are well worth it. We did find that we had to update our graphics card drivers to get the card working correctly but once configured this card will allow you to capture 4K footage at 60fps at up to 140Mbps.
Normally that would mean you’d also need a lot of HDD space but the simple-to-use software also encodes the capture while it’s recording it to save you space. The only slight niggle with it (and it really is slight) is that, although the software is pretty good at keeping up with you, the optimum way to play while using this card is to make use of the lag-free HDMI pass-through and send the feed to a second monitor or 4K screen. But if you’re considering this card you probably have all of that already.
Chances are, you're not going to find a true 4K capture card for as low of a price as the Razer Ripsaw HD, a capture card that does 4K passthrough while streaming games in 1080p. Whether you have a PS5 or an Xbox One X, or you play on a PC and want to take some strain off your aging components, the Razer Ripsaw HD just might scratch that high-res streaming itch. Not only that, but this capture card eliminates the hurdle of software-based audio mixing. You can mix audio, "hassle-free," using the hardwired mic and headphone jacks.
Unfortunately, the Razer Ripsaw HD's biggest feat comes with an equally major caveat. It doesn't have its own software. To stream in 1080p as advertised, you'll have to either shell out for an XSplit premium membership or rely on the less intuitive – but free and open source – Open Broadcasting Software. On top of that, unlike the original Razer Ripsaw, this one doesn't support older consoles without a small collection of adapters.
Best capture card 2023 - frequently asked questions
Which capture cards do most streamers use?
We've rounded up all the latest and most coveted capture cards, although, one of the most popular brands in the content creator scene is Elgato. Through the original Game Capture HD, through to the likes of the HD60 S and HD60 X, Elgato has proven to be one of the go-to brands for streaming and video game content creation. That's not to count out the likes of AverMedia, who has been involved in the scene for arguably just as long. Razer and EVGA are viable brands, too.
Do you need a capture card for PC?
The short answer here is no. On PC, software like OBS and OBS Streamlabs can record the footage for you. However, using just software can put a strain on your hardware components and result in frame rate drops and choppy footage. Beyond getting a second PC specifically for streaming, a capture card might just be your best bet.
If you have an Nvidia graphics card released within the last few years then you also have the free option of using Nvidia Shadowplay to capture gameplay and stream to the likes of Twitch and YouTube.
On consoles, you can record and stream footage as you play, but this doesn't give you the same number of options as one of the best capture cards.
Is there a capture card better than Elgato?
Elgato is definitely one of the best capture card brands out there, but that doesn't mean there aren't alternatives. AverMedia has plenty of great capture card options, for example, and we'd argue it has the best options if Elgato isn't for you. Epiphan Systems Inc. also has a really great compact capture card in the form of its AV.io 4K, which is worth a look too. If you'd rather a brand you know elsewhere, the Razer Ripsaw is also a solid choice.
Should I use OBS or a capture card?
While OBS and Streamlabs are great, we'd suggest using one of the best capture cards since they'll take strain off your hardware and genuinely provide more peace of mind that your footage or live stream will be consistent and free of choppy footage. It all depends on your stream setup, and the platforms you use for gameplay, of course. If you use a console, we'd definitely recommend using OBS in combination with a capture card since this will allow you to get the best of both without straining your hardware.
Should I buy a capture card for streaming?
A capture card is an ideal way to record and stream your gameplay footage without impacting your gameplay. Depending on your internet speed and hardware set up, streaming from one PC that you're also running your games on can cause choppy footage, frame rate dips and a slew of other inconsistencies.
One of the best capture cards will take a lot of the strain off of your hardware, and will save you buying a second PC just to stream off of. Many capture cards use passthrough, which has gotten a lot more efficient in recent years as to not cause latency in your gameplay while recording or streaming.
Is a 4K capture card worth it?
Although they're definitely futureproofed, 4K capture cards are by far the most expensive option you can go for. As great as 4K is, maybe think about the logistics of it within your content plan. If you're streaming, 4K footage isn't even supported by Twitch. If you're recording and editing footage to be used later, you're staring down the barrel of more storage space and longer encoding times.
If you're a fulltime content creator, providing 4K options to your audience can make a difference. If, however, you're just starting out or you're not looking to be the next Twitch or YouTube star, we'd recommend a more budget-friendly option.
Pair your capture card with one of the best gaming PCs for maximum quality. What's more, live stream in comfort with the best gaming desk and best gaming chair.
