Although Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can capture the game internally, the quality is usually not the best. Consoles, in particular, are already operating on tight margins when it comes to rendering games, so adding video encoding on top of that is not ideal. However, with one of the better capture cards, you can offload work to an external device, taking the heat out of your consoles and improving your streams in the process.
The best capture cards for your console
- Best PS4 Capture Card: Elgato Game Capture HD60 S
- Best capture card for Xbox One X: Razer Ripsaw HD
- Best for Nintendo Switch: AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus
- Best cheap capture card: Roxio Game Capture HD Pro
- Best Computer Capture Card: Elgato 4K60 Pro
- Best high-end external card: Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S +
Stream and capture other consoles, such as Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 3, could work using Xbox One HDMI input port, OneGuide, Xbox Companion app, and built-in Windows 10 tool or third party software.
Meanwhile, on PlayStation 4, you can use the built-in Cast Game tool to livestream your settings on Twitch and YouTube. Transmission from a computer can run software using the Remote Play (Remote Play) and third transmission tools, but again are making a transmission.
When it comes to recording games and live broadcasts, a capture card is necessary. For recording, these cards allow you to capture the highest possible resolution and frame rate, as well as modify various settings.
For streaming, capture cards are an all-in-one solution for showing the masses what you are seeing on the screen. We’ve tagged each card with its best use case below, but it’s important to note that these devices will work on all systems (minus the Elgato 4K60 Pro, which requires a PCI slot).
The best capture card for PS4
Elgato Game Capture HD60 S
Pros : instant streaming, flashback recording, console, Mac and PC support.
Cons : Lacks H.264 encoder, limited editing software capabilities.
When you look at Elgato’s products released in recent years, it’s easy to see why the company currently rules the game capture card market. From your internal capture cards to your external devices and software, Elgato’s Game Capture line can handle just about anything.
Elgato’s HD60 S model is a great option for consoles, especially PlayStation 4. You don’t need a 4K-capable capture card, since the PlayStation 4 cannot play in 4K and its more powerful brother, the PlayStation 4 Pro, does not play most. of titles in native 4K.
The HD60 S supports 1080p captures at 60 FPS or frames per second. It also provides features like Instant Streaming , which allows your captured content to quickly go live on Twitch or YouTube. Its “Flashback Recording” allows you to retroactively save images of your favorite game. It is also compatible with Mac through proprietary software.
The device connects to your computer through a USB-C connection (5 Gbps). You will need Windows 10 (64-bit) or macOS Sierra and a fourth-generation (or better) Intel Core i5 quad-core processor. Macs require discrete AMD and Nvidia GPUs, while Windows 10 computers support integrated graphics.
Unlike older discontinued models, this version does not have a built-in H.264 encoder. That means your computer will do more work. Additionally, the included editing software is largely limited to clipping and piecing together footage.
The best capture card for Xbox One X
Razer Ripsaw HD
Pros : 4K pass-through, audio mixing and mic input, compatible with most next-gen capture software, PC, Mac, and console support.
Cons : No proprietary software.
The ruggedized Xbox One X supports true native 4K gaming, making Razer‘s Ripsaw HD the optimal choice. However, it only records and streams in 1080p at 60 frames per second. But don’t worry: it provides a 4K pass-through port so you can keep playing in 4K despite low-res capture.
However, the Raip’s Ripsaw HD is not specifically designed for Xbox One X. It is also compatible with previous generation consoles, such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. That said, if you want to stream or capture older games, you can do so with this device.
The Razer Ripsaw HD connects to your computer via a USB-C to USB-A (5 Gbps) cable. It also includes separate headphone and microphone jacks on the front so you can easily record quality feedback while you play.
However, the Ripsaw HD is not perfect. Even though it costs the same as Elgato’s offerings, it doesn’t come with a software package, which requires you to use third-party solutions like OBS or XSplit. It is not currently Mac compatible either as it requires a Windows computer. However, it falls under the umbrella of Synapse 3.
For desktops, you need at least a 6th generation Intel Core i3-6100 chip and Nvidia’s GTX 660 GPU or better. For laptops, you need at least a 4th generation Intel Core i7-4810MQ and Nvidia’s GTX 870M or better.
The best capture card for Nintendo Switch
AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus
Pros : small and portable, 4K pass-through, software is versatile and easy to use, records images to MicroSD, console and PC support.
Cons : Mac users need third party software.
The portability of the Nintendo Switch makes it a great option for gamers on the go, and with the right case, you can even take the system port with you. If you want to record gameplay while traveling but don’t want to bring a computer, the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus is the perfect choice.
With Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus you can record games without a computer using its built-in H.264 encoder. Capture in 1080p at 60 frames per second, which is the limit of the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch. Save your video to a MicroSD card, which you can access via the device’s Micro-USB connection to a computer (storage mode) or by transferring the MicroSD card.
If you want to stream the game live, you will need to connect the capture card to your computer and use the Avermedia software (RECentral). It is easy to use and comes with features comparable to OBS and XSplit. Live editing allows you to cut recordings before saving them as a file.
In addition to the MicroSD and Micro-USB ports, the unit provides two HDMI ports along the back, one of which serves as 4K pass-through (without HDR). On the front are separate jacks for microphone and headphone, along with volume and mode control buttons (PC, no PC, storage). Check the Windows and MacOS computer system requirements to see what you need on the computing side.
The main drawback of Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus is that its proprietary software only works with Windows. The company offers an “express” beta version for Mac, but you will probably need third-party software such as OBS and XSplit.
Best cheap capture card
Roxio Game Capture HD Pro
Pros : Affordable and versatile software, PC, next generation support.
Cons : Mac incompatible, uses USB 2.0, no cables included.
You don’t need to break your bank account to buy a capture card, and with Roxio Game Capture HD Pro, you hardly notice it.
Typically retailing for less than $ 100, the Roxio Game Capture HD Pro features an auto-capture component to record the last hour of your game. Proprietary software includes transitions, picture-in-picture frames, soundtracks, and text to make your content look professional. It streams directly to YouTube or Twitch.
Roxio Game Capture HD Pro includes a built-in H.264 encoder so your computer does significantly less work. It includes HDMI and component connectors, allowing you to capture essentially any device up to 1080p at 30 frames per second.
The only downside here is that you can’t connect a PlayStation 3 to its HDMI input due to HDCP reasons. It also does not include HDMI or component cables.
Unfortunately, Roxio Game Capture HD Pro is not compatible with Mac, so you have to choose another of our other options. It also uses USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.1, which could cause latency issues while streaming. Some users report issues with reliability, but you get what you pay for!
System requirements are minimal at best. Your computer requires at least a 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or 2.0GHz AMD Athlon x2 64 processor. You will also need DirectX 9 compatible graphics and 2GB of system memory. This device ships with a USB cable.
The best capture card for computer
Elgato 4K60 Pro
Pros : HDR support, 4K 60 FPS recording, multiple application support
Cons : Expensive, PCIe only, high system requirements
The Elgato 4K60 Pro model is a capture card to end all capture cards, and it comes with a matching price tag. As the only internal card on our list, the 4K60 Pro benefits from much higher bandwidth thanks to its PCIe x4 interface, outperforming USB 3.0 in all circumstances and making USB 2.0 look like a relic.
Of course, the most prominent feature of the 4K60 Pro is that it can record at 2160p at 60 FPS. It also supports 1080p60 and HDR10. However, this is the capture card of a computer gamer.
Although inserting a PCIe card into your computer is not a difficult task, simply opening the side panel can be too much. If you fit into that camp but still want the best in quality, our next pick is perfect for you.
The 4K60 Pro is not only a capture card for computer gamers because it is internal, but also because it has some pretty high system requirements. You’ll need an Nvidia 10 series GPU, at least, as well as a 6th-gen Core i7 or Ryzen. It is also compatible with Windows.
Fortunately, the 4K60 Pro is worth it. It includes the same great features seen on the HD60 S, including reverse recording, as well as pass-through at up to 1080p240 or 1440p144.
The best high-end external capture card
Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S +
Pros : H.264 / H.265 hardware encoding, built-in SD card reader, HDR support, 4K 60fps recording
Cons : Very expensive, no high resolution bridge
Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S + is basically a 4K60 Pro in a box. At nearly double the price of the PCIe variant, the 4k60 S + costs a staggering $ 400 in the US. However, it does have some advantages over the basic 4K60 Pro.
In other words, the S + comes with a built-in H.264 / H.265 hardware encoder. You don’t need a supercomputer to use it as all the processing is done on the card itself, but you will still need a platform.
Like the 4K60 Pro, you will need a Windows 10 computer with 8GB of RAM and an Nvidia 10-series GPU or higher. Processor requirements are less stringent and require a Ryzen 7 or 6th Gen Core i5 or higher.
With the onboard encoder, you don’t even need a computer to use the 4K60 S +. With the built-in SD card reader, you can easily capture the game without a PC, all at 4K60.
Additionally, the 4K60 S + supports HDR in case you want to show off your Xbox One X or PS4 Pro. However, there are some downsides to going outside. The 4K60 S + does not support the high resolution / frame rate bridging like the PCIe version, and Instant Gameview lags behind 250 milliseconds.
Still, the 4K60 S + is an absolute home when it comes to capturing your game at the highest resolutions and frame rates.
How do capture cards work?
It is called a capture “card” because the first commercial models were exactly the same as a “discrete video card”, that is, a separate card from the main card, but its function was to capture photo or video and audio from your computer, some models also functioned as a video card, but for our case today we will only use the term for external capture devices.
Capture cards can work in different ways depending on the model, but they all act as transfer devices between your game console, your computer, and your screen. Instead of connecting your HDMI or VGA cable from your console to your TV, you connect the console to the capture card.
A second cable connects the capture card to your television. Lastly, a USB cable connects the capture card to your computer so that it can transmit data while recording images.
Some capture cards include a built-in H.264 encoder, which handles most of the processing power required to record video game footage.
Those cards that do not have this encoder may require a more powerful computer to handle the massive processing, so consider the characteristics of your device before making a purchase.
Note that we include separate capture cards for each of the three consoles based on the specific features tailored to that system, you can use the same card for all three. If a specific model suits your taste but is not marked as “best” for your console, use it anyway!
Final note: Elgato Game Capture HD60 vs. Elgato Game Capture HD60 S
Currently Elgato only has one external capture device for sale: Game Capture HD60 S. It serves as a replacement for the Game Capture HD60, and although it is superior in several respects, it also has some differences that could make its predecessor more suitable for you. .
Elgato Game Capture HD60 uses H.264 for encoding that doesn’t use your computer’s resources. The HD60 S, however, doesn’t have an H.264 encoder, which requires your computer to do more work.
The “Master Copy” function on the older device also gives you a higher quality recording compared to “Sequence Copy” recording on the HD60 S.
However, the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S comes equipped with “Instant Game View”, so you can see your content and even your webcam images in real time while you play. It also supports USB 3.1 for a low latency gaming experience.
Both capture devices are compatible with all current systems, just like the original Game Capture HD device. However, the only one still in production is the HD60 S, so you’ll pay a lot more than the suggested retail price for the previous HD60.