Elgato video grabbers for PC and 4K consoles

Do you want to dedicate yourself to the world of video game streaming ? Or are you just interested in uploading your games to YouTube or sharing them with friends? In these cases, one of the devices that cannot be missing from your computer is a good video capture device. Whether you want to broadcast content in real time, or if you want to obtain image and video of your games, that’s just what you need. And in this world, one of the most demanded brands is Elgato. So… Which one is the best for me? Let’s review its entire range of capturers.

Why do I need a grabber?

There are two ways to broadcast video game content, either live or recorded:

  • On the one hand, we can do it by software . In this first scenario, we store the game we are playing in the memory of a computer or console. Or, simply, we stream to a server directly from our machine. The process is not free, since we will give up part of our computing power (CPU, GPU, RAM memory and disk buffer) to carry out the process. This means that we will not get the highest possible quality streaming or, if we do, our video games could be affected in terms of resolution and framerate .
  • On the other hand, there is the hardware route. A capture card is a simple device that is placed between the video source (a console or a PC) and the screen. The device captures the video. From there and depending on the model, it will store the clips and they will be broadcast directly over the Internet in one way or another.

In the same way, with a capture device you can also manage the video output of a camera . The capture hardware will be in charge of collecting both video sources to later process them in the corresponding software.

The best Elgato capture devices with Full HD resolution

These are the two models that Elgato sells for all those who are satisfied with streaming in 1080 quality:

Elgato HD60 S+

_Elgato-HD60-S+

Let’s start with the simplest model of the brand. This grabber is great value for money. It has modest features, but it can be more than enough for any player who is starting out in the world of streaming.

This model is capable of outputting video at 1080p HDR and 60 frames per second . However, it allows us to output our main screen with a 4K resolution and 60 frames per second . It is an easy to use device and perfect for beginners.

Elgato HD60X

_Elgato-HD60-X

The most advanced model in this first block is the Elgato HD60 X capture card. It is a very versatile external capture card, and it is compatible with almost all the consoles that we have available today.

You can use this card with virtually any setup on PC, Mac, laptops, PlayStation 5, or Xbox X/S. It’s Plug & Play, and connects to your devices via USB-C. Works with a wide variety of streaming and capture software such as Twitch Studio, YouTube, OBS, XSplit, and Streamlabs. It also supports Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

This capture device supports several important technologies for professional use . First off, the card can capture at Full HD HDR10 resolution at 60 frames per second. However, the signal that reaches our screen can have a maximum resolution of 4K at 60 frames. All this is complemented by an instant display mode without delays and support for VRR, that is, the variable refresh rate, which is a key technology to get the most out of next-generation consoles.

This model covers very well the needs of a large majority of users . It is a complete product, very well resolved and of quality. However, there are superior models for those who have needs that go a little further.

The best Elgato capture devices with 4K resolution

Are you looking for a leap in quality? Here are the two professional Elgato alternatives:

Elgato 4K60 S+

Elgato-4K60-S+

There are grabbers where you have to give up certain parameters due to hardware limitations. This does not happen on the Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S+ capture card . As its name suggests, it is capable of transferring and capturing video at 4K resolution at 60 frames per second . All this is compatible with the HDR standard and, in addition, this card does its job without any performance hitch.

The Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S+ is one of the most powerful and versatile portable game capture devices out there. Its operation is as simple as the one we have explained in the previous model. It’s a matter of connecting and enjoying. In fact, the key feature of this model is that it can work completely offline. Simply put an SD card in the corresponding slot and press the record button. There is no need to complicate life.

Of course, getting a team with these characteristics is not exactly cheap . You have to be very expensive that you will be able to amortize the equipment before launching yourself into a purchase of this level.

Elgato 4K60 Pro Mk. two

_Elgato-4K60-Pro-MK.2

All capture models we’ve seen so far work with USB-C. This model is the exception, as it connects directly to the PCI Express slot of a desktop computer.

This is the most advanced card that Elgato currently has in its catalog. The Elgato Game Capture 4K60 Pro Mk. 2 offers some additional features, such as Multi App Access, which allows you to have multiple streaming and/or recording sources accessing your capture card at the same time.

Being built on the basis of a PCIe connector, it is even more affordable than the model that we have seen in the previous block, although we cannot say that it is cheap hardware either. Putting this card to work in your desktop computer is easy, since it is a matter of fitting it into the corresponding slot. However, it is understandable that some users do not dare with solutions of this type and prefer to play it safe with a model with a USB connection.

As if that were not enough, this model allows you to go at a much more professional pace. In case you need it, you can connect multiple Elgato 4K60 Pro Mk grabbers. 2 to your team . Obviously, the computer must be powerful enough both to move these PCI Express lines, and to manage the entire volume of data that is going to enter the system. This is where the Multi App Access software brings out its full power.