Thankfully, you do get a high image quality out of it thanks to its input resolution of 4K 60 Hz and an output resolution of 1080p 30 Hz. Given the rigorous protection this cable received, and the thick layers of protection surrounding the wiring inside, its safe to say the cable isnt at grave risk of giving way immediately. As far as recording goes, the unit can capture 4K footage at 30fps or 1080p footage at a smoother 60fps. Both are exceptionally well labeled with large and highly readable lettering, and theyre ordered alphabetically incase the lettering happens to fade away. If you dont want your streaming setup to require a ton of wires running to and fro, the Genki Shadowcast is what youll want. Both the 4KC and 4KP provide many of the same essential features. This PCIe internal card captures footage up to a 4K resolution directly to your hard drive without breaking a sweat, with an up to 140 Mbps bitrate. And, it records all your action-packed moments at 1080p/60fps without any compression or lag. Once youve got the Genki Shadowcast wired into your source device, youll connect it using a single USB-C cable to the laptop or desktop computer youll use as a capture device. It also doesnt support really ancient versions of OS X, though there are a few isolated instances where Mac support does work. To make sure that it is a viable option for all kinds of scenarios, Elgato has offered dual HDMI ports on this unit. Here at NerdTechy, we try to make tech simple for the everyday person. Additionally, the Elgato's HDR tone mapping allows users to play at 4K HDR while streaming in standard dynamic range. The Flint provides 4K pass-through with 60fps while the Chert offers 30fps. Using USB 3.0 is really what allows for the total elimination of lag, especially when dealing with gaming consoles. There is a convenient light indicator on the unit that changes color depending on the status of the capture card, so youll know when it's active, idling, updating, or not working. No ads or spams, we promise. Thus, some of the best video capture cards have been explained above along with their prominent features and specifications. The system requirements for this card are also terribly low. For that, you will require specific hardware which happens to be the best video capture cards present down below as they offer these features: To help you out further there is a detailed Buying Guide that should allow you to buy the best video capture card by the time you reach the end of this list. On the other hand, if you have a gaming console, then you would also want to display the video output from it on your monitor and not just capture it. NerdTechy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking nerdtechy.com to (amazon.com, amzn.to) As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Not everybody wants to have to learn new software, or switch to inferior software in order to use their new hardware. A lot of video game capture cards are counting on you to have either an open PCIe slot in your gaming PC or a classic USB-A port. Why choose an external HDMI video capture card? The USB-C connection head is in an unpleasant middle position, somewhere between being bulky and being slim. Meanwhile, the card can pass the video signal from your game system through to your monitor or TV at 4K/60Hz with HDR, 2K/144Hz, or 1080p/240Hz. Now, the hardware you need to take advantage of those cards has become a lot more abundant. The consoles aren't left out either, as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X both are geared up for 4K/60 and HDR as well. Was this helpful? Thankfully, you do get a high image quality out of it thanks to its input resolution of 4K 60 Hz and an output resolution of 1080p 30 Hz. The Ipxozo video capture card comes at the 1st position of this list since this can be a great pick for those who are looking for affordable options. Once you have connected your consoles, you can enjoy its input resolution of 4K 60 Hz along with an output resolution of 1080p 60 Hz which is on par even with more expensive options. After that, you should ask yourself if youre an established video creator, or youre just starting out. Usually, you will find video capture cards to include either a 1 year long or a 2-year warranty. Your email address will not be published. Coming to the image quality offered by this video capture card, it supports an input resolution of 4K 60 Hz along with an output resolution of 1080p 60 Hz which is perfect for games. Even when it comes to their added software. The stream engine allows you to use basically any set of mainstream streaming software. The ClonerAlliance Flint 4KP isnt quite as portable as the Chert, but its close. But, if youre running a thin-and-light laptop as your streaming PC, those two connections might not be an option. Overall, the plug-and-play nature, low price, and solid performance make the EVGA XR1 Lite a great capture card option. Although, the best thing about this video capture card is that it is backed by a lifetime warranty which makes it perfect for long-term usage. Especially on platforms like the Xbox One, PS4, and Wii. The audio-out port is useful for attaching a headset, though in order to use a USB headset, which happens to be an increasingly common type of gaming headset, youd need a USB to 3.5mm adapter. Those of you who are interested in streaming their gameplays or any other computer applications to platforms like YouTube Gaming, Twitch, Facebook Gaming, might also want to capture their camera footage or console gameplay. To offer such a resolution, this video capture card relies on USB 3.0 connectivity. This card measures 2.8 x 0.9 x 5.2-inches, and only weighs a couple of ounces. Since you will not be capturing any gameplay footage with this video capture card, its input resolution is only 4K 30 Hz along with a slightly lower output resolution of 1080p 30 Hz which is not as smooth as 60 Hz. For example, one of its external units will record to an SD card thus eliminating the need to lug out your laptop just because you want to record some footage. They provide everything necessary for basic editing and content creation, though if youre looking to do anything truly advanced, youll still need to rely on specialist software from brands like Adobe. But unlike any other dual HDMI port capture card, this one supports multiple input and output resolutions of 4K 60 Hz, 1440p 144 Hz, and even 1080p 240 Hz. The labeling of these ports is a little underwhelming because its slightly hard to read. Unfortunately, despite its fairly high price tag, it has a poor input resolution of 1080p 60 Hz and an output resolution of 1080p 60 Hz which can be quite limited for many users. Housed in a plastic chassis, the EVGA XR1 Lite is still sleek and seemingly durable. The built-in audio jacks allow you to add commentary over your track while you play. Taking a gamble on a cheap no-name capture card isnt worth the frustration. Thats lag-free pass-through with VRR, too, so youll be able to stay as competitive as ever while youre playing. To its credit, the Flints USB cable isnt permanently attached, which gives it a virtually limitless lifespan. Learn more by checking out our about us page. Likewise, their hardware has smooth integration with the most popular streaming software suites, like XSplit and OBS. While this capture card is a USB 3.0 one in terms of its connectivity, it requires an additional USB port for its power requirements which can be a let down for many. In addition to pumping out full HD broadcasts, itll simultaneously record said footage to your hard drive at 1080p60 in the H.264 codec at a 60 Mbps maximum bitrate. NerdTechy is supported by its audience. The audio-in and audio-out ports allow you to capture game audio, as well as reroute that audio to your headset. But it does mean when the cable goes bad, youll have to toss the entire device. And the files arent terribly large for editing or uploading them online. However, if you want a warranty along with your video capture card, then you should look elsewhere. It tells you about the actual resolution that you can record and use in programs like OBS or XSplit. Releasing Summer 2023. To work with both devices, this capture card relies on its dual HDMI port setup. The GL310 doesnt support Mac OS 10.14 or above. Whether you want to build out a professional streaming channel or just want to share your gaming footage with friends, a quality capture card can help you get great recordings without impacting your play. Your budding audience would be better served with more frequent streams than you working a third job to afford faster internet and a ridiculous capture card. As for the video capture signal, it is sent over to your computer via USB similar to a single HDMI capture card. When you make the jump to an internal card, take a look at the Game Capture HD60 from Elgato instead. Although, if you truly want the best-performing capture card for recording or streaming your gameplay, then you should consider going with PCIe capture cards since they are much faster than USB 3.0 and offer better image quality. The only tricky thing about this capture solution is you need a Thunderbolt 3 port, which means you can use it with only a few compatible gaming motherboards and gaming laptops. Physically speaking, its basically looks like a USB flash drive thats been slightly widened so ports could be added. For both the Flint and Chert, ClonerAlliance uses pretty standard UVC technology to ensure their devices are compatible with anything you want to plug them into. Youll also want to consider operating system support, though this tends to be something thats easy to deal, assuming youre not using a PC or console thats two decades old. The EVGA XR1 Lite is both compact and affordable, but that doesnt mean its not a capable companion for any gamer getting into video capture or streaming. Because this video capture consists of dual HDMI ports, it can be used with both your console as well as your camera just per your requirements. This Extenuating Thread video capture card is a highly affordable option especially when you consider its ideal usage and versatility. Because of this, using one of the best video capture cards stated above can be a great option if you want to stream or record your gameplay. Beyond the basic ability to record 4K HDR footagewhich is pretty great on its ownthe Elgato Game Capture 4K60 Pro Mk. That is some serious flexibility for a $50 capture card, though its worth noting that the max output resolution from the Shadowcast is 1080p at 30fps. Because it can be paired up with game consoles, tablets, notebooks, and so forth. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); They call me TechGuru. A minor inconvenience to some people, but one that can be overcome. Unfortunately, since Ipxozo is an affordable brand, it misses out on a warranty. For one thing, youll never have to worry about misplacing the cable, or not bringing the cable with you when its necessary. Established streamers probably prefer recording devices that will cooperate with their favorite streaming software. Check out the latest Final Fantasy 16 trailer, highlighting combat, summons, story beats, and more! With respect to platform support, youll find full compatibility for Windows, Linux, Android, and Mac operating systems. Speaking of added software, the Flint includes HDML-Cloner Pro Helper, MP4-Cloner, and the ClonerAlliance App. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. But, then theres USB-C and the Asus TUF CU4K30 to save the day. In the roundup above you may have noticed one name popped up a lot in particular: Elgato. Portable capture cards are sometimes made with cables that are permanently attached. If you dont need 4K content to be run at higher frame rates, then the Chert is an excellent choice. Best Video Capture Cards in 2022: Reviews, 4. As mentioned earlier, for using a video capture card to get video signals on your computer, it has to be connected via some sort of interface. This makes it perfect for games that require cat-like reflexes like Spelunky or twitch aiming like Apex Legends. For capture, it can save content in full HD while running at 60fps. If you see the appeal of always recording without necessarily burning through your storage space at the same time, the AVerMedia card is a great choice. Its all about passing the buck. But if you dont have software already, or youre looking for something thats more approachable than professional streaming and editing software, its worth examining included apps. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. While older video capture cards use the slower USB 2.0 connector, modern ones generally rely on USB 3.0 for better speeds and image quality. Even if you have a high-speed USB 3.0 video capture card, there is still a pretty high chance that it offers only up to 1080p 60 Hz output or recording resolution. If you are still not able to pick the right video capture card for you, consider going through our ideal picks for the best video capture cards: Your email address will not be published.