The best 4K capture cards allow you to play and record your gameplay in breathtaking quality without impacting your gaming performance. You can save the footage for later or stream directly into multiple platforms such as Twitch or YouTube.
The latest game consoles have powerful hardware from NVIDIA and AMD, making 4K gaming more accessible than ever. Some capture cards are well-suited for consoles and PCs.
Here are the best 4K capture cards for streaming you can buy today.
The AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt is the best external 4K capture card for streaming you can buy today. It's an external card with a Thunderbolt 3 interface, which makes latency a thing of the past. Play and stream everything in real-time while adding live commentary through the mic input, thanks to the whopping 40Gbps bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3.
The Live Gamer Bolt lets you play and record high-quality footage in 4K at 60Hz with HDR. If you drop the resolution to 1080p, you can enjoy a high refresh rate gaming up to 240FPS to gain a competitive advantage over your opponents.
In addition to the impressive spec sheet, this 4K capture card comes bundled with RECentral software for video capture and CyberLink PowerDirector 15 to edit your recorded footage. The Live Gamer Bolt is also compatible with popular streaming software such as OBS and XSplit.
- Thunderbolt 3 Interface
- 4K60 HDR capture
- RGB lighting
- Brand: AVerMedia
- Max Passthrough Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Max Capture Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Interface: Thunderbolt 3
- OBS Compatible: Yes
- Mic In: Yes
- Built-in Hardware Encoder: No
- Bundled Software: RECentral, CyberLink PowerDirector 15
- 4K 60 HDR capture and up to 240FPS at 1080p
- Ultra-low latency
- Great aesthetics with RGB
- No built-in hardware encoder
The Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 is a no-frills PCIe internal card that records high-quality 4K HDR footage directly onto your hard drive. It's a great 4K capture card for streaming if you use a desktop for capturing and streaming. It offers lag-free video passthrough and capture, excellent for real-time streaming and responsive gaming.
Besides the capture card, you also get the bundled feature-rich software, the 4K Capturing Utility (4KCU). The software unlocks additional capabilities such as Multi App Access to capture and stream your gameplay in multiple apps. It also works with the most popular streaming software and platforms.
Another unique feature in the 4K60 Pro MK.2 is Flashback Recording. In case you forgot to hit record while gaming, you can roll back in time and start recording afresh or only save the epic highlights. Such capabilities give you total control and flexibility, making the Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 one of the standout 4K capture cards in the market.
- 4K60 HDR capture
- Lag-free recording and gaming
- Flashback recording
- Multi-app support
- Brand: Elgato
- Max Passthrough Resolution: 2160p60 HDR10
- Max Capture Resolution: 2160p60 HDR10
- Interface: PCIe x4
- OBS Compatible: Yes
- Mic In: No
- Built-in Hardware Encoder: No
- Bundled Software: 4KCU
- High-quality video capture
- Instant gameplay and recording with no latency
- High refresh rate gaming
- Can capture content to multiple apps at once
- Heatsink for cooling
- No built-in hardware encoder
- Requires a desktop
The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA is a very impressive 4K capture card that can record amazing 4K quality footage, albeit at 30Hz, without breaking the bank. You can broadcast the footage while playing in crystal clear 4K resolution at 60Hz with HDR.
You can bump the resolution down to 1080p to capture in smoother 120FPS. That's a win for a 4K capture card of this price. But what makes the Live Gamer ULTRA unique from the other cheap 4K capture cards is the USB 3.1 Gen1 interface, which minimizes latency for lag-free passthrough and streaming.
You also get bundled software for capturing, streaming, and editing the recorded 4K footage. It's an external capture card, so you can easily stuff it in a backpack when going to tournaments and stream the gameplay to your followers.
- 4K at 60Hz HDR passthrough
- 4K video capture at 30Hz
- Supports ultrawide resolutions
- Brand: AVerMedia
- Max Passthrough Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Max Capture Resolution: 2160p30
- Interface: USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
- OBS Compatible: Yes
- Mic In: No
- Built-in Hardware Encoder: Yes
- Bundled Software: RECentral, CyberLink PowerDirector 15
- Cheap 4K capture card
- Built-in H.264 hardware encoder
- High quality video capture
- Low latency recording
- No mic input
The AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K is the best internal 4K capture card for streaming if you're into RGB. It adds a little flair to your streaming PC with RGB lighting and offers up to 4K60 passthrough and capture with HDR.
Another advantage of the Live Gamer 4K is the built-in H.264 hardware encoder. All the processing takes place on the card, so capturing or recording won't impact your gaming performance. You also don't need a powerful desktop to use it.
Elsewhere, you're getting many extras, including the bundled RECentral software and CyberLink PowerDirector 15 to edit 4K videos easily. However, the Live Gamer 4K can be expensive. If you don't need HDR or have a powerful gaming PC, this might be an unnecessary investment.
- Customizable RGB lighting
- PCIe capture card. No added latency or lag.
- Supports ultrawide resolutions
- Brand: AVerMedia
- Max Passthrough Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Max Capture Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Interface: PCIe x4
- OBS Compatible: Yes
- Mic In: No
- Built-in Hardware Encoder: Yes
- Bundled Software: RECentral, CyberLink PowerDirector 15
- High quality 4K HDR video recording
- Built-in hardware encoder
- Supports high FPS passthrough and capture
- Requires a desktop
The Elgato 4K60 S+ is one of the only 4K capture cards that can record gameplay without processing from a gaming PC or gaming laptop. You only need a gaming PC or console with a monitor, and the 4K60 S+ will record everything on an SD card.
It can record in 4K resolution at 60Hz with HDR no less. It's the best capture card to take to tournaments and recording gameplay when out and about.
It also has a USB 3.0 interface, which is excellent if you want to stream in real-time or record the captured gameplay on a PC, making it the most versatile 4K capture card for streaming you can buy today.
The Elgato 4K60 S+ comes bundled with the 4KCU software, but it also works with popular broadcasting apps. Additionally, you get capabilities such as Flashback Recording and Live Commentary. It might be one of the most pricey 4K capture cards, but it is worth every penny.
- Does not require a PC to record gameplay
- 4K60 HDR capture
- Built-in hardware encoder
- Brand: Elgato
- Max Passthrough Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Max Capture Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Interface: USB 3.0, SD Card
- OBS Compatible: Yes
- Mic In: Yes
- Built-in Hardware Encoder: Yes
- Bundled Software: 4KCU
- Does not impact gameplay at all
- Two recording options; standalone or PC
- Portable
- High quality passthrough and recording
- USB 3.0 adds a bit of latency
The Elgato HD60 S+ is the most economical 4K capture card that allows you to capture 4K footage. While it restricts you to 30Hz when recording, you can play games in flawless 4K quality at 60FPS with HDR.
If you dial down the capture resolution to 1080p, you can record at 60Hz with HDR, which is not bad for a capture card this cheap. The bundled 4KCU software unlocks advanced features such as live commentary and flashback recording.
You can stream your games in real-time using OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS, XSplit, and other streaming apps. Overall, the HD60 S+ can save you a lot of money if you're willing to bump the capture resolution down or record in a lower framerate.
- Flashback recording
- Live commentary
- 4K at 30Hz capture or up to 60Hz at 1080p with HDR
- Brand: Elgato
- Max Passthrough Resolution: 2160p60 HDR
- Max Capture Resolution: 2160p30, 1080p60 HDR
- Interface: USB 3.0 Type-C
- OBS Compatible: Yes
- Mic In: No
- Built-in Hardware Encoder: No
- Bundled Software: 4KCU
- Supports 4K at 60FPS gaming with HDR
- Cheap and affordable
- High quality capture
- Feature packed
- No built-in hardware encoder
- USB 3.0 adds bit of latency
The Razer Ripsaw HD is the most reasonable 4K capture cards for streaming. It supports high resolution 4K gaming at 60 frames per second, but you can only capture the gaming footage in Full HD. It's great if you have bandwidth limitations, as uploading in 4K requires a lot of bandwidth.
For the price, you're getting a 4K capture card with two HDMI 2.0 ports and two audio inputs for audio mixing capabilities. It does not come with any bundled software but is compatible with most popular streaming apps such as OBS and XSplit.
Depending on the software you use, you can simultaneously stream to Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms without paying a premium.
- Two audio inputs
- HDMI 2.0 for 4K passthrough
- Live commentary and audio mixing capabilities
- Brand: Razer
- Max Passthrough Resolution: 2160p60
- Max Capture Resolution: 1080p60
- Interface: USB 3.0 Type-C
- OBS Compatible: Yes
- Mic In: Yes
- Built-in Hardware Encoder: No
- Bundled Software: No
- 1080p60 capture
- Attractive price
- Uninterrupted 4K 60Hz gaming
- Compact design
- No high-frame rate capture for PC gaming
- No capture software included
FAQ
Q: Do Streamers Use Capture Cards?
If you want to start a streaming channel, Twitch career, or share your gaming footage with friends, you'll need to invest in a good capture card. A capture card allows you to record the gaming footage while you play without impacting your performance. You can still achieve those high frame rates while streaming the gameplay live.
Q: How Do I Record High Quality Video on PS4?
To record high-quality video on the PlayStation 4, you need a 4K capture card that supports 4K 60Hz recordings. The best 4K capture cards also support 4K recording in HDR for the best picture quality and immersive graphics.
Q: Are Capture Cards Better Than OBS?
Capture cards are not better than OBS as the two are very different technologies. Capture cards allow you to record the gaming footage as you play, while OBS is a streaming software that enables you to stream the recorded footage to Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms. To stream your gameplay, you need a capture card and streaming software such as OBS.
Q: Is a Capture Card Better for Streaming?
A capture card is better for streaming if your game stream lasts longer than 15 minutes. The PlayStation 4 restricts game capture up to 15 minutes, and there's a 10-minute limit on the Xbox One.
With a capture card, you can stream your gameplay in real-time, add voice commentary, and even edit the gaming footage on the fly on supported capture cards.
Q: Do I Need a Video Capture Card to Live Stream?
If you want to start live streaming your gameplay, you'll need a capture card. The best 4K capture cards for streaming allow you to stream and share high-quality 4K footage to your followers without impacting your gaming performance.
