Capture Cards

A capture card is chosen on capture resolution and frame rate, connection type (internal PCIe versus external USB), and passthrough support for your own display. The high end here handles 4K with high-refresh passthrough (AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K 2.1 and GC573 PCIe, Elgato 4K Pro and 4K X, Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1), which matters if you game at 4K or 120Hz+ and want to monitor without lag. Mid-tier USB units (Elgato HD60 X and S+, Game Capture Neo, Cam Link 4K, AVerMedia Ultra S) cover 1080p/1440p streaming and webcam-style camera input, and budget options (Elgato HD60 S+, Genki ShadowCast 2, AVerMedia GC311) suit console clips and simpler setups.

The internal-versus-external fork is practical: PCIe cards (GC573, Live Gamer 4K 2.1) need a desktop slot but free up USB bandwidth, while USB devices work with laptops and dual-PC streaming rigs. The Cam Link 4K specifically targets using a mirrorless camera as a webcam rather than capturing a console or second PC.

Decide first what you're capturing (console, second gaming PC, or a camera) and the resolution/refresh you need passed through, then pick internal or external to match your rig. Don't overbuy 4K if you stream at 1080p. Scores are based on sourced specs, not hands-on testing.