The best video capture cards of 2022

If you want to make content creation your profession or just want to put in the effort to create a truly groundbreaking video that will be enjoyed by millions, then you need a capture card that’s up to the task. Finding the right card for you is important, and you need to consider budget, performance, and capabilities when making your selection. In this article, we have listed the best video capture cards so you can get an idea of ​​what the market has to offer. Hope you find the card that suits you so you can get your projects off the ground.

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What are the best video capture cards?

We have listed the best video capture cards by category below. They’re not in any particular order, so read them all and see which one matters most to you. Then you should be able to make an informed decision when it comes to purchasing a capture card for your own purposes.

Best Portable Capture Card – Elgato 4K60 S+

If portability is key to you, then look no further than the Elgato 4K60 S+. This device is a standalone capture card that can capture any modern console with HDMI output. It stores video and audio so all of this can be routed to one monitor so you can play at the same time. All you need is an SD card that can store all the footage. However, it is not a perfect system. For example, if you want to use headphones on a PlayStation console, you’ll need to use Chat Link to connect a headset to your controller. It’s not the most complicated thing in the world, but it’s an extra layer of effort on top of what should be a simple process. Still, a 256GB SD card lets you record up to seven hours of 4K footage without having to do anything else, and that’s pretty impressive. You can even connect this card to your computer and use it for streaming, eliminating the need for a second capture card for these purposes. If you’re capturing footage for later editing, or want to future-proof your setup to keep your options open, this is the most efficient card for you.

Best 4K Capture Card – AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2

While Elgato has conquered the market in terms of quality, it can’t match on price. The AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 costs less than the Elgato equivalent and captures up to 4K gameplay perfectly. The benefit of this particular capture card is that it’s also portable, meaning you can plug it in at your desk to stream or record, or just leave it running while you game on the couch and save all the footage you’ve created.

Best Internal Capture Card – Elgato 4K60 Pro

The Elgato 4K60 Pro is the best internal capture card out there. It does everything you need including capturing footage, allowing you to stream it, adding audio and cameras, it’s all there. However, the price reflects this, so you’ll need to save some cash if you want one. This card also takes up space in your PC. While you can plug in as many of these cards as you like, they won’t do anything unless your PC can fit them and the software accepts them. So do some research to see if your components are compatible before you buy one.

Best External Capture Card – Elgato HD60 X

Elgato really is top notch when it comes to capture cards. The HD60 X is an unrivaled external capture card that accepts video and audio over HDMI, not only capturing but also delivering to your monitor. This allows you to capture video and audio while streaming or gaming with your default configuration. You can connect a microphone and use Elgato’s own software to record everything, including a face camera. You can customize every aspect of the recorded gameplay, which can all be recorded in 4K quality, provided your device can also output videos in this quality. The main benefit of an external capture card is that its storage space is limited by your computer and you can set everything up to save footage to an external hard drive, giving you almost unlimited storage potential. However, as you might expect, the price reflects the quality and capabilities of this hardware. However, if you’re looking for something that can do it all and work with every streaming software on the market, this is the card you need.

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Best Budget Capture Card – MiraBox USB 3.0

If you don’t want to invest too much money in a capture card, the MiraBox USB 3.0 is for you. It costs around $50 depending on where you buy it, but don’t expect the same level of sophistication as the other cards on this list. The card can capture HDMI video and audio and pump it into your computer, but the rest is up to you. The software and setup is all you have to figure out on your own, and then get the video into a format you can edit if that’s your goal. However, this is a great way to get some practice with streaming and setting up all the gear without the pressure of spending big bucks. Try this card for a while, then invest in something stronger when you gain some experience.