

It’s no surprise that an Elgato capture card has snagged the top spot on our list. Always do your research and shop around to get the best deal. Whatever your reason, we’ve compiled a list of the best budget capture cards for streaming-all under $150.īe advised that capture card prices can and will change with market demands.
#Capture card Pc
For starters, why pay extra for features like 4K or 60fps if your PC can’t handle them? Furthermore, if you’re new to streaming, you might not want to invest a ton of money until you’re sure the hobby is right for you. If you’re just starting out, there are a variety of reasons why you might not want to blow a small fortune on a capture card. Furthermore, capture cards can be used to turn a DSLR into a webcam and they’re also required if you want to stream from a two PC setup. While there are some consoles that don’t require capture cards, many streamers still use them to save their PCs from the intense load that gaming and streaming can cause.
#Capture card software
Having a capture card can allow you to capture higher-quality gameplay and can give your more software options on your PC to set your stream up how you would like.If you’re looking to stream gameplay from a Switch, PS4, or Xbox, you’re going to want a capture card. While both the PS5 and Xbox Series X can capture gameplay without the need for a dedicated capture card, we'd say it is still best to use one. Do I need a capture card to stream from a console? It is also worth noting that capture cards also tend to allow you to record for longer than internal recording systems on a console. They're also more portable, so if you do want to take your console out, or you're running things into a laptop, then going for an external card can work well. However, if you're wanting to run a cable from your console to the PC, then an external card like the Elgato HD60 S+ may be better. If your console is within easy reach from your PC, then going for an internal capture card, akin to the AVerMedia Live Gamer Duo keeps things easy by allowing it to be hooked up directly to your PC's motherboard, but it can be a little fiddly to install. This all depends on the space you've got, but also how convenient it'll be to connect to different devices. What's better - an internal or external capture card? They allow for proper high-quality footage to be captured which in turn can raise the production value of videos and streams, and some can even offer 4K output, as is the case with the ASUS TUF Gaming Video Capture Card, for example. If you're going to be spending some time capturing game footage and streaming, then we think getting a capture card is a great idea. Once that's all downloaded and set up, the process for capturing gameplay doesn't look to be too difficult, and if you've got everything set up correctly, then it should be a case of just hitting the record button. Some will have built-in capture software, whilst others like the GENKI ShadowCast will rely on the user downloading a suite like OBS that can then capture the input from the original device, like a games console.

How do capture cards work?Ĭapture cards work simply by having an HDMI input that can then be connected to a device where the footage can be stored and cast, either live through streaming on the likes of Twitch, or edited and uploaded to YouTube. Struggling to pick out the right capture card for you? We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about them to help your search.

Frequently asked questions about capture cards
#Capture card 1080p
The maximum output resolution on offer is 1080p at 30fps which is fine for content creators just looking to get started and even for those who stream and film videos casually.

#Capture card drivers
This offers a practical plug-and-play setup with minimal cables also ensuring things remain clutter-free.Īs your PC will treat the ShadowCast like a webcam, there are no drivers or additional software to install, and you're then free to utilise any capture software you wish, including the highly popular OBS. It connects via a single HDMI port to a console of your choosing, which can then be connected to your PC via USB-C.
