Head-to-head · Best Capture Cards for Streaming

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) vs Razer Ripsaw HD

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about Streamers who want 4K60 HDR capture from a PS5 or Xbox Series X without paying flagship prices. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)

4.5

$139.99as of Jun 7

The AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) is the value champion of the category, delivering 4K60 HDR capture with VRR plus 1440p144 and 1080p240 high-frame-rate modes at well under half the cost of the top Elgato. Reviewers found its 4K60 footage from a PS5 nearly indistinguishable from the pricier Elgato 4K X. The only real ceiling is the lack of HDMI 2.1, which most streamers will never miss.

Strengths

— 4K60 capture and passthrough with HDR and VRR support
— High-frame-rate modes: 1440p144 and 1080p240 capture
— Costs far less than the Elgato 4K X for near-identical 4K60 footage

Watch-outs

— No HDMI 2.1, so no 4K120 capture
— Tops out at 4K60 versus the 4K X's 4K144
— Bundled software is less polished than Elgato's suite

$139.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming

Razer Ripsaw HD

4.2

$136.97as of Jun 7

The Razer Ripsaw HD is the budget entry point, capturing crisp 1080p60 with 4K60 passthrough at the lowest price of this group. TweakTown crowned it the king of entry-level capture cards, and reviewers love the plug-and-play simplicity. The big caveats are no first-party capture software and a 1080p capture ceiling, so it suits beginners more than 4K creators.

Strengths

— Sharp, uncompressed-looking 1080p60 capture for the price
— 4K60 HDMI passthrough so you keep playing in full resolution
— Simple plug-and-play USB 3.0 setup with no drivers fuss

Watch-outs

— No dedicated capture software of its own
— Capture limited to 1080p60 with no 4K recording
— Earlier Ripsaw hardware had freezing and compatibility complaints

$136.97 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)

The GC553Pro hits the 4K60 sweet spot for far less than the Elgato 4K X, which only matters if you capture above 4K60. It beats the Elgato HD60 X on capture resolution (4K60 vs 1080p60) and, unlike the internal AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K (GC573), stays external with no PCIe-bandwidth caps.

Razer Ripsaw HD

The Ripsaw HD is the cheapest card here and captures 1080p60 like the Elgato HD60 X but without first-party software. It cannot match the 4K60 capture of the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) or AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K (GC573), nor the 4K144 ceiling of the Elgato 4K X.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)	Razer Ripsaw HD
Max Capture	4K60 HDR (1440p144 / 1080p240)	1080p60
Passthrough	4K60 HDR, 1440p144, 1080p240, VRR	4K60
Interface	USB 3.2 (USB-C)	USB 3.0
HDMI	HDMI 2.0	HDMI in / out
Audio	5.1 surround capture	Aux mic / audio mix-in
HDR	HDR capture + passthrough	—
Form Factor	External	External
Compatibility	—	PC, PS5/PS4, Xbox, Switch

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