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.

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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 #1 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)

4.5

3 sources1 derived$139.99as of Aug 1

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 #3 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming

Razer Ripsaw HD

4.2

3 sources1 derived$49.99as of Jul 31

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

$49.99 · Buy at gamestop.com Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

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.

Razer Ripsaw HD

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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