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Head-to-head · Best Capture Cards for Streaming

Elgato 4K X vs Elgato HD60 X

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

Elgato 4K X comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Serious streamers and creators capturing high-refresh 4K gameplay from a PS5 or modern PC who want maximum headroom. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Elgato 4K X
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming
Elgato 4K X
$201.71as of Jun 7

The Elgato 4K X is the most capable external capture card you can buy right now, pushing all the way to 4K144 capture with HDR10 and HDMI 2.1 passthrough. Reviewers treat it as the gold standard for serious creators who want headroom beyond 4K60. It costs more than the competition and demands a fast PC, but nothing else in the external class matches its ceiling.

Strengths
  • — Captures up to 4K144 with HDR10, far beyond most external cards
  • — HDMI 2.1 in and out with lag-free VRR passthrough for OLED and high-refresh panels
  • — USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) keeps it external and PC-and-Mac friendly
Watch-outs
  • — Most expensive external card here at around $200
  • — 4K144 capture needs serious storage and CPU headroom
  • — HDR10 capture is Windows-only
$201.71 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Elgato HD60 X
Ranked #3 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming
Elgato HD60 X
$138.84as of Jun 7

The Elgato HD60 X is the safe, beginner-friendly external card that pairs reliable 1080p60 capture with 4K60 HDR and 1440p120 VRR passthrough. Reviewers consistently praise it as the easiest plug-and-play option with the most polished software, ideal for console streamers who output at 1080p. It is fundamentally a 1080p capture card, so creators who actually need 4K recording should step up.

Strengths
  • — 4K60 HDR10 passthrough with 1440p120 and VRR for modern consoles
  • — Reliable, high-quality 1080p60 capture for streaming
  • — External plug-and-play box that works without a PC case
Watch-outs
  • — Capture maxes out at 1080p60 (or 4K30), not 4K60
  • — No HDMI 2.1, so no 4K120 with VRR passthrough on Xbox
  • — HDR works on passthrough but not on 4K recording
$138.84 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Elgato 4K X

The 4K X is the only card here that captures past 4K60, beating the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) which caps at 4K60. It is external like the Elgato HD60 X but far more capable, and unlike the internal AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K (GC573) it needs no PCIe slot.

Elgato HD60 X

The HD60 X is the easiest external card to live with but caps capture at 1080p60, where the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) captures full 4K60 for a similar price. It shares Elgato software with the 4K X but lacks that card's HDMI 2.1 and 4K144 ceiling, and unlike the internal AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K (GC573) it needs no PCIe slot.

Specs side-by-side

SpecElgato 4K XElgato HD60 X
Max Capture4K144 (2160p144) HDR101080p60 (or 4K30) HDR10
Passthrough4K144 (4K120 on DSC displays), VRR4K60 HDR10, 1440p120, VRR
InterfaceUSB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C)USB 3.0 (USB-C)
HDMIHDMI 2.1 in / outHDMI 2.0
HDRHDR10 capture (Windows) + passthroughPassthrough + 1080p60 HDR10 capture
CompatibilityPS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, PC, Mac, iPadPS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC
Form FactorExternalExternal
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