Head-to-head · Best Capture Cards for Streaming

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro) vs Elgato 4K 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 (4.5 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about professional streamers and content creators who output 4K HDR or 4K120/144 and want HDMI 2.1 throughout — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)

4.5

$140as of May 19

The Live Gamer Ultra S is the AVerMedia answer to the Elgato 4K X for streamers who don't need 4K144. It captures full 4K60 with RGB24 color depth and supports 1080p240 for esports streamers. It's typically $30-100 cheaper than the 4K X depending on sales. The trade-off is HDMI 2.0 instead of 2.1 — if you only need 4K60 passthrough anyway, this is the smarter buy.

Strengths

— 4K60 RGB24 capture — true-color uncompressed pipeline
— 5.1 surround sound capture for console streams
— Roughly $30 cheaper than the Elgato 4K X with similar 4K60 capability

Watch-outs

— HDMI 2.0 only — passthrough caps at 4K60, no 4K120/144 like the Elgato 4K X
— OBS plugin support is more limited than Elgato's ecosystem
— RGB24 capture eats storage faster than YUV420 modes

$140 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming

Elgato 4K X

4.6

$248as of May 19

The 4K X is what you buy when you want zero compromises. HDMI 2.1 across the board, 4K144 HDR10 capture and passthrough, VRR support, and a single USB cable connection. PC Gamer calls it the best capture card overall for 2026. The only reason to look elsewhere is price — at $230, it's roughly double the Razer Ripsaw HD and 50% more than the Elgato HD60 X.

Strengths

— HDMI 2.1 input and output with full 4K144 HDR10 passthrough and capture
— VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) passthrough means PS5 and Xbox Series X games stay smooth
— USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 single-cable connection — no separate power adapter required

Watch-outs

— Most expensive pick in this round-up
— Requires USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) for full 4K144 — older USB ports will downscale
— 4K144 capture files are huge — plan storage and bitrate accordingly

$248 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)

Closest direct competitor to the Elgato 4K X on capture quality at a lower price. Loses on passthrough (4K60 vs 4K144), wins on RGB24 true-color capture. The Elgato HD60 X is much cheaper but caps at 1080p60. The Razer Ripsaw HD is in a different price tier entirely and matches the HD60 X's 1080p60 ceiling.

Elgato 4K X

Most capable card here on every axis — capture resolution, refresh rate, HDR, passthrough latency. The AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S matches 4K60 capture at a lower price but lacks the 4K144 ceiling. The Elgato HD60 X tops out at 1080p60 capture. PCIe-based AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K matches on capture spec but needs a desktop and a free PCIe slot.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)	Elgato 4K X
Capture Resolution	Up to 4K60 RGB24	Up to 4K144 HDR10
Passthrough	Up to 4K60 HDR	Up to 4K144 HDR10 VRR
Interface	USB 3.2 Gen 2	USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)
Connectivity	HDMI 2.0 in/out	HDMI 2.1 in/out
Audio	5.1 surround capture	—
Form Factor	External	External (4.4 x 2.8 x 0.7 in)
OS Support	Windows 10/11, macOS 13+	Windows, macOS

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