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 4K streamers who don't need HDMI 2.1 / 4K144 and want to save versus the Elgato 4K X — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #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 →

Ranked #4 in Best Capture Cards for Streaming

Razer Ripsaw HD

4.2

$60as of May 19

The Ripsaw HD is the budget pick that's been holding the line for years. 1080p60 capture, 4K60 passthrough, USB 3.0, and built-in audio mixing — all the basics for a streaming kit at roughly 75% of the Elgato HD60 X's price. The trade-off is age: this is a 2019 product that hasn't been refreshed, and Razer's drivers are heavier than Elgato's. For first-time streamers on a tight budget, still a reasonable buy.

Strengths

— 1080p60 capture and 4K60 passthrough at the most aggressive price in this round-up
— USB 3.0 single-cable connection
— Built-in mic/headphone audio mixing for Discord and party chat passthrough

Watch-outs

— Razer's drivers are heavier than Elgato's lightweight install
— No HDR capture (passthrough is fine; capture flattens HDR)
— Older product — Razer hasn't iterated since 2019

$60 · 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.

Razer Ripsaw HD

Budget pick of the round-up. Matches the Elgato HD60 X on capture ceiling at a lower price. Loses to the HD60 X on driver lightness and Mac support. Far below the 4K-capable Elgato 4K X, AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S, and AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K on capture resolution.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra S (GC553Pro)	Razer Ripsaw HD
Capture Resolution	Up to 4K60 RGB24	Up to 1080p60
Passthrough	Up to 4K60 HDR	Up to 4K60
Interface	USB 3.2 Gen 2	USB 3.0
Connectivity	HDMI 2.0 in/out	HDMI 2.0 in/out
Audio	5.1 surround capture	—
Form Factor	External	External
OS Support	Windows 10/11, macOS 13+	Windows 8 64-bit or later
Audio Mixing	—	Built-in mic/headphone passthrough
Compatibility	—	PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC

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