You’ll need one of the top capture and streaming cards if you’re planning to start streaming your games. With an excellent capture card you can really step up your YouTube or Twitch game. A capture and streaming card allows you to customize your XSplit or OBS frame-up, to bypass restrictions, use your PC to record or stream consoles, and more. You can even maximize the quality of your broadcast by setting up dual-PC streaming.
The best streaming card choice for you depends on the content you plan to create. The cards come with different video resolutions for streaming. There are good 4K capture and streaming cards, but they are still expensive. For this reason, if you are on a budget it is recommended to look for cards in the 720-1080p range.
Check out below our list with the top 5 best streaming cards of PC gaming.
NOTE: If you buy something through this post, Player.One may get a share of the sale.
This capture and streaming card is recommended for serious users who can afford to pay the premium price. With a frame rate of 60 fps, this is one of the best 4K capture cards on the market today. The Elgato 4K60 Pro comes with a PCIe x 4 interface and Elgato software. It allows video encoding in order to reduce video size. Connected to a high-end PC, this video card with ultra-low latency is capable of capture at 4K 60 fps and streaming at 1080p 60 fps. This is an excellent choice for capturing gameplay at the highest possible frame rate and resolution.
While this game capture card can't do 4K, this is another great choice for pro-users. The Elgato HD60 Pro comes with HDMI and PCIe x 1 interface. It has a small and classy form-factor. The card features an advanced onboard H.264 encoder that allows users to capture at a bitrate of 60mbps and a resolution of 1080p [60fps]. It can stream at 720p [60 fps].
This is one of the best capture and streaming cards for newcomers. The HD60 S comes with an USB 3.0 interface. It is a great choice for anyone who want to get their gameplay online as easy as possible. The built-in software can help you start smoothly. The Flashback Recording feature allows you to capture retroactively if you forgot to press the “record” button. The HD60 S comes with an affordable price and provides excellent capture quality at a resolution of 1080p and a frame rate of 60 fps.
AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus
The Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus is a an easy-to-use choice. The card can capture at 60 fps and 1080p. Even if it’s not captured in 4K, the card allows you to still play in ultra HD. It comes with Mac compatibility and a USB 3.0 interface. The Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus has an attractive form-factor and stylish design, featuring neon-blue strip lighting, black casing, and red trim. It offers the possibility to capture directly on a Micro SD card and features live-editing software. Overall, the Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus by AverMedia is one of the best capture and streaming cards that offers lots of flexibility and good performance.
The Razer Ripsaw HD is a good middle-ground option. The card offers 1080p capture and 4K pass-through at a frame rate of 60 fps. It comes with an USB 3.0 interface and easy to use built-in audio mixing. This capture and streaming card by Razer is highly appreciated by PC gamers for its top-notch visual fidelity that comes at an affordable price.
