Best Budget Game Capture Card Mac

I want to start streaming my old playstaion, neogeo, n64 and other consol games on my mac. I hear Elgato doesnt work so the other choices i read about are avermedia and the one by hauppuage. I need a capture card that can work with any ps2 or playstation consol, xbox 360, wii, and maybe for my. Best game-capture card. On the type of camera you might want with an eye toward budget. Best vlogging cameras. Xbox and to a PC or Mac and a display and it will capture your gameplay.

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Nov 06,2017• Proven solutions

If you have an Xbox one you may wonder why you need to get a capture card at all due to the fact that it already has recording and streaming capacities. The first reason is that you will be able to have more control over you capabilities for recording. You can record longer periods of game play with a capture card vs the 5 minutes per recording on the Xbox 360. The quality of a capture card is better so you are not limited and you don’t have to worry about too much space being taken up on your console. The next step once you have realised the numerous benefits to using a capture card is to find the best game capture cards for Xbox one.

1. External game capture cards

Today we will look at 5 of the best game capture cards for Xbox one including the pros and cons so you can find which work best for your needs.

#1 Elgato Game Capture HD60

Price: $157.99 Resolution: 1080p Frame rate: 60fps Interface: USB 2.0 Works with: PC & Mac

If you are looking for a semi-pro to pro game capture card then you will be looking at one of the best devices if you choose the Elegato Game Capture HD60. You won’t need lots of technical knowledge to set it up. It is easily plugged in and the software self-cycles to find the best signal and resolution option. You also have the option of tweaking it yourself if you struggle with television/monitor signals. You don’t even have to run the software each time you use it, just provide a power supply for it to draw from and let it automatically send it’s signal to the screen. You don’t even have to unplug the device if you wish to stop capturing.

Pros:

  • Works with both PC and Mac
  • High quality capture
  • In unit audio
  • Simple editing
  • Small device that packs a lot of power

Cons:

  • Editing software isn't perfect

#2 AverMedia Live Gamer Extreme

Price: $157.31 Resolution: 1080p Frame rate: 60fps Interface: USB 3.0 Works with: PC only

When you are looking for the best game capture cards for Xbox One you will be pleased to see that the AverMedia has excellent capture quality and seems to have the best option for focussed streaming. There’s virtually no lag allowing to to play as well on your PC as the television which is great for people with a bigger set up such as screen furniture. There’s no need to switch between screens so it’s easier to use. Two audio inputs are included so you are able to add both music and dialogue at separate times. You do however need to get additional software if you want to edit as there is no option to edit live.

Pros:

  • No lag on recordings
  • Excellent for streaming
  • Simple to use and set up
  • Two separate audio inputs

Cons:

  • No editing software included
  • Only works with PC

#3 Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket

Price: $149.99 Resolution: 1080p Frame rate: 30fps Interface: USB 2.0/3.0 Works with: USB Thumb Drive. Records in MP4

One of the best things about the Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket is that you don’t have to hook it up to your PC to capture. So long as you connect it to your television or console using the included USB cable as well as a USB stick you are good to go. It’s easy to set up and has a light system that shows you that the device is recording. If the light flashes green you will know that the HDCP has been left running. It has a capacity of 30fps which suits most games and records in MP4. The microphone is included so you are able to commentate at the same time of recording. You can use via the PC but it doesn’t work on Mac. This box is one of the best game capture cards for Xbox One if you want to do everything live.

Pros:

  • No need for laptop or pc to record
  • Simple to set up
  • Records in MP4
  • Everything you need included
  • Live recording of audio and visual

Cons:

  • Doesn't capture at 60fps

#4 Roxio Game Capture HD Pro

Price: $94.99 Resolution: 1080p Frame rate: 30fps Interface: USB 2.0 Works with: PC only

If you are looking for the best game capture cards for Xbox One on a budget then the Roxio Game Capture might be the one for you. It’s a no frills capture device that does what you need it to. It doesn’t include extra leads except for the power lead but there are HDMI ports should you need to capture at a rate of 1080p. The default is 720 so if you do decide to capture in higher then you need to adjust the settings before you record. The software and setup instructions come on the included disk that’s simple to use. You can add text and story view to the timeline as well as commentary and music to captivate your audience. The only downside is it only works with PC so Mac users would be better off with a compatible recorder without additional software.

Pros:

  • Great for budget capturing
  • Works on older models
  • Simple to use
  • HDMI ports to capture up to 1080
  • Add text, timeline and commentary

Cons:

  • Only includes power lead
  • Doesn’t work on Mac

#5 Razer Ripsaw

Price: $149.99 Resolution: 1080p Frame rate: 60fps Interface: USB 3.0 Works with: PC only

The Razer Ripsaw is pretty new in the way of capture cards but has produced gamer products in the past. It has USB 3.0 port which means your stream will be low latency and it also is able to feed additional audio sources to your feed whether you want to add music or commentary. The component cables are included which allows you to record on consoles that are older, but it doesn’t come with its own software which is why most beginners will choose something that includes everything with ease to get started. It’s still relatively easy to use but more focussed on serious streamers who know what they are doing.

Pros:

  • USB 3.0
  • Frame rate of 60fps for better quality recording
  • Additional audio options
  • Comes with the cables you need for older consoles

Cons:

  • Beginners may struggle
  • Doesn’t come with software

2. Internal game capture cards

#1 Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro

Price: $149.99 Resolution: 1080p Frame rate: 60fps Instant game view works with: PC only

If you are looking for quality and unlimited footage recording in 1080p then the Elgato Game Capture could be your favoured game capture card. It has instant game view which gives you power with low latency giving you an excellent broadcasting experience in real time. You can film and commentate live to YouTube or Twitch and improve the resolution to record in great quality when you need it most. It saves each part of the stream separately making it easier to edit.

Pros:

  • Instant game view
  • Low latency
  • Real time recording
  • Separate frame saving for easier editing
  • Easy to install and set up

Cons:

  • Works only with PC without additional software

#2 AVerMedia Live Gamer HD

Price: $164.90 Resolution: 1080p Frame rate: 60fps Interface: USB 3.0 Full HD streaming Encoding Format: MP4

AverMedia Live Gamer HD is a great choice if you want something that’s easy to set up and pretty much plug in and play with one button. Included with the package is a PCI express card, DVI to HDMI adapter, audio cable, hot button and HDMI to DVI cables so you have everything you need to get going. The high frame rate and resolution will stop the lagging you will get with less powerful recorders. It works with all DirectShow streaming applications and you can record and stream with the RECentral exclusive to them. Videos will all be kept in a manageable way that doesn’t encroach on too much space.

Pros:

  • Has a PC free mode
  • Simple to set up and use
  • Comes with all the cables you need
  • No lagging

Cons:

  • Doesn't support composite or S-video for older game systems

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BestGame Capture Cards for Xbox OneWindows Central2020

Good Capture Cards

While you can stream and capture in-game footage directly on the Xbox One, you won't get the best results possible. If you want the raw footage to stream or make videos with, you need a capture card that acts as an interface between the console and your PC. It's also an essential bit of kit if you want to make the most of your streams with webcams, fancy graphics overlays, and the like — something the AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K in particular excels at.

Best for 4K: Avermedia Live Gamer 4K

Editors choice

On a hardware level, the Avermedia Live Gamer 4K is the top dog right now for consumer-grade capture cards. Not only will it capture 4K video at up to 60 frames per second (FPS), but it will also allow capture of HDR Passthrough, too. It's an internal capture card (with added RGB, which is terrific), and for folks using it to capture PC footage, the Live Gamer 4K can do 1440p at 120 FPS and 1080p at a whopping 240 FPS.

$250 at Amazon

4K passthough: Razer Ripsaw HD

Staff favorite

The latest Ripsaw HD from Razer is an external capture card with a big party piece for Xbox One X owners. It captures and streams at 1080p60, but it allows for passthrough at 4K60, meaning you can enjoy your games as intended while producing a great looking and more broadcast-friendly stream. It uses HDMI 2.0, has 3.5mm input for party chat mix, and comes at a very attractive price, with literally everything you need to get going in the box.

$160 at Amazon

Lag free: Elgato HD60S+

As an all-rounder, you can't go far wrong with the Elgato HD60S+. The newest external capture card from Elgato has a fast USB-C 3.0 interface for low latency and an instant game view for 1080p60 or 4K30 footage for captures or streams. This latest model also allows for 4K60 passthrough and HDR passthrough and capture at some resolutions. Elgato's beginner-friendly software is also included, and it can access sources like your microphone and webcam to make your broadcast look its best.

$200 at Best Buy

Console king: Elgato HD60 Pro

Much of the HD60 Pro is similar to the new HD60S from Elgato with one key difference: The HD60 Pro is not portable. Instead, it's installed via a PCIe slot inside a desktop PC. As such, you can expect 'superior low latency' as well as a built-in hardware encoder for 1080p60 H.264 video. It also includes Elgato's beginner-friendly software, supports all popular streaming apps like OBS and XSplit, and is a great value capture card for console gamers.

$177 at Amazon

Capture and stream: Elgato 4K60 Pro Mk.2

Not only can the 4K60 Pro capture 4K video at up to 60 FPS, but thanks to nifty technology, you're able to do this as well as simultaneously streaming at 1080p thanks to Elgato Stream Link. You also get ultra-low latency and a dedicated application to capture high-res video, while supporting the same applications as the regular Elgato cards for streaming. The Mk.2 refresh also added HDR capture, and with up to a 140mbps bitrate, your footage will look incredible.

$237 at Amazon

External 4K: AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra

The Live Gamer Ultra is very close in features to AVerMedia's Live Gamer 4K in that it delivers 4K capture, but from an external card, you can use it with a laptop. At 4K, you're grabbing video at 30 FPS or higher if you step down to 1080p. It uses USB 3.1 for ultra-low latency and even allows HDR passthrough, so you'll always enjoy your games at their best.

$180 at Amazon

Driver-free: AVerMedia Live Gamer HD2

AVerMedia's other internal capture card is for folks looking to capture and stream at 1080p60, and its big benefit is having absolutely no driver requirements. Simply plug it into your desktop PC and use it with your favorite software. It just works, and there's no fuss. This is also a good alternative to the Elgato Cam Link for streamers looking to hook up a DSLR or mirrorless camera to their setup.

$149 at Amazon

Budget choice: AVerMedia Live Gamer Mini

The Live Gamer Mini is a low-cost, extremely compact capture card that's great for beginners, those on a budget, or those who want something that can travel about with them. Despite its size and price, it still handles 1080p60 video with zero latency passthrough. It's also got a hardware H.264 encoder inside to help take the load off your CPU when capturing, making it also perfect for those with older or budget PCs.

$100 at Amazon

If we had to choose..

There are a lot of great capture cards to choose from now to suit different needs and budgets, but all are better options than streaming directly from the Xbox, especially if capturing footage is a priority. If you're an Xbox One X or PC gamer, the AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K is absolutely the best of the bunch. It handles 4K, HDR, and high frame rates while being priced aggressively. And who doesn't like RGB?

Alternatively, AVerMedia has the Live Gamer Ultra if you're looking for 4K capture but don't have a desktop PC that handles an internal capture card. It's not quite as powerful, but it's very close and allows HDR passthrough so you can enjoy your games at their best.

For most people, though, the Razer Ripsaw HD is an excellent choice. 4K is still in its infancy, and if you're a streamer, in particular, you aren't going to be wanting more than 1080p at 60FPS anyway. But the Ripsaw HD doesn't force you to downgrade your 4K games on Xbox One X thanks to its 4K60 passthrough. And USB 3.0 means no lag, which means a crisp, in-sync stream.

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