Video Capture Cards and Boxes

Capture resolution versus passthrough: two different numbers

Every listing carries two resolutions that are easy to confuse. Capture is what the computer records or streams; passthrough is what reaches your monitor. A device may capture 1080p at 60 frames per second and still pass a 4K picture through, or capture 4K only at 30 frames. Read each number separately, and check frame rate as well as resolution. Playing from the passthrough output, not the software preview, avoids the delay that the capture path adds. HDCP-protected video apps are blocked from capture.

USB 2.0, USB 3.0, internal card or network: where the bandwidth comes from

Bandwidth sets what a device can really do. USB 2.0 is too slow for uncompressed 1080p at 60 frames, so such devices compress the video or limit the frame rate. USB 3.0 suits 1080p at 60 frames and, on some models, 4K at 30 frames. Higher modes such as 4K at 60 normally need a faster USB port or an internal card in a PCIe slot. Wireless, 4G LTE and NDI devices suit remote production but depend on network quality and add delay. Analog capture of old tapes needs composite or S-Video input.

Questions about Video Capture Cards and Boxes

Do I need a capture card to stream console games?

Not always. Most current consoles can stream straight from a system menu. A capture device is for putting the game into scenes with a webcam and overlays on a PC, recording clean footage, or capturing sources with no built-in streaming.

Can one device record 4K at 60 frames?

Only if its capture specification says 4K at 60 Hz. Many 4K devices pass a 4K 60 picture through to your display but capture at 4K 30 or 1080p 60. Check the capture line, not just the HDMI input rating.

Why is there a delay in my capture preview?

Capture software must receive, process and display each frame, which adds a fraction of a second. For gaming, play from the display connected to the passthrough output, and use the preview only for monitoring your stream.