A capture card decision used to be simple: buy whatever Elgato sold and move on. That stopped being true once PS5 and Xbox Series X started shipping 4K120 output with variable refresh rate, and once AVerMedia and Razer built cards aimed squarely at that gap. In September 2026, three products define the console and PC streaming market at very different price points: the Elgato 4K X ($249.99), the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (GC553G2, $299.99 MSRP), and the aging but still-sold Razer Ripsaw HD, now down to roughly $128.99 as Razer clears remaining stock. That is a $170 spread between the priciest current-gen card and the cheapest legacy one, and the feature gap is just as wide: only two of these three cards actually support HDMI 2.1, HDR10, and VRR passthrough.
This comparison breaks down the full spec sheets, real street pricing as tracked in September 2026, independent benchmark findings from three separate reviewers, and the actual use cases where each card makes sense. If you are trying to record PS5 or Xbox Series X gameplay at 4K120 with HDR intact, capture a Steam Deck or ROG Ally session over USB-C, or just need a reliable budget box for Discord streams, the right pick depends on details that spec sheets alone do not make obvious.
None of these three cards are new releases. What changed heading into September 2026 is the pricing landscape around them: AVerMedia’s flagship is now regularly discounted below its own MSRP while Elgato’s has climbed twice since launch, and Razer has quietly stopped treating its capture card as an active product line at all. Those shifts change which card is actually the smart buy today compared to when each one first launched, which is why the numbers below matter more than the marketing copy on any single product page.
Why Capture Cards Still Matter for PS5, Xbox, and Handheld Streaming in 2026
Console manufacturers still do not give streamers a clean way to pull gameplay footage off a PS5 or Xbox Series X at full quality without a second device. PS5’s built-in Share/Create features cap recording length and compression in ways that make them useless for a dedicated stream, and Xbox’s own capture tools are similarly limited. A dedicated HDMI capture card sits between the console and the display, splitting the signal so a PC can ingest it through OBS Studio, Streamlabs, or vendor software while the console output keeps flowing to the TV or monitor uninterrupted.
What changed between 2022 and 2026 is the console output itself. PS5 and Xbox Series X both push 4K at up to 120Hz with HDR and variable refresh rate, and Nintendo Switch 2 added 4K docked output as well. A capture card built around HDMI 2.0, which tops out around 4K60 without VRR, throttles that signal down before it ever reaches the streaming PC. That is precisely the situation Razer Ripsaw HD owners are stuck in today: the card still works, but it cannot pass through anything beyond 2160p60, and it strips out HDR and VRR entirely. Elgato 4K X and AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 exist because of that gap, both built on HDMI 2.1 chipsets that preserve 4K144 passthrough, HDR10, and VRR end to end.
The category also expanded to cover handheld gaming PCs. Steam Deck, ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Legion Go all output over USB-C to docks that carry an HDMI signal, and all three capture cards in this comparison accept that signal the same way they would from a console. If you have already set up PS5 external storage to hold your recorded clips, or you route footage through a portable SSD for editing, a capture card is the missing link that gets the raw 4K HDR feed onto your PC in the first place. For a broader look at how these accessories fit into a full gaming hardware loadout, see our gaming hardware coverage.
Meet the Contenders: Elgato 4K X, AVerMedia Ultra 2.1, and Razer Ripsaw HD
The Elgato 4K X launched in February 2024 as Elgato’s flagship external HDMI 2.1 capture card, replacing the older 4K60 Pro line for anyone not building a desktop with a free PCIe slot. It connects over USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-C, captures up to 2160p144 on Windows, and passes through HDMI 2.1 signals including HDR10 and VRR. Elgato has raised its price twice since launch, from a $199.99 debut MSRP to today’s $249.99, with street pricing usually landing between $229.99 and $249.99 depending on the retailer. Elgato’s lineup also still includes the older Cam Link 4K, a $99.99 HDMI-to-USB dongle capped at 4K30 with no passthrough output, but that device targets webcam-style camera capture rather than console or PC gameplay recording, so it is not a real alternative to the 4K X for this comparison.
AVerMedia’s Live Gamer Ultra 2.1, model number GC553G2, is the direct rival. It matches the Elgato card on HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity but pushes further on paper: 2160p144 HDR/VRR passthrough plus 3440x1440p120, 1440p240, and 1080p360 modes for ultrawide and high-refresh PC monitors, along with 5.1-channel audio support that the Elgato card lacks entirely. AVerMedia lists the card at $299.99 MSRP, a $50 premium over Elgato’s official price, though Amazon pricing tracked in early September 2026 shows it dropping to roughly $249.99, closing much of that gap. AVerMedia also sells the Live Gamer 4K 2.1 (GC575), an internal PCIe Gen 3 x4 card that shares the same HDMI 2.1 passthrough specs but caps capture at 2160p60 and costs less, at $269.99 list and roughly $234.99 on Amazon, for streamers who would rather install a card inside a desktop than manage an external box.
Razer Ripsaw HD is the outlier. It launched years earlier on HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0, tops out at 1080p60 capture with 4K60 passthrough only, and carries no HDR or VRR support at all. Razer’s own product marketing has shifted toward the Ripsaw X, a webcam-style HDMI-to-USB converter rather than a true console capture card, and multiple 2026 deal roundups now describe the Ripsaw HD as a discontinued model being sold through remaining retail inventory. It is still listed on Amazon and via Razer’s own support pages, with street prices around $128.99, occasionally dipping to $127.49 in clearance listings.
Full Specs Comparison: 10-Row Breakdown
The table below lines up every spec that actually affects streaming and recording quality, pulled from each manufacturer’s current published data sheets as of September 2026.
| Spec | Elgato 4K X | AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | Razer Ripsaw HD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form factor | External | External | External |
| Host interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-C | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-C | USB 3.0 |
| HDMI version | HDMI 2.1 in/out | HDMI 2.1 in/out | HDMI 2.0 in/out |
| Max capture resolution | 2160p144 (Windows) | 2160p144 (Windows), 2160p60 (macOS) | 1080p60 uncompressed |
| Max passthrough resolution | 2160p144 | 2160p144, plus 3440x1440p120, 1440p240, 1080p360 | 2160p60 (4K60) |
| HDR support | HDR10 passthrough and capture (capture is Windows-only) | HDR10 passthrough and capture | Not supported |
| VRR support | VRR passthrough | VRR passthrough | Not supported |
| Audio capture | Stereo only | 5.1-channel over HDMI, dual 3.5mm TRRS jacks | Stereo, single 3.5mm mix-in |
| Dimensions | Compact external unit | 120 x 70 x 27.6mm | Compact external unit |
| Weight | Not published | ~115g | Not published |
| Release date | February 2024 | 2024 refresh of Live Gamer Ultra line | 2018, now discontinued |
| Console compatibility | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC | PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC |
| Companion software | 4K Capture Utility, Camera Hub | RECentral, Streaming Center | Razer Ripsaw Control software |
The pattern is straightforward once it is laid out row by row: Elgato 4K X and AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 are functionally tied on interface and headline resolution, with AVerMedia pulling ahead on audio and high-refresh PC monitor modes. Razer Ripsaw HD is a full generation behind on every meaningful spec, which is exactly why it has dropped to less than half the price of the other two.
Pricing Breakdown: MSRP vs Street Price in September 2026
List price and what you will actually pay at checkout are two different numbers for all three of these cards, and the gap matters more than usual right now because retailers are pricing AVerMedia’s card well below its own MSRP.
| Card | Launch MSRP | Current official MSRP | Amazon price (Sept 2026) | Typical street price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgato 4K X | $199.99 | $249.99 | ~$249.99 | $229.99 – $249.99 |
| AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | $299.99 | $299.99 | ~$249.99 (tracked Sept 4, 2026) | $200 – $250, up to $337.88 at Best Buy |
| Razer Ripsaw HD | $159.99 | Discontinued listing | ~$128.99 | $127.49 – $128.99 |
Elgato’s pricing moved in the opposite direction from what most buyers expect. The 4K X launched at $199.99 and has climbed twice since, settling at $249.99. AVerMedia’s card, meanwhile, carries a higher sticker price but is regularly discounted on Amazon to roughly the same $249.99 that Elgato now charges at full price, which means the practical decision between them often comes down to which retailer has the better sale that week rather than a fixed price gap. Best Buy is the exception: its Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 listings run closer to $337.88, well above Amazon, so shopping around actually changes which card is cheaper.
Razer Ripsaw HD is the only card in this group with a stable, low price, and that stability comes from Razer treating it as inventory to clear rather than a product to support. There is no indication of a Ripsaw HD successor with HDMI 2.1 support in Razer’s current lineup; the company’s active streaming hardware push is now centered on the Ripsaw X camera-capture device, a different category of product entirely.
HDMI 2.1 vs HDMI 2.0: Why the Ripsaw HD Can’t Keep Up
HDMI 2.0 caps out at roughly 18Gbps of bandwidth, enough for 4K at 60Hz with 8-bit color but nowhere near enough for 4K at 120Hz, HDR10 metadata, and variable refresh rate signaling all at once. HDMI 2.1 raises that ceiling to 48Gbps, which is what makes 2160p144 passthrough possible on both the Elgato 4K X and the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1. Razer Ripsaw HD, built around an HDMI 2.0 chipset, physically cannot carry that extra bandwidth no matter what firmware update Razer might issue, which is one reason the card has been left behind rather than refreshed.
In practice, this shows up in three places a streamer will notice immediately. First, PS5 and Xbox Series X owners who play on a 4K120 or 4K144 display will see their console silently renegotiate down to 4K60 the moment a Ripsaw HD is inserted into the signal chain, since the card cannot pass a signal it cannot decode. Second, HDR is stripped entirely on Ripsaw HD, so any game using HDR for lighting or contrast will look visibly flatter on both the stream and, in some setups, on the local display too. Third, VRR is gone, which reintroduces screen tearing on titles that would otherwise run tear-free through a variable refresh window.
None of this makes the Ripsaw HD useless. A streamer capturing at 1080p60 for a Discord audience or a small YouTube channel, who does not care about matching their TV’s full 4K120 HDR output, will not notice most of these limitations day to day. But anyone buying a PS5 or Xbox Series X specifically for its 4K120 HDR VRR feature set and then routing that signal through a Ripsaw HD is paying for hardware capabilities the capture card actively throws away.
Benchmark Results: Latency, Audio, and HDR/VRR Passthrough
Spec sheets tell you what a card is supposed to do; independent reviews tell you what it actually does once real hardware, real drivers, and real OBS scenes are involved. Three separate outlets have put the Elgato 4K X and AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 through hands-on testing, and their findings line up on the same handful of points.
Input latency and OBS stability. GamesRadar’s hands-on review of the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 found that controlling a game through the card’s OBS passthrough felt close to native input response, while the reviewer described the Elgato-side comparison as showing noticeably more perceptible input lag when routed through capture software. The same review noted that AVerMedia’s card avoided the intermittent HDMI handshake failures that the reviewer had run into occasionally with Elgato hardware, meaning fewer dropped signals when a console wakes from sleep or switches HDR modes mid-session. A separate hands-on writeup from independent reviewer PlayDay.One covering the Live Gamer Ultra 2.1’s setup process reached a similar conclusion on console compatibility, describing straightforward plug-and-play detection across PS5 and Xbox Series X without extra driver work. Neither review reported dropped frames once the initial handshake completed, which suggests the input-lag gap is really about how each vendor’s driver layer buffers the signal rather than a raw hardware limitation on either card.
Audio capture: the 5.1 gap. The clearest, least debatable difference between the two current-gen cards is audio. AVerMedia’s Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 captures 5.1-channel surround over HDMI and includes dual 3.5mm TRRS jacks so a streamer can mix in headset chat and a separate gamepad audio feed independently. Elgato’s 4K X captures stereo only. For a straightforward Twitch stream where commentary is the priority, that difference rarely matters. For content creators producing surround-sound gameplay breakdowns, competitive VOD reviews where positional audio cues matter, or YouTube videos meant to be watched on a home theater setup, the AVerMedia card is capturing information the Elgato card simply discards. This is also the single spec that shows up most often in buyer complaints about the 4K X in retailer reviews, since shoppers frequently assume a $249.99 HDMI 2.1 card would match a card costing $50 more on every axis, not just resolution.
HDR and VRR in practice. CGMagazine’s ongoing capture card roundup continues to list the Elgato Game Capture 4K X among its recommended picks specifically for HDR10 passthrough and 4K144 support, while AVerMedia’s internal Live Gamer 4K 2.1 sibling card appears in the same roundup as a strong alternative for desktop streamers. Neither the CGMagazine roundup nor the GamesRadar review includes the Razer Ripsaw HD, and that omission is itself telling: with no HDR and no VRR passthrough, the card has effectively fallen out of the conversation among reviewers covering current-generation console streaming hardware. Both current-gen cards keep HDR10 metadata intact through the full signal chain, which matters most on games using aggressive HDR tone mapping, where a stripped HDR signal can make bright scenes look washed out on both the local display and the recorded footage.
Setting Up Each Card With OBS Studio
All three cards register in Windows as standard USB video capture devices, which means OBS Studio picks them up the same way regardless of brand: add a Video Capture Device source, select the card from the dropdown, and match the resolution and frame rate to what the console is outputting. The differences show up in the vendor software layer sitting underneath OBS. Elgato routes audio and video through its 4K Capture Utility and Camera Hub apps, AVerMedia uses RECentral or the newer Streaming Center suite (currently on version 1.9.4.5 BETA as of a September 10, 2026 update), and Razer relies on its own Ripsaw Control software for basic pass-through configuration.
A typical OBS source configuration for a 4K120 HDR VRR passthrough setup on either the Elgato 4K X or AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 looks like this once exported from OBS’s scene collection file:
{
"sources": [
{
"name": "PS5 Capture - HDMI 2.1",
"id": "dshow_input",
"settings": {
"video_device_id": "USB Video Capture Device",
"resolution": "3840x2160",
"fps": 60,
"color_space": "Rec. 2100 (HDR)",
"color_range": "Full",
"buffering": false,
"audio_output_mode": "capture",
"res_type": 1
}
}
]
}Note the capped 60fps value in that example even though the cards support 4K144 passthrough: most streamers still encode and upload at 1080p60 or 4K60 for platform bandwidth reasons, reserving the higher-refresh passthrough for their own monitor rather than the outbound stream. Buffering should stay disabled on a capture source unless you are specifically fighting an audio sync issue, since enabling it adds latency to what is already the slowest link in a console streaming chain.
Capturing Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Other Handhelds
Handheld gaming PCs complicate capture card shopping in ways console streamers do not have to think about. A Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or Legion Go does not output HDMI on its own; it needs a USB-C dock, and the dock’s own hardware limits determine what actually reaches the capture card. Valve’s official Steam Deck dock caps out around 4K60 without HDR or VRR passthrough, which means even an HDMI 2.1 capture card like the Elgato 4K X or AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 will only ever receive what that dock can output. Buying a premium capture card does not unlock handheld features the dock itself does not support.
This matters for a specific and common mistake: creators upgrading from a Razer Ripsaw HD to a current-gen card specifically to capture handheld gameplay, expecting a jump to 4K120 HDR footage, only to find their existing dock was the actual bottleneck the whole time. If your primary use case is handheld capture rather than console capture, check your dock’s own HDMI output specs before assuming a $250 capture card will change anything. ROG Ally X’s official dock and most third-party USB-C docks rated for 100W Power Delivery with HDMI 2.1 output are the exception, and those do benefit from pairing with either the Elgato 4K X or AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 rather than the Ripsaw HD, since the dock itself is capable of the higher-bandwidth signal these newer cards can actually pass through and capture.
Practically, handheld reviewers tend to favor whichever capture card they already own for console work rather than buying a second unit specifically for handhelds, since the USB-C-to-HDMI signal chain behaves identically regardless of whether the source is a PS5, an Xbox Series X, or a docked Steam Deck. The capture card cannot tell the difference between a console and a handheld dock; it only sees an HDMI signal.
Real-World Use Cases: Who Actually Needs Which Card
Spec comparisons only go so far. Here is how these three cards actually get used across different streaming setups in 2026.
- Single-PC Twitch console streamer: A streamer running PS5 gameplay through one gaming PC uses the capture card purely to get the console signal into OBS. Either HDMI 2.1 card works, and the choice usually comes down to whichever is cheaper that week, since a single-PC setup does not benefit much from AVerMedia’s lower latency advantage.
- Two-PC competitive streaming rig: Esports-focused streamers running a dedicated capture PC alongside their gaming PC lean toward the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 for its lower measured input latency and the 1440p240/1080p360 modes that matter on high-refresh competitive monitors.
- Handheld gaming content creators: Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go reviewers docking their handheld over USB-C use the same capture cards to pull footage for YouTube reviews, since both the Elgato and AVerMedia cards accept a docked handheld’s HDMI output identically to a console’s.
- Surround-sound gameplay reviewers: Creators producing home-theater-focused content or competitive audio-cue breakdowns need the AVerMedia card’s 5.1 capture, since the Elgato 4K X discards everything beyond stereo.
- Budget and hobbyist streamers: Someone streaming for a small Discord community at 1080p60 with no HDR or VRR requirement can still use a Razer Ripsaw HD while clearance stock lasts, saving over $100 versus either current-gen card.
- Esports team VOD and coaching setups: Coaches reviewing match footage for positional audio and visual clarity benefit from AVerMedia’s 5.1 audio capture and HDR-preserved footage, both of which matter more for frame-by-frame review than for live streaming.
Creators who also stream from a desk setup often pair a capture card with a dedicated webcam for a face cam overlay, and many run their scene switching through an Elgato Stream Deck, which integrates natively with the 4K X’s Camera Hub software if you are already inside Elgato’s ecosystem. Console-only streamers who would rather skip a capture card altogether can also look at PS5 Remote Play as a lightweight alternative for casual recording, though it does not replace a capture card for live broadcast quality.
Migration Guide: Switching From Razer Ripsaw HD to an HDMI 2.1 Card
If you are upgrading from a Ripsaw HD to either the Elgato 4K X or AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1, the physical swap is simple, but a few software and console settings steps get skipped often enough to cause a blank OBS preview on the first try.
- Uninstall the old Razer Ripsaw Control software completely, including any leftover USB drivers, before plugging in the new card to avoid device-ID conflicts in Windows.
- Confirm your PC’s USB-C port supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps); a Gen 1 (5Gbps) port will bottleneck 4K144 capture even though the card will still function at lower settings.
- Disconnect the console-to-TV HDMI cable and reroute it: console HDMI out into the capture card’s HDMI in, then a new cable from the card’s HDMI out to your TV or monitor.
- Install Elgato’s 4K Capture Utility or AVerMedia’s RECentral/Streaming Center suite before opening OBS, since both handle firmware detection on first launch.
- In OBS, delete the old Ripsaw video capture source and add a fresh Video Capture Device source pointed at the new card’s device name.
- On PS5 or Xbox Series X, re-enable 4K, HDR, and VRR in the console’s video output settings; these often reset to safe defaults after a display chain change.
- Run the manufacturer’s firmware updater once (AVerMedia’s FW Update Tool or Elgato’s Capture Utility updater) to ensure you are on the current HDMI 2.1 passthrough firmware rather than a factory build.
- Rebuild any audio routing you had configured for chat mix or gamepad audio, since Ripsaw HD’s single 3.5mm input does not map directly to the Elgato or AVerMedia audio chains.
- Test capture at your target resolution and frame rate in OBS before going live, checking specifically that HDR metadata is being read (both vendor utilities show an HDR indicator when it is detected correctly).
- Recreate your scene collection’s canvas and output resolution settings, since jumping from a 1080p-capture Ripsaw HD to a 4K-capture card often means your OBS canvas was never set past 1080p in the first place.
Budget roughly 30 to 45 minutes for the full migration if this is your first time reconfiguring OBS sources and console display settings together. Most of that time goes to step six and step nine, since console HDR/VRR settings and OBS HDR detection are the two places a mismatched setting silently degrades quality without throwing an obvious error.
Pros and Cons: Elgato 4K X vs AVerMedia Ultra 2.1 vs Razer Ripsaw HD
Elgato 4K X
Pros: Cheaper than AVerMedia at official MSRP, HDMI 2.1 with 4K144 capture and passthrough, HDR10 support, strong Mac compatibility, tight integration with Elgato’s broader ecosystem including Stream Deck.
Cons: Stereo-only audio capture, reviewers report more noticeable input latency than AVerMedia’s card, price has risen 25% since its 2024 launch, occasional HDMI handshake issues noted in third-party testing.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
Pros: Lower measured input latency in independent testing, 5.1-channel audio capture, wider range of high-refresh passthrough modes for PC monitors, more stable HDMI handshake behavior reported by reviewers.
Cons: Higher official MSRP at $299.99, pricing varies wildly by retailer (roughly $90 gap between Amazon and Best Buy), macOS capture is limited to 2160p60 versus Windows’ 2160p144.
Razer Ripsaw HD
Pros: Lowest price by a wide margin, proven and stable for basic 1080p60 capture, broad legacy console support including original Xbox One and PS4, simple plug-and-play setup.
Cons: No HDMI 2.1, no HDR, no VRR passthrough, capture capped at 1080p60, discontinued with no successor in Razer’s console-capture lineup, USB 3.0 interface limits future-proofing.
Which Capture Card Should You Buy? 6 Scenarios
Buy the Elgato 4K X if you want the cheaper of the two current-generation HDMI 2.1 cards, you edit primarily on a Mac, or you are already invested in Elgato’s software ecosystem through a Stream Deck.
Buy the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 if you need the lowest input latency for competitive play, you want 5.1 surround audio capture, or you stream on a high-refresh PC monitor that benefits from the 1440p240 and 1080p360 passthrough modes.
Buy the Razer Ripsaw HD if your budget is under $150, you only need 1080p60 capture, and you do not care about HDR or VRR, but understand you are buying a discontinued product with no upgrade path.
Consider AVerMedia’s Live Gamer 4K 2.1 (GC575) instead if you have a desktop with a free PCIe slot and want an internal card; it shares the Ultra 2.1’s HDMI 2.1 passthrough specs at a lower $269.99 list price ($234.99 on Amazon).
Skip a capture card entirely if you stream from a single gaming PC using NVENC or AV1 hardware encoding with no console or second device in the signal chain; a capture card only adds value when you need to ingest an external HDMI source.
Choose based on your console’s output settings if nothing else breaks the tie: anyone running a PS5 or Xbox Series X in its full 4K120 HDR VRR mode should rule out the Ripsaw HD outright, since it silently discards all three of those features regardless of console settings.
The Verdict: Final Scoring and Recommendation
Scoring each card across the categories that matter most for a 2026 streaming setup makes the trade-offs concrete rather than abstract.
| Category | Elgato 4K X | AVerMedia Ultra 2.1 | Razer Ripsaw HD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capture quality (max resolution/fps) | 9/10 | 9/10 | 4/10 |
| Passthrough and VRR | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 |
| HDR support | 8/10 | 9/10 | 0/10 |
| Audio capture | 5/10 | 9/10 | 4/10 |
| Measured latency (per reviewer testing) | 6/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Value for money | 7/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Overall | 7.3/10 | 8.3/10 | 4.2/10 |
The AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 comes out ahead on raw capability, backed by independent reviewer testing showing lower latency and fewer HDMI handshake problems, plus meaningfully better audio capture. That edge costs more at official MSRP, though the gap narrows or disappears entirely when AVerMedia’s Amazon pricing dips toward $249.99. The Elgato 4K X remains a genuinely solid card and the safer choice for Mac users or anyone already inside Elgato’s ecosystem, but it is not the outright winner it might have been at its original $199.99 launch price. The Razer Ripsaw HD is not really competing in the same tier anymore; it is a clearance option for a narrow use case, not a current-generation alternative. Anyone shopping specifically for PS5 or Xbox Series X 4K120 HDR VRR capture should treat this as a two-card race between Elgato and AVerMedia, with AVerMedia holding a real but not overwhelming edge based on the data available in September 2026.
The one scenario where none of this matters is budget. If $250 is simply out of reach and 1080p60 covers your actual streaming needs, the Razer Ripsaw HD at $128.99 still does its one job reliably, and there is no shame in buying clearance hardware that matches your resolution target. The mistake to avoid is pairing a Ripsaw HD with a 4K120 HDR VRR console setup and expecting the capture card to keep up; it was never built for that signal, and no firmware update is coming to change that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Elgato 4K X or AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 better for PS5 streaming?
Both support PS5’s full 4K120 HDR VRR output over HDMI 2.1. Independent testing from GamesRadar found the AVerMedia card had lower input latency and fewer HDMI handshake issues, while the Elgato 4K X is typically the cheaper of the two at official MSRP. Either is a solid choice; AVerMedia edges ahead on performance, Elgato edges ahead on price.
Does the Razer Ripsaw HD support 4K capture?
No. It captures at a maximum of 1080p60 uncompressed. It can pass through a 4K60 signal to your display, but anything you actually record or stream is limited to 1080p.
Can I use these capture cards with Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or other handhelds?
Yes. All three cards accept HDMI input from a docked handheld the same way they accept a console signal, since the handheld’s dock simply outputs standard HDMI. Resolution and refresh rate will be limited by whatever the handheld itself outputs, which is typically well under each card’s maximum capability.
Do I need a capture card if I stream from a single gaming PC?
Usually not. A single-PC setup with no external console or device to ingest can rely on your GPU’s built-in NVENC or AV1 hardware encoder inside OBS. Capture cards exist specifically to bring an external HDMI source, like a console or a second PC, into your streaming software.
Why did the Elgato 4K X price increase in 2026?
Elgato raised the price twice since the card’s February 2024 launch, moving from a $199.99 debut MSRP to today’s $249.99. Elgato has not published a specific reason for the increases; they align with broader component and manufacturing cost trends affecting external electronics through 2025 and 2026.
Is Razer still selling capture cards in 2026?
Razer still lists the Ripsaw HD through its support pages and retail partners, but treats it as legacy inventory rather than an actively developed product. The company’s current streaming hardware focus has shifted to the Ripsaw X, which is a camera-capture device rather than a console/PC capture card, meaning Razer has no direct HDMI 2.1 successor to the Ripsaw HD.
What’s the difference between capture resolution and passthrough resolution?
Passthrough resolution is what the card forwards to your TV or monitor in real time; capture resolution is what actually gets recorded or streamed. A card can pass through a higher resolution than it captures, which is exactly what happens on the Razer Ripsaw HD: it passes 4K60 through to your display while only recording at 1080p60.
Which capture card has the lowest input latency?
Based on GamesRadar’s hands-on comparison testing, the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 showed input response closer to native than the Elgato 4K X when controlling a game through OBS capture software. Neither card introduces latency that is noticeable to a casual viewer on the stream itself; the difference mainly affects the streamer’s own on-screen experience while playing.
