Elgato Unveils its Most Powerful Game Capture Solutions Yet

[btarunr]

Elgato, a brand of CORSAIR, today announced the launch of two new capture cards, 4K X and 4K Pro. Equipped with the latest chipsets and outstanding specifications, these capture cards enable creators to give their audiences the best viewing experiences on all platforms—without compromising their top-tier gaming experience on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, high-end gaming PCs, or handheld consoles like Nintendo Switch. 4K X, a USB card, features up to 4K144 passthrough and capture. 4K Pro, a PCIe card, boasts up to 8K60 HDR10 passthrough and 4K60 HDR10 capture. Setting yet another benchmark in streaming technology, Elgato is again putting gamers at the cutting edge of content creation.

"Over 10 years ago, we revolutionized the process of capturing and sharing high-quality gameplay content for creators worldwide," said Julian Fest, SVP and GM of Elgato. "Today, we're excited to continue removing barriers for creators with the launch of 4K X and 4K Pro. Combining HDMI 2.1 connectivity, vivid HDR10, and flexible VRR passthrough up to 8K60 for the first time in a game capture card, these products will take user-generated content to greater heights."



4K X is a game-changer for content creators who demand simplicity without compromising quality. Roughly the size of a smartphone, this portable capture card not only packs HDMI 2.1 input and output ports but also USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity, variable refresh rate (VRR), and true HDR10 support. All these features enable you to play and capture at higher resolutions and frame rates, such as 4K at 120 frames per second, without experiencing screen tearing. Those with native 4K144 monitors or better can passthrough and capture 4K gameplay at 144 frames per second. 4K X is compatible with Windows, Mac, and—for the first time in capture card history—newer iPads with a USB-C port, enabling a truly portable capture setup for sofa gamers and events.

For PC enthusiasts seeking top-of-the-line game capture capabilities, 4K Pro offers the highest specifications, including HDMI 2.1 input and output ports, and true HDR10 support. With up to 8K60 HDR10 passthrough and 4K60 HDR10 capture, plus VRR support, this capture card transforms your high-end single or dual-PC setup into a live streaming powerhouse. For competitive gamers who demand even higher frame rates, 4K Pro supports low latency passthrough up to 240 frames per second in 4K resolution while allowing you to capture your performance in 1080p240 quality. Additionally, Multi App support enables you to send your capture feed to multiple apps at the same time, so you can record raw gameplay while streaming in OBS, Discord, and even Zoom. 4K Pro compatibility is exclusive to Windows machines via a PCIe 2.0 x4 connection.

4K X and 4K Pro work seamlessly with popular broadcast apps, including OBS Studio, Twitch Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, vMix, and more. Elgato also offers its companion app for free download, giving creators powerful yet user-friendly tools for capturing and managing recordings, as well as exporting AAF files for advanced editing in professional software such as Adobe Premier and Vegas Pro. 8K HDMI cables are included with both cards, while 4K X comes with a USB 3.2 C-to-C cable to get you connected right out of the box.

From this day forward, next-generation players can set the new standard for gaming content on Twitch, YouTube, or any other video-sharing platform.

Availability
Elgato 4K X and 4K Pro are available immediately from the Elgato and CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors.

For more information, visit the product pages of the Game Capture 4K X, and the Game Capture 4K Pro.

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[pat-roner]

Is capture cards even needed anymore?

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

When you use a capture card, what is doing the actual encoding in the system? Is a chip on the capture card doing it? Is your CPU doing it? Or your GPU?

 

[jallenlabs]

I use a capture card to record directly from my mirrorless Sony camera. My USB card is limited to 1080p, so I am looking to upgrade.

 

[JoeTheDestroyer]

Is capture cards even needed anymore?

A modern example I know of is dual-rig stream setups. The capture and encoding is done on a separate pc so a) it doesn't load down the main rig and impact gameplay, and b) even if the main rig goes down the stream still stays live.

When you use a capture card, what is doing the actual encoding in the system? Is a chip on the capture card doing it? Is your CPU doing it? Or your GPU?

None of these do encoding, these are raw capture. Add another 0 or 00 to the pricetag if you want encoding.

GPU is the common choice, as I understand it (not a streamer myself) nvenc is the gold standard.

 

[The_Enigma]

The new 4k Pro pcie card says it is pcie 2.0 x4. I'm guessing we can't put this in a pcie 3.0 or 4.0 x1 slot and get enough bandwidth? Kinda sucks that this is such an old pci version

 

[Guest!]

The new 4k Pro pcie card says it is pcie 2.0 x4. I'm guessing we can't put this in a pcie 3.0 or 4.0 x1 slot and get enough bandwidth? Kinda sucks that this is such an old pci version

It seems that it also does not allow capturing or transmitting in 4k 60k HDR, as happened with the Avermedia 575

ps/

Well, maybe

TECH SPECS​

Download Quick Start Guide

INPUT​

HDMI (unencrypted)

OUTPUT​

HDMI (lag-free passthrough)

RECORDING RESOLUTIONS​

up to 4K60

View the full list of supported resolutions here

PASSTHROUGH RESOLUTIONS​

up to 8K60

HDR10​

Passthrough & recording

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

None of these do encoding, these are raw capture. Add another 0 or 00 to the pricetag if you want encoding.

GPU is the common choice, as I understand it (not a streamer myself) nvenc is the gold standard.

So BOTH PCIe capture cards AND USB capture cards are essentially just I/O ports that feed the PC uncompressed data (just like a webcam would) and its up to the computer to figure out what to do with it?

Is that also true for those cheap USB capture cards? I was under the impression that they encode/compress the data, in the ad for the one in the picture it says "The process of video and audio is done by the dongle and will not occupy the CPU"