Best 4K Capture Cards
Top 4k capture cards ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- True 4K60 capture, not just passthrough
- 4K60 HDR10 capture and passthrough
- PCIe for lowest possible latency
Cons
- Requires an open PCIe x4 slot
- Requires available PCIe slot
- Not portable — internal only
Don't buy this if…
- Needs a powerful CPU and fast NVMe storage to handle 4K60 capture without dropping frames.
- Demands significant CPU resources for 4K recording; an Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 or better is recommended.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 4K60 HDR passthrough
- 4K30 HDR passthrough
- USB-C connection with no driver install
Cons
- Capture limited to 1080p60
- Captures at 1080p60 not 4K
- No analog input
Don't buy this if…
- Requires USB 3.0 port — USB 2.0 will not work and may cause dropped frames.
- While it passes through 4K, the actual capture resolution is limited to 1080p60; true 4K capture requires the Pro model.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- HDMI 2.1 for 4K144 passthrough
- 4K30 capture recording
- Future-proof for next-gen consoles
Cons
- Premium price point
- Requires USB 3.2 Gen 2 port
Don't buy this if…
- Full 4K144 passthrough requires a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port; USB 3.0 ports will limit passthrough to lower refresh rates.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 4K60 HDR internal capture
- HDMI 2.1 full bandwidth
- Low-latency PCIe connection
Cons
- Requires PCIe x4 slot
- Expensive flagship product
Don't buy this if…
- The card occupies a PCIe x4 slot and may conflict with GPU placement in compact ATX or ITX builds.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Built-in audio mixing with 3.5mm ports
- Built-in audio mixing
- Plug-and-play with no drivers
Cons
- No HDR passthrough
- Only captures at 1080p60
- Software support is minimal compared to Elgato
Don't buy this if…
- The audio mixer can introduce slight latency — use the passthrough port for real-time monitoring.
- This card does not support HDR passthrough; HDR signals will either be stripped or cause a black screen.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Very affordable entry point
- OBS certified compatibility
- USB-C and USB-A included
Cons
- 1080p60 maximum capture
- No HDR or VRR support
Don't buy this if…
- The 4K passthrough is limited to 30fps; if you game at 4K60, your passthrough display will be capped at 30fps.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- True 4K60 capture quality
- Broadcast-grade color accuracy
- Rock-solid professional reliability
Cons
- Very expensive for personal use
- No passthrough output
Don't buy this if…
- This device captures only and has no HDMI passthrough; you need a separate HDMI splitter to play on a monitor.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Extremely portable and tiny
- Incredibly tiny dongle form factor
- Budget-friendly entry point
Cons
- No 4K passthrough or capture
- 1080p30 capture limit
- Can run hot during extended sessions
Don't buy this if…
- Image quality is good for casual streaming but noticeably softer than dedicated capture cards at the same resolution.
- The input latency of roughly 50-80ms makes this unsuitable for competitive or reaction-heavy games.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
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