A 1080p stream with a 4K screen
Game Capture Neo captures up to 1080p60 while passing 4K60 HDR through to your TV. Those are two separate outputs.
Elgato capture cards compared
What your TV shows and what reaches your computer are two different things. Elgato’s current cards cover console, camera and desktop jobs.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 5 models
Elgato Game Capture 4K S records up to 4K at 60 fps (maximum SDR; software and format conditions apply); Elgato Game Capture Neo up to 1080p at 60 fps (maximum SDR; software and format conditions apply). Elgato Game Capture 4K S has HDR10 passthrough up to 4K at 60 fps, HDR10 capture up to 1080p60, Windows only; Elgato Game Capture Neo passes 4K60 HDR through to your TV but records in SDR.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How this site earns · Amazon offers a free 30-day Prime trial, with free delivery on eligible items.
| Specs | Elgato Game Capture Neo | Elgato Game Capture 4K S | Elgato Game Capture 4K X | Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro | Elgato Cam Link 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection | |||||
| Capture | 1080p / 60 fps (maximum SDR; software and format conditions apply) | 4K / 60 fps (maximum SDR; software and format conditions apply) | 4K / 144 fps (maximum SDR; software and format conditions apply) | 4K / 60 fps (maximum SDR; software and format conditions apply) | 4K / 60 fps (latest model 20GAM9903 only, in MJPG) 4K / 30 fps (earlier models’ maximum; software and format conditions apply) |
| Passthrough | 4K / 60 fps | 4K / 60 fps | 4K / 144 fps | 8K / 60 fps | None documented |
| USB speed needed (Gbps) | 5 | 5 | 10 | Not confirmed | 5 |
| Connection | HDMI; USB | HDMI; USB | HDMI; USB | HDMI; PCIe x4 | HDMI; USB |
| Video input | HDMI unencrypted | HDMI | HDMI | HDMI | HDMI unencrypted |
| Video output | HDMI passthrough; USB capture | HDMI passthrough | HDMI passthrough | HDMI passthrough | USB capture only |
| HDR | 4K60 HDR passthrough; SDR capture | HDR10 passthrough up to 4K at 60 fps; HDR10 capture up to 1080p60, Windows only | OS and mode dependent | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| VRR | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Passthrough; exact mode must be checked | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| HDCP | Unencrypted input only | Unencrypted input only | Unencrypted input only | Unencrypted input only | Unencrypted input only |
| Software | |||||
| Works with | Windows 10 64-bit+; macOS 12+; iPadOS 17+ | Windows 11+; macOS 14.2+; iPadOS 18 USB-C+ | Windows 10 64-bit+; macOS 11+; iPadOS 17+ | Windows 10 64-bit+ | Windows 10 64-bit+; macOS 13+; iPadOS 17+ |
| In the box | |||||
| Included parts | Game Capture Neo; USB 3.0 USB-C to USB-A cable, 100 cm | Game Capture 4K S; USB-C to USB-C cable (150 cm); HDMI 2.0 cable (150 cm) | Game Capture 4K X; USB 3.2 C-to-C cable (150 cm); 8K HDMI cable (200 cm) | Game Capture 4K Pro; 8K HDMI cable (200 cm) | Cam Link 4K; USB 3.0 A-to-C extension (30 cm), current revision |
| Before you choose it | |||||
| Main check | Use its HDMI output to play on your TV in 4K60 HDR and its USB output to capture up to 1080p60. Choose another card if you need to stream or record in 4K. | Select a listed capture mode and a separate listed display mode. If HDR or high refresh is essential, match both exact modes before choosing this card. | Use a 10 Gbps USB port to get every mode. On a 5 Gbps port, pick one of the lower capture modes, or use a faster port, before buying it for high resolution. | Use a supported Windows desktop with a suitable PCIe x4 slot. Choose a USB capture device for a Mac or a laptop without an accessible compatible slot. | There is no HDMI display output. Identify the unit’s revision before planning 4K frame rates, then test clean HDMI and continuous camera power; use a passthrough card for a separate gaming display. |
On the makers’ own sites:
A condition in brackets beside a mode is the maker’s own: a model revision, a video format or a port it needs. Top resolution, top frame rate and HDR rarely come together, so check the maker’s mode table for the exact combination you want.
Choose by the job
Current external console capture
4K S belongs in a USB console route when its exact capture and display modes cover your output. Check its mode table before preserving high refresh or HDR.
High-refresh external capture
4K X is the fast USB option. It needs a 10 Gbps USB port for every mode; on a 5 Gbps port you get fewer capture modes.
Internal Windows capture
4K Pro goes in a PCIe x4 slot inside a desktop PC. It won’t work with a laptop, and it doesn’t support macOS.
A dedicated camera input
Cam Link 4K is for a suitable HDMI camera. Confirm a clean feed, continuous runtime and powered operation; it does not provide the game-display passthrough route.
One computer playing and streaming
A capture card is not the default same-PC performance upgrade. Try an appropriate OBS game source and encoder configuration before adding a hardware loop.
Where each model fits
Play at 4K60 on your TV while streaming in 1080p60
Elgato Game Capture Neo
Use its HDMI output to play on your TV in 4K60 HDR and its USB output to capture up to 1080p60. Choose another card if you need to stream or record in 4K.
Connections & full profile →An external capture card for console streaming
Elgato Game Capture 4K S
Select a listed capture mode and a separate listed display mode. If HDR or high refresh is essential, match both exact modes before choosing this card.
Connections & full profile →High-refresh HDMI capture on a fast direct USB port
Elgato Game Capture 4K X
Use a 10 Gbps USB port to get every mode. On a 5 Gbps port, pick one of the lower capture modes, or use a faster port, before buying it for high resolution.
Connections & full profile →A capture card that fits inside a Windows desktop
Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro
Use a supported Windows desktop with a suitable PCIe x4 slot. Choose a USB capture device for a Mac or a laptop without an accessible compatible slot.
Connections & full profile →Use a camera with clean HDMI output as your webcam
Elgato Cam Link 4K
There is no HDMI display output. Identify the unit’s revision before planning 4K frame rates, then test clean HDMI and continuous camera power; use a passthrough card for a separate gaming display.
Connections & full profile →Three limits of this comparison
- The highest resolution and highest frame rate are not proof that every HDR, color format or software combination is supported.
- A working game picture doesn’t mean your party chat and microphone are set up; test the audio separately.
- None of these cards captures copy-protected (HDCP) video. Turn HDCP off in the console’s settings where it lets you; we don’t cover ways around the protection.
Two of them head to head
- Elgato Cam Link 4K vs Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro
- Elgato Cam Link 4K vs Elgato Game Capture 4K S
- Elgato Cam Link 4K vs Elgato Game Capture 4K X
- Elgato Cam Link 4K vs Elgato Game Capture Neo
- Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro vs Elgato Game Capture 4K S
- Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro vs Elgato Game Capture 4K X
- Elgato Game Capture 4K Pro vs Elgato Game Capture Neo
- Elgato Game Capture 4K S vs Elgato Game Capture 4K X
- Elgato Game Capture 4K S vs Elgato Game Capture Neo
- Elgato Game Capture 4K X vs Elgato Game Capture Neo
Already own an older model?
This table lists models you can buy now. An older model you already own can still do the job: add it in the setup builder and test it. Different colors of one model are not listed separately, and a newer version can need different ports or software from the one before it.
To check whether a camera you own can stay live over HDMI or USB, open the camera capture checker.