Elgato Game Capture 4K X review: HDMI 2.1 is finally here

Elgato has revealed the Game Capture 4K X, which serves as a much-needed upgrade to the Elgato HD60X, which can now capture footage in 4K, without the need for an internal PCIe slot.

Elgato is by far one of the most popular manufacturers of streaming hardware out there, bringing what once was broadcast-level hardware down to a more accessible price point. Their lineup of capture cards has long since been a staple, but now, the lineup is getting a much-needed refresh in the form of the Game Capture 4K X, which can offer 4K capture capabilities at high framerates without the need to add parts into your PC.

This could be a godsend for those looking to do streams while on the move and don’t want to pay out of pocket for the more premium lug around a bigger piece of equipment. It effectively replaces the HD60 X in the product lineup, and taking a closer look at the technical specs of the product offers quite a bit of functionality, including HDMI 2.1.

Key specs

• Capture resolutions: 1080P60, 4K60, 4K144, 1080p240
• HDMI interface: HDMI 2.1
• Input: HDMI (Unencrypted)
• Output: HDMI (lag-free passthrough)
• Connection: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), 3.5mm line in
• Features: VRR passthrougth, HDR10 passthrough and capture
• Included in the box: Elgato Game Capture 4K X, USB-C 3.2 cable, HDMI 2.1 cable
• MSRP: $229.99, £229.99

System requirements

• OS: Windows 10 (64-bit), MacOS 11, iPadOS 17 or newer
• CPU: Intel Core i5 6000 or better, AMD Ryzen 5 or better
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series or newer
• IO: USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 1 (limited capture resolution)

Design

The Elgato Game Capture 4K X is housed in a small breakout box enshrouded in plastic, with rubber feat upon its bottom side to ensure it doesn’t slide off of your desk. Visually, there’s not much to differentiate it from the older-gen HD60 X, but there are a wealth of differences when looking at the IO at the rear.

You get two HDMI 2.1 ports, here, which allow you to stream at up to 4K at 144Hz, or 1080p at 240Hz, which is a big step up from the HD60 X, and offers high framerate capture at high resolutions, whereas the HD60 X was simply limited to 4K 30 by comparison on older standards. You can also expect full-speed 4K 144Hz pass-through here, making it ideal for those looking to run it alongside a streaming PC with minimal lag. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack to monitor audio with no delay.

Powering the device is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, which is a high-speed Type-C cable. Handily, Elgato includes two cables right in the box. One is a high-quality USB-C to C cable, and another is a HDMI 2.1 cable. These are both incredibly sturdy and clearly a cut above most other cables of its ilk.

My only disappointment with this is that two HDMI 2.1 cables are not included. So, if you’re planning to run this box as a passthrough to your monitor, you’re going to need to pick something extra up first if you want it all up and running properly.

Otherwise, this functionality in a portable form factor is a godsend, as it makes high framerate 4K capture a reality for those who are not able to spare an extra PCIe slot.

Features

The Elgato Game Capture 4K X sports a huge number of resolutions and framerates, making it compatible with heaps of devices, including the PS5, Xbox Series X, Steam Deck, and more. The company advertised that the kit works “Plug & Play”, but there is an asterisk attached to this: You’ll need to install Elgato’s capture utility first.

A quick install later and you’ll be up and running. I tested this using my Ayaneo Air 1S hooked up to a dock to output HDMI, which is fed through to the Elgato 4K X, which is connected via USB-C to my gaming PC.

I did encounter a conflict issue with Razer Synapse, which can cause the device to not output correctly. However, closing the offending application cleared up any connectivity issues. From here, you can configure the resolution and refresh rate up to your device’s standards to get a high-quality capture.

Software

Elgato 4K Capture Utility is simple, easy to understand, and quick and simple to set up. This should be the application you go to if you want to locally record, or take screenshots. I wouldn’t recommend that you use it as a window to play games, however, as there is some delay. I tested this using Street Fighter 6, and there were several frames of lag. In most titles, this will not be immediately obvious, and offer a somewhat playable experience.

If you’re planning on using the device to play games and capture at the same time, it’s well worth picking up that extra HDMI cable to enable passthrough on your monitor, which I tested, and it worked perfectly, even in fighting games, which require frame-perfect inputs.

Another strength of Elgato’s 4K Capture Utility is its friendliness with other Elgato devices, if you have a Stream Deck, you can set up shortcuts to record or take screenshots within that device’s software, too. It might be a walled garden, but once you’re in the ecosystem, it all works together quite well.

VRR and HDR10

I set up the PlayStation 5 with the Elgato Game Capture 4K X, and tested the device using several titles. With HDR10 certification, Final Fantasy 16 looked brilliant at 4K30 input, with flawless passthrough. I also tested Fortnite at 120Hz, and again, the Elgato Game Capture managed to capture 120Hz footage excellently and without any fuss or pesky configuration whatsoever.

OBS compatibility

Testing several titles on various devices and inputs in OBS was simply no sweat for the Elgato Game Capture 4X. All you need to do is configure the device as a Video Capture Device, and you’re off to the races. Just remember that if you want to stream at high framerates, you’ll have to have the capacity to do so on Twitch and other platforms like YouTube.

Should you buy it?

The Elgato Game Capture 4K X undercuts rivals like the AverMedia LiveGamer Ultra 2.1, which houses many of same features, at a more affordable price point. Considering other boons like Elgato’s vast library of other streaming products, if you’re already invested into their ecosystem, this is a no-brainer.

Verdict: 5/5

The 4K X offers a much-needed upgrade over the older HD60 X, with modern features like HDMI 2.1, VRR, HDR10 support and crucially, support for a wealth of resolutions. It could be a key part of any streaming setup, especially if you are looking to capture external devices with a HDMI output. It’s even competitive in the market it enters, which makes it an essential upgrade for streamers and content creators, who don’t want the hassle of putting an add-in-card to their system.

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