Elgato Game Capture HD60 S, The Definitive Guide to Recording and Streaming Your Gameplay

If you’ve ever been a gamer and live in this age of digital gluttony online, it’s likely you’ve wanted to somehow save whatever is happening on your screen. Maybe it’s as simple as wanting to show off to a friend via Skype, or maybe you’re a two-bit wannabe YouTube streamer coming up the ranks, or perhaps you’re Rabbit – who is way too cool for school – or maybe you’re just a slightly belligerent video game enthusiast who occasionally happens upon a montage-worthy moment. While it isn’t as important as all that might sound, if you want to make good recordings of what happens on-screen, you’re going to need one now-a-days call ‘capture cards’. 

The Elgato Game Capture HD60 S: A Closer Look

The Elgato Game Capture HD60 S is a small external capture card that sits neatly between your games console or PC and computer and allows you to record or stream your gameplay in full 1080p at 60 frames per second, while in real‑time. Elgato Game Capture HD60 S. Photo courtesy Elgato Streaming at 720p isn’t great, while streaming at 1080p is. It really depends on how far your are willing to go, but if you want to create a professional-looking stream, 1080p is a good starting point.

Key Features That Set the HD60 S Apart

The Elgato HD60 S is not just a capture card for your Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. ITS A FEELING THAT WON'T LET YOU STOP. This capture card delivers all the tools you need to start creating high-quality content. Let’s check out the key features of the HD60 S and see where it stands as the centrepiece of any mainstream gaming setup:

• **1080p60fps Recording and Streaming**: You are going to get the best quality recording of yourself playing games in full 1080p at 60fps (60 frames per second). This is to ensure that your viewers get to see every details of your gameplay without any lag or frame drops. 
• Low Latency Passthrough: Low Latency Passthrough is all about eliminating lagSo, when you play a game connected to Elgato’s HD60 S, it will relay the video from your console to your monitor as fast as possible so that – if you’re rubbish at a game (like me) – you’ll get the same hi-def display as your better-skilled playing partner, but you won’t suffer from latency that can slow down your reactions.
• HDMI Input and Output: Input and output HDMI ports are on the HD60 S, making it so you can simply plug into that unit from your gaming console or PC, and then output to your monitor. One cable streamlines the process and ensures all the compatible ports you need are there.
• **Plug and Play Simplicity**: This plug and play device is as simple as can be. When you connect the Elgato HD60 S to your computer; it is ready to go! What else? None of that blabbery mumbo jumbo that makes you want to hit yourself in the face and cry afterwards. You simply plug in, and it starts working. No need to tinker around with configuration just to get this device working – simple, as simple as it should be.
• **Windows and macOS-Friendly:** The HD60 S is compatible with both PC and Mac, which will allow gamers and content creators to leverage the device on popular PC platforms like Windows or Mac when building systems, eliminating obstacles on either front.
• * **Bundle software: 4K Capture Utility:** Elgato’s 4K Capture Utility – included when you buy the HD60 S – is a simple-to-use piece of software that gives you many options for recording, streaming and editing your game footage, helping you make your content as professional as possible.

Performance That Exceeds Expectations

Thanks to the Elgato HD60 S’s outstanding performance, you won’t have to worry about snapback anyway, because it provides you with the highest-quality video capture with near-zero latency. The magic lies in the HD60 S’s latency passthrough, which delivers an incredibly smooth performance when playing. There’s virtually no lag between the Live event screen and what can be seen on the monitor, so you can play your favourite game without any distracting stutter. The HD60 S captures clips and recordings up to 1080p60fps. This gives you the best video resolution, and allows you to share your sweet gaming moments in their full detail with friends and family. Computer mouse, video camera and monitor displayed on a wooden background.

Elgato HD60 S: Unveiling the Pros and Cons

And like every technology out there, the Elgato HD60 S exhibits certain strengths as well as some drawbacks. To expand your perception of the gadget by identifying all aspects of the issue, examine its positive aspects and weaknesses:

Pros:

• **Easy Setup** The HD60 S is very easy to set up. In fact, the ‘plug-and-play’ aspect of it is much of the reason I bought it – I have no technical knowledge about streaming and I leg it away from wires, laptops and pens if they get near me. So the fact that all I need to do is plug it in, switch on my PC and pick up a controller and we’re ready to go sold me.
• **Phenomenal Video Quality HD Recording and Streaming in 1080p60fps:** You’ll look great playing any way you record or stream: lag-free, stutter-free and ready for **Unique
• Low-Latency Passthrough:** Possessing the lowest latency passthrough of any capture card, the HD60 S ensures that your gameplay appears on your display with minimal delay, allowing you to stay immersed in the game and not lose focus or have your actions interrupted by lag. This is especially important when you want to maintain smooth gameplay.
• **Broad compatibility:** Designed to be used with a ton of different game consoles and PCs to ensure that a wide selection of hard-working gamers can utilize their HD60 S alongside their existing hardware, broad compatibility is a must across all devices.
• Powerful Integrated Software Features: The included 4K Capture Utility software is loaded with features to make it easy to record, stream, and edit your gameplay. There are lots of tools for tweaking the settings of recording, including live streaming.

Cons:

• **No 4K Support**: The HD60 S provided near-flawless 1080p capture, but the lower resolutions aren’t going to appeal to 4K enthusiasts. You’ll need to look elsewhere if you want to record your gameplay footage in 4K.
• **Price Point:** Relative to the other capture cards that exist on the market, the Elgato HD60 S can sticker-price very high in some cases. That being said, for most gamers and content creators who want the best possible experience from their operation, the high quality, ease-of-use, and feature-full iteration of the device by Elgato is more than justified by the price tag.

Who Should Consider the Elgato HD60 S?

The Elgato HD60 S is a versatile tool that caters to all kinds of gamers and content creators alike, so I wanted to briefly touch on who the HD60 S might be helpful for. Here are a couple of examples: 

• – **Aspiring Streamers**: The HD60 S – our easiest to use and best quality capture card for gamers just starting out on streaming who want to capture and share their gameplay with the world in the hopes it will be their own path to the streaming A-List.
• **Experienced Streamers:** Experienced streamers will appreciate the HD60 S’s solid performance and stable capture to create top-quality streams that will keep viewers interested and contribute to building their brand.
• **Content Creators**: From Let’s Play videos to tutorials and reviews, this card can capture video footage in such outstanding quality that you’ll be able to piece together the best content you can, for all to see and enjoy.
• **Gamers Who Want to Record Their Video Games:** Aspiring let’s players unite. Need to save your latest boss fight for posterity or to show off your Triple-Kill shotgun spree to your closest friends? Look no further than the HD60 S for a simple, smooth and reliable way to record your games so that you can share the experience.

Beyond the HD60 S: Exploring Alternatives

Although the Elgato HD60 S is the best capture card around, there are other devices out there suited to different needs. Here are some common alternatives to the HD60 S you may want to consider, based on your needs:

• **Elgato Game Capture HD60 S+** The newest HD60 S+ model comes with 4K60 HDR passthrough, so it’s a great choice if you want to capture in 1080p while gaming at 4K. This way, none of your videos or streams will look like garbage just because you’re using an older TV or monitor. AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus – (‘Pocket capture 1080p60fps’/‘Low-latency passthrough’): Capture cards can be inconveniently big and bulky, so the best capture card for travelling creators is the portable and inconspicuous
• AverMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus. It captures 1080p60fps gameplay footage onto your computer for later posting and streaming, but can be quickly taken out for the recording when in need. The Latency is so low (best in the same rank), you can perform online multiplayer matches and the Portability is ‘small’ – you could easily carry it around in your purse without anyone knowing.
• **Razer Ripsaw HD** The Razer Ripsaw HD is another common capture card that’s easy to use, simple to set up, with 1080p60fps capture and low-latency passthrough. It might not have the extra features or external capture board of the earlier two options, but it’ll get the basic job done, which makes it a solid and affordable option for streamers and content-creators who want to keep things simple.

Elgato HD60 S: A Final Verdict

This is a capture card for a very specific type of person. But if you fall into that category, the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S is one of the better capture cards on the market. It’s easy to set up, records and streams at great video quality without a hitch, and consistently stayed out of the way during usage and testing. At $180, it’s not the cheapest capture card on the market, but it also isn’t the most expensive. The superior experience offered, along with the quality components, make it a good investment – if you’re serious.In brief, if you want a capture card that will simply do the task at hand and do it well, then this is a strong contender. You owe it to yourself and the rest of the gaming world to capture content and share the best of what you can do, especially with all of the extra features available to help you along your way. And if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right. With the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S, you’ll be off to a great start.