Choose an AJA mobile I/O capture path

When earlier products are excluded

When earlier products are excluded, the reviewed current Io group includes Io X3 and Io 4K Plus; select between them by the 2K versus 4K60 input need, not by the shared Thunderbolt shape.

Guide answer: Current AJA capture choices include Io X3, Io 4K Plus, the separately bundled Io Xpand/KONA 1, KONA 4 and KONA 5 packages, standalone PCIe KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X and four-input KONA HDMI, PCIe Corvid 88 and ST 2110 PCIe KONA IP25; KONA X is a distinct SDI/HDMI 2.0 card, while KONA HDMI's 4K60 inputs are ports 1–2 and KONA 4 uses four 3G-SDI links.

KONA X answer: Current-reference KONA X is a PCIe Gen 3 x4 board with SDI and HDMI 2.0 capture paths; its product page separately lists KONA XM, which is not reviewed as the same model here. Find current-reference products.

Current AJA choices also include the distinct KONA XM, a 4-lane PCIe 3.0 x4 OEM card with separate SDI and HDMI single-source plans, and KONA LHe Plus, a PCIe 1.0 x4 HD/SD card with SDI and analog inputs; check the exact mode and cable path for either. Find this exact current-only earlier-model choice.

The current-reference AVerMedia X'TRA GO GC515 is another present-library capture dock; it accepts USB-C DP Alt Mode source video and is not an HDMI-input option. Find current-reference products for this exact choice.

KONA 1 answer: Standalone KONA 1 adds a current internal PCIe card for one 3G-SDI input at HD/2K/SD rates, but it is not the IO-XPAND-04 Thunderbolt bundle or the earlier Corvid 1 and has no HDMI input or 4K plan.

Io X3 is the HD/2K/SD option with 3G-SDI or HDMI 1.4b, while Io 4K Plus is the 12G/HDMI 2.0 choice for a documented 4K capture route. The distinct IO-XPAND-04/KONA 1 is a one-channel 3G-SDI bundle; IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 and IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5 have separately bounded enclosure/host plans. The standalone KONA 4 is PCIe 2.0 x8 with four DIN 1.0/2.3 SDI connectors and a distinct 4K firmware mode; its mini-HDMI output is not an input. Standalone KONA 5 uses a separate PCIe/12G-SDI route. These are not interchangeable card/host configurations or consumer passthrough promises.

The current Corvid 88 is a separate professional SDI/PCIe option; its high-density 3G-SDI and developer-app fit is not the same as an Io Thunderbolt enclosure, and the public PCIe-revision discrepancy should be resolved for the exact board.

The standalone KONA 5 review covers four bidirectional HD-BNC SDI links, required 6-pin ATX power, separate HDMI monitoring output and 4K/12G capture with SDI monitoring. It is not the same package as the separately reviewed Io Xpand/KONA 5 bundle. The KONA HDMI review is a separate PCIe capture-only model: ports 1–2 accept 4K/UltraHD 60p, ports 3–4 are HD/2K-limited, and the card has no display output. The current KONA IP25 instead receives ST 2110 through two 10/25GbE SFP28 media cages rather than HDMI/SDI; its separate RJ-45 is control, and the older KONA IP is a distinct earlier model.

Find models with earlier entries excluded

When earlier products are included

Including earlier entries keeps current AJA options available and also admits older devices such as the first-generation Io 4K, whose software and Thunderbolt 2 constraints need separate verification.

Guide answer: Including earlier AJA models retains current Io X3/4K Plus, the Io Xpand/KONA 1, KONA 4 and KONA 5 bundles, standalone PCIe KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X and KONA HDMI, current Corvid 88 and current KONA IP25, while adding distinct earlier devices such as first-generation Io 4K; its legacy driver and Thunderbolt 2 requirements remain separate.

AVerMedia earlier-generation answer: Including earlier products adds the original AVerMedia Live Gamer EXTREME 2 GC551 alongside GC311; the original GC551 is a USB 3.x HDMI model with 1080p60 recording and 4Kp60 display passthrough, not a GC551G2 or a 4K recorder. Compare the original GC551 assessment with the later GC551G2 review and original GC311 review: similar names do not transfer host, package or mode limits. Find current and earlier products.

AVerMedia GC570 earlier-generation answer: With earlier models included, the original Live Gamer HD 2 GC570 joins as a PCIe Gen 2 x1 card with one HDMI input and up-to-1080p60 capture and pass-through; it is not a 4K/HDR route, and its Windows 11 24H2/retired-StreamEngine caveat needs checking. Read the GC570 assessment separately from the two-input GC570D. Find this same inclusive earlier-model set.

KONA X answer: The inclusive set retains current-reference KONA X, a PCIe SDI/HDMI 2.0 card; including earlier products does not merge it with the separately listed KONA XM or legacy PCIe devices. Find current and earlier products.

Including earlier entries keeps both separately reviewed current AJA cards: KONA XM (PCIe 3.0 x4 with one selected SDI or HDMI source) and KONA LHe Plus (PCIe 1.0 x4 with one SDI or analog HD/SD path); neither is an earlier generation merely because older AJA cards share nearby names. Find this exact inclusive earlier-model choice.

Elgato sibling answer: Elgato HD60 S is an HD-only USB 3.0/1080p60 device; HD60 S+ adds 4K60 HDR10 display passthrough and a separate Windows HDR mode but cannot capture 4K60, while the distinct 4K60 S+ adds onboard 4K60 HDR recording to SD or Windows and 4K60 HDR10 passthrough. These are three separate earlier devices, with different capture paths and host/software limits. Compare the HD60 S, HD60 S+ and 4K60 S+ assessments; the 4K60 S+ workflow guide explains the standalone and Windows routes. Then find models with earlier products included.

Separate Elgato PCIe examples: The earlier Elgato PCIe cards are not interchangeable: HD60 Pro is documented for Windows/OBS up to 1080p60, while the original Game Capture 4K60 Pro reaches 4K60 SDR on Windows but is not the MK.2 and does not record HDR. Their exact used-board revisions, package contents and current host compatibility still need separate checks. Read the HD60 Pro review beside the original 4K60 Pro review and its model-specific 4K/HDR guide; find the same earlier-inclusive product set.

Separate MK.2 route: The earlier MK.2 is a separate PCIe HDMI 2.0 card: Elgato documents 4K60 HDR10 recording through its Windows 4K Capture Utility path and 4K60 HDR passthrough; check the x4 PCIe lane and legacy software/driver. It is not the original Game Capture 4K60 Pro. Read the MK.2 assessment beside the original-card assessment and its HDR, high-refresh and legacy guide; find the same inclusive earlier-model set.

Elgato legacy contrast: The original Game Capture HD has analog A/V video input but captures 1080p30; plain HD60 drops analog video and adds 1080p60 HDMI capture over USB 2.0, while the separate 4K60 Pro MK.2 records 4K60 HDR through a Windows utility. Read the original Game Capture HD assessment and its analog and 1080p30 workflow guide, the plain HD60 review and its USB 2.0 HDMI workflow guide, and the separate MK.2 review; find the same earlier-inclusive set.

Original Cam Link answer: The original Cam Link is an earlier one-input camera-to-USB device, not Cam Link 4K: Elgato identifies part number 10GAC9901, documents a historical 1080p60 path and lists no HDMI display output. Its clean, unencrypted camera feed is a different task from console passthrough, and its production stopped in 2018; the package SKU and current OS/software compatibility are not established. Read the original Cam Link assessment and camera-to-USB guide; find this exact earlier-inclusive model set.

AVerMedia choice: The earlier-inclusive choice also keeps current-reference X'TRA GO GC515 in the candidate set; “include earlier” is an eligibility switch, not a claim that every product in the result is old. GC515 takes source video through USB-C DP Alt Mode and sends display output through HDMI, so check this connector direction separately from legacy card options. Find the exact earlier-inclusive candidate set.

AVerMedia legacy option: The original Live Gamer Portable 2 PLUS GC513 is included only when earlier models are enabled. Its U.S. black retail listing used model GC513B (Best Buy SKU 6288528) and says it is no longer available new; the current review does not claim a live offer. Its HDMI/USB 2.0 path is capped at 1080p60 capture, with 4Kp60 SDR passthrough and no HDR. Find the same earlier-inclusive set.

AVerMedia BOLT option: The earlier-inclusive set also admits the exact Live Gamer BOLT GC555. Unlike GC513's USB 2.0 link, BOLT requires Thunderbolt 3; its model-specific Windows path includes 4K60 HDR capture/display and a separate paired 1080p240 route. Do not assume USB-C alone or every later Thunderbolt combo port works, and do not infer a current U.S. retail offer from the historical SHI identity listing. Find this same inclusive earlier-model set.

Original GC311: Including earlier products adds the original AVerMedia Live Gamer MINI GC311 as a separate model from GC311G2 and BO311; its published capture and pass-through ceilings are 1080p60, and its host link is USB 2.0. Best Buy says this exact listing is no longer available new, but no formal manufacturer EOL is claimed. Find the same earlier-inclusive set.

KONA 1 answer: Including earlier products does not turn the separate older Corvid 1 into KONA 1: current-reference KONA 1 is a one-input 3G-SDI PCIe card, distinct from both that earlier board and the IO-XPAND-04 enclosure package.

Compare current Io X3 and Io 4K Plus, the IO-XPAND-04/KONA 1, IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 and IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5, standalone KONA 4, KONA 5 and KONA HDMI, Corvid 88 and the current KONA IP25 with earlier Io 4K before planning a production system; card, driver, network and host generations matter.

Find models while including earlier entries

Plain HD60: legacy capture intersections

Plain Game Capture HD60 makes an older-model intersection particularly easy to misread: it accepts HDMI video, not analog video, records at 1080p60 rather than 1080p120, uses USB 2.0 rather than USB 3.0, and has no documented Mac OBS path. Those are separate questions; the exact model and app still need checking.

HDMI/Windows/OBS: With earlier models included, the original AVerMedia GC551 also joins the Windows/OBS HDMI 1080p60 result, while the separate GC311 uses USB 2.0 and the original Cam Link remains a camera-to-USB/UVC bridge. The original Live Gamer HD 2 GC570 is another match, but it is a PCIe Gen 2 x1 1080p60-only path and its Windows 11 24H2/retired-StreamEngine caveat must be checked. Read the original GC551 assessment beside the distinct GC551G2 review: the original records up to 1080p60 and passes 4Kp60 to a display, not 4K to the computer. The original GC570 review is separate from GC570D. The original Cam Link review, plain HD60 review and USB 3.0 HD60 S assessment describe different source and host paths. The original GC311 review documents a separate USB 2.0/Full HD workflow. Verify the exact legacy OS/app and source timing. Find every model for this exact earlier-inclusive HDMI/1080p60/Windows/OBS request.

The same broad Windows OBS/HDMI/1080p60 set also includes GC555 only with its documented Thunderbolt 3 connection; absence of a host filter does not mean USB-C/USB 3 is interchangeable. Its separate 4K60 HDR paired route has stricter mode and host requirements. Find the same Windows OBS/HDMI/1080p60 candidate set.

Higher recording boundary: HD60 is not a 1080p120 capture choice: Elgato documents its capture ceiling at 1080p60, so a 1080p120 minimum excludes this model. Compare models with their own high-frame-rate mode tables, such as the 4K X or GC531; find every model for the same earlier-inclusive 1080p120/Windows/OBS request.

Analog video boundary: The HD60's 3.5 mm Analog Audio In is line-level audio, not an analog-video input; a Windows OBS requirement for analog video therefore excludes plain HD60. Compare analog-capture devices such as the Magewell Pro Capture AIO or Blackmagic Intensity Pro 4K; find every model for this exact earlier-inclusive analog/Windows/OBS request.

Mac/OBS boundary: The original Cam Link does match the historical Mac/OBS camera-capture request as a USB 3.x UVC path; this does not create a current OS guarantee and does not transfer Mac/OBS support to plain Game Capture HD60. Elgato's old system/software pages and release notes document the Cam Link path, while its current legacy notice warns that future OS and third-party support is not guaranteed. Compare the original Cam Link assessment with the plain HD60 review and separate HD60 S+ route; find every model for this exact earlier-inclusive HDMI/1080p60/Mac/OBS request.

Computer-link boundary: A USB 3.0-or-faster requirement excludes plain HD60 but includes both the original Cam Link and AVerMedia's original GC551; Cam Link is camera-to-USB, while GC551 accepts HDMI and supports 1080p60 recording. Read the original GC551 assessment beside the original Cam Link assessment and HD60 S review; model-specific display routing and legacy software still matter. find every model for this exact earlier-inclusive HDMI/1080p60/USB3/Windows/OBS request.

When unencrypted HDMI input is essential

For unencrypted HDMI, Io X3 provides an HDMI 1.4b input through HD/2K/SD, Io 4K Plus lists HDMI 2.0 input through 4K/UltraHD 60p, and KONA HDMI assigns 4K/UltraHD 60p to ports 1–2 while ports 3–4 are limited to 2K/HD 60p.

Guide answer: For unencrypted HDMI, Io X3 lists HDMI 1.4b through HD/2K, Io 4K Plus lists HDMI 2.0 through 4K/UltraHD 60p, KONA X has one HDMI 2.0 input and a separate output, and the four-input KONA HDMI has HDMI 2.0 on ports 1–2 through 4K/UltraHD 60p and HDMI 1.4b on ports 3–4 through 2K/HD 60p. KONA X's separate output is not evidence of direct HDMI input-to-output passthrough.

AJA's exact Io manuals exclude HDCP-protected input on Io X3 and Io 4K Plus; no assessment here treats a card as a way around content protection. Compare the Io X3 HDMI path, Io 4K Plus 4K input and KONA HDMI's port-specific input modes, then confirm the source's actual output and app mode.

For the combined HDMI/1080p60 choice, AJA's reviewed set includes Io X3, Io 4K Plus, KONA X, KONA XM and KONA HDMI. KONA XM has one selected HDMI 2.0 source on its Windows OEM/Control Room path; KONA X offers one selected HDMI source, and its separate HDMI output is not direct input-to-display passthrough. KONA HDMI supports a single Control Room source or a separate OBS path of up to four HD/SD inputs; its 4K60 mode is limited to ports 1–2. Find this exact HDMI/1080p60 request; those two selections do not specify the host or capture app.

AJA KONA XM adds one HDMI 2.0 input for an OEM/Control Room path at the documented modes; its separate HDMI output is not direct input passthrough. Find every reviewed model for this exact unencrypted HDMI input choice.

AVerMedia example: The original Live Gamer MINI GC311 provides unencrypted HDMI input and a separate HDMI pass-through path; the linked datasheet and content-identified Quick Guide specify HDMI 1.4, while the current page omits its revision. Its capture and display ceilings are both 1080p60, with no 4K, HDR, high-refresh or HDCP-protected capture. In the default HDMI-only result, original GC311 is excluded because it is gated by earlier=yes; select earlier=yes to include it in this input set. Read the GC311 review, then find models for this exact unencrypted HDMI choice or see the same result with earlier models included.

For an unencrypted HDMI source with a 1080p60 capture target, check that two-condition finder request.

Find every reviewed model with unencrypted HDMI input

When SDI input is essential

For SDI input, Io X3 offers four bidirectional 3G-SDI connectors with an HD-limited four-input arrangement, while Io 4K Plus adds configurable 12G/6G and multi-link SDI paths for 4K capture.

Guide answer: AJA's Io X3, Io 4K Plus, the separate KONA 1, KONA 4 and KONA 5 Io Xpand bundles, standalone KONA 1, KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X and Corvid 88 accept SDI, but their connectors, host links, channel layouts and 4K60 plans are not interchangeable. KONA 1 has one 3G-SDI input; KONA X uses its bidirectional 12G-SDI ports for capture or SDI monitoring, not as two independent captures.

On the Io X3 and Io 4K Plus, connector direction/configuration changes by workflow. The separate KONA 1 bundle is single-channel 3G-SDI; KONA 4 bundle uses four DIN 1.0/2.3 connectors with a configured 4K mode, while the KONA 5 bundle uses HD-BNC connectors and a documented single-link 12G 4K path. Standalone KONA 4 is an 8-lane PCIe 2.0 card with four bidirectional 3G-SDI DIN 1.0/2.3 connectors; its 4K60 arrangement consumes four linked inputs and is not a one-cable 12G path. Standalone KONA 5 is a separate PCIe Gen 3 x8 card with four bidirectional HD-BNC links; its Control Room 4K plan does not make it the Io Xpand TB5 package. The Corvid 88 instead provides eight configurable 3G-SDI DIN 1.0/2.3 connections on a PCIe card. Check the source, cable/adapter, card routing and host rather than interpreting a connector count as independent 4K feeds.

The reviewed KONA XM adds one 12G-SDI input with a separate output, while KONA LHe Plus has one 1.5G-SDI input and two outputs; both are PCIe cards, but their source and capture ceilings differ. Find every reviewed model for this exact SDI input choice.

For an SDI source with a 1080p60 capture target, check that two-condition finder request.

Find every reviewed model with SDI input

When the capture target is 1080p60

Io X3, Io 4K Plus and the three separately bundled KONA cards all have a 1080p60 input plan, but the board, channel count, upper modes and app/host constraints differ.

Guide answer: Io X3, Io 4K Plus, all three reviewed Io Xpand/KONA bundles, standalone KONA 1, KONA X, KONA 4 and KONA 5, KONA HDMI, current Corvid 88 and current KONA IP25 have 1080p60 arrangements. KONA X's separate SDI/HDMI paths are single-source in this review; KONA HDMI's app-specific multi-input HD OBS path is not the same as its single-source Control Room route.

Use the Io X3 review for a Thunderbolt HD/2K source workflow, the Io 4K Plus review for a wider 4K-capable route, the separate KONA 1, KONA 4 and KONA 5 bundle reviews for their card-specific SDI configurations, the standalone KONA 4 review for its firmware distinction, the KONA 5 review for its separate PCIe capture arrangements, and KONA HDMI for single-source Control Room or OBS and up-to-four-input HD OBS paths. The Corvid 88 has a PCIe/OBS route and the current KONA IP25 a single ST 2110 receive stream. Do not infer that a connector count creates multiple independent streams at each model's highest mode.

For the combined SDI/1080p60 choice, AJA's reviewed set includes Io X3 and Io 4K Plus, IO-XPAND-04/KONA 1, IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4, IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5, standalone KONA 1, KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X, KONA XM and Corvid 88. KONA XM has a single-source 1080p60 Control Room plan; KONA X is also one source at a time, not two captures from its bidirectional SDI connectors. Find this same SDI/1080p60 request.

The KONA XM also has a documented single-source 1080p60 plan in Control Room; the KONA LHe Plus is excluded because AJA lists 1080p only through 30p. Find every reviewed model with this exact 1080p60 capture minimum.

AVerMedia Full HD example: The original GC311 is listed for up to 1080p60 recording and uses a USB 2.0/Micro-USB computer link; its separate display ceiling is also 1080p60. Its Windows OBS setup is model-specific; no Mac rate table or iPad capture app is documented. It is not a 4K or high-refresh recorder. In the default 1080p60-only result, GC311 is excluded because it is gated by earlier=yes; selecting earlier=yes adds it to that capture set. Read the GC311 review, then find models for this exact 1080p60 capture choice or see the same result with earlier models included.

Find models for this exact SDI/1080p60 combination.

For Windows Thunderbolt with unencrypted HDMI and one 1080p60 source, check the exact multi-condition finder request.

With the same earlier-inclusive Windows/Thunderbolt/HDMI 1080p60 conditions, the AVerMedia GC555 is a candidate: its product page lists a Windows 1080p60 recording tier while 4K60 HDR passes to a display. Thunderbolt is essential; this does not make the Type-C-shaped connection USB 3. Find every model for this exact Thunderbolt/Windows/HDMI request.

For a Windows Thunderbolt OBS example using one SDI source at 1080p60, open the same combined finder request.

Combined Windows/OBS case: With earlier products excluded, SDI input, 1080p60 capture, Thunderbolt, Windows and OBS selected, Io X3, Io 4K Plus and all three current Io Xpand/KONA bundles match the reviewed AJA set; each KONA bundle has only a single-source 1080p60 OBS plan here.

With earlier products included, HDMI, 1080p60 capture, Thunderbolt and Windows selected, the AJA set includes Io X3 and Io 4K Plus, earlier Io 4K and Io XT, and KONA X through a powered Thunderbolt 3/4 PCIe enclosure; KONA X remains a PCIe card, not a native Thunderbolt device. Find this exact earlier-inclusive HDMI/1080p60/Windows/Thunderbolt request.

Compare the earlier Io 4K and Io XT assessments with the current Io X3 and Io 4K Plus reviews before relying on that HDMI/Thunderbolt result.

AVerMedia X'TRA GO GC515 accepts video from a USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode source rather than an HDMI input. Its documented 4K60 display path requires a DP 1.4 source and limits simultaneous recording to 1080p60. Find models for this exact capture minimum.

Find every reviewed model with a 1080p60 capture plan

When the capture target is 4K60

AJA's current 4K-capable group includes Io 4K Plus, the IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5 and IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 bundles, standalone KONA 5 and Corvid 88; Io X3 and the IO-XPAND-04/KONA 1 bundle are not assigned 4K60 capture plans.

Guide answer: Io 4K Plus, the IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5 and IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 bundles, standalone KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X, KONA HDMI, Corvid 88 and current KONA IP25 have separate 4K60 capture plans. KONA X's reviewed 4K60 paths use one selected SDI or HDMI source in Control Room; its separate HDMI output does not create a passthrough match. KONA 4 uses four linked 3G-SDI inputs; KONA 5 uses one 12G-SDI Control Room input.

The KONA XM joins the 4K60 set with one SDI or HDMI source in Control Room; its 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 rate reaches 60p, while 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 is limited to 30p. Find every reviewed model with this exact 4K60 capture minimum.

The Io 4K Plus assessment assigns the documented input ceiling to AJA Control Room and one selected HDMI or SDI source path. The IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5 bundle uses one 12G-SDI input route; IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 requires its card-specific 4K transport configuration. Standalone KONA 4 reaches 4K/UHD60 with four linked 3G-SDI connections in its 4K firmware personality; its mini-HDMI connector is output only, and its UFC firmware is not the 4K mode. Standalone KONA 5 has a separate Windows/macOS PCIe 4K60 Control Room plan and documents simultaneous 12G-SDI monitoring in its 4K mode; no KONA 5 OBS 4K60 plan is assigned. The Corvid 88 is a separate PCIe path using grouped 3G-SDI links and a compatible NTV2 developer application. The KONA IP25 instead accepts one documented ST 2110 source through its SFP28 media link with AJA Control Room. The finder only asks whether the host is Thunderbolt or PCIe, not exact lane/generation; no KONA 4 4K60 HDR or passthrough plan is assigned.

With earlier entries included, HDMI, 4K60, Thunderbolt, Windows and AJA Control Room selected, Io 4K Plus and KONA X match; the latter uses a powered Thunderbolt 3/4 PCIe chassis and remains an internal PCIe Gen 3 x4 card. Find this exact earlier-inclusive HDMI/4K60/Windows/Thunderbolt/Control Room request.

With earlier entries excluded, SDI, 4K60, Thunderbolt, Windows and AJA Control Room selected, five reviewed models match: Io 4K Plus, the KONA 4 and KONA 5 Xpand bundles, standalone KONA 5 and KONA X. The two bundles use their documented Thunderbolt 5 chassis; standalone KONA cards are PCIe boards and require compatible, adequately powered Thunderbolt PCIe enclosures. Find this exact current-only SDI/4K60/Windows/Thunderbolt/Control Room request.

Find models for this exact SDI/4K60/Windows/Thunderbolt/Control Room combination.

For Windows with an unencrypted HDMI source on Thunderbolt and AJA Control Room, check the exact earlier-inclusive 4K60 request.

Find every reviewed model with a 4K60 capture plan

When the computer must connect over Thunderbolt

The five Io and current Xpand configurations connect through their own Thunderbolt route; a PCIe KONA board is a different host arrangement unless it is installed in an external enclosure.

Guide answer: AJA's Io X3, Io 4K Plus and all three Io Xpand/KONA bundles use documented Thunderbolt host paths. Standalone KONA 5, KONA X and KONA IP25 are PCIe cards that need compatible external PCIe enclosures for Thunderbolt hosts; the KONA X v18 manual requires adequate enclosure power/ATX connectivity, so none is a direct Thunderbolt device.

AJA documents Io X3 and Io 4K Plus as external capture units and separately names IO-XPAND-04/KONA 1, IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 and IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5 as chassis-plus-card packages. The standalone KONA 5 and KONA IP25 remain PCIe cards: Thunderbolt applies only through compatible external PCIe enclosures, not through direct cables. Check the host protocol, generation, cable, enclosure and driver; a USB-C-shaped port alone does not establish Thunderbolt.

Find every reviewed model with a Thunderbolt host plan

When Windows is the required host

AJA lists Windows paths for Io X3, Io 4K Plus, the three Io Xpand/KONA bundles and standalone PCIe KONA 4; the suitable capture mode still depends on the card, app, driver and host generation.

KONA 1 answer: AJA lists standalone KONA 1 for Windows with Control Room and OBS; the reviewed plan is one 3G-SDI source at 1080p60, not HDMI or 4K, and the driver/plugin build still matters.

Guide answer: Windows AJA paths are listed for Io X3, Io 4K Plus, all three Io Xpand/KONA bundles, standalone KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X, KONA HDMI, Corvid 88 and KONA IP25, but their apps, signals and host routes differ. KONA X's Control Room plan can use one SDI or HDMI source at 4K60; Windows OBS compatibility is version-specific and does not itself establish that mode.

AJA's KONA XM has a Windows PCIe Control Room plan for one 12G-SDI or HDMI 2.0 source, while KONA LHe Plus offers one SDI or analog HD/SD path; neither is an OBS or passthrough promise. Find every reviewed model for this exact Windows choice.

AVerMedia lists Windows 10/11 for the GC515; its documented Windows OBS route includes a 1080p60 capture / 4K60 display pairing, while 1080p120 is a separate capture mode. The streaming-PC USB data rate is not stated. Find models for this exact Windows choice.

AVerMedia lists Windows 10/11 or later for GC311 and provides an exact Windows OBS setup; its capture ceiling is 1080p60 over USB 2.0, with a Windows 11 24H2 StreamEngine caution. The host link is Micro-USB, not USB 3.0; AVerMedia directs users to remove AVerMediaEngine if present and restart when the 24H2 warning applies. For the default Windows-only answer, GC311 is not included because it is gated by earlier=yes; with earlier=yes the Windows set includes it. Read the GC311 review, then find models for this exact Windows choice or see the same result with earlier models included.

The Io X3 covers HD/2K/SD; Io 4K Plus adds its selected-input 4K60 path. The IO-XPAND-04/KONA 1 has one 1080p60 plan; IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 and IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5 reach 4K60 only through their specifically limited TB5/Control Room configurations. Standalone KONA 4 and KONA 5 have separate PCIe 4K60 Control Room routes; KONA 5 requires separate ATX power, and KONA 4 uses four 3G-SDI links and a 4K firmware personality. Standalone KONA HDMI is an eight-lane PCIe card with four HDMI inputs, one selected Control Room signal and no output. The KONA IP25 instead has a one-stream ST 2110 receive plan. Check the signal, app release and host path before selecting a format.

Find every reviewed Windows model

When a Mac is the required host

AJA's OBS guide names Intel and Apple-silicon Macs, while the Io Xpand manual distinguishes M-series Thunderbolt from Intel/TB3/macOS15+; verify the exact host and software branch.

KONA 1 answer: Standalone KONA 1 has Mac Control Room and OBS routes, but AJA's current v18 macOS installer is for Apple silicon on macOS 14 or later; Intel Macs need the v17.6 archive, so check the driver branch as well as the PCIe host path.

Guide answer: AJA documents Mac paths for Io X3, Io 4K Plus, all three Io Xpand/KONA bundles, standalone KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X, KONA HDMI, Corvid 88 and KONA IP25. For KONA X, the current v18 macOS installer is Apple-silicon-only on macOS 14 or later; Intel Macs need the supported v17.6 branch, and both KONA X routes remain PCIe, not native Thunderbolt.

AJA's KONA LHe Plus adds SDI and analog Control Room routes on macOS; its v18 LH manual covers Intel and Apple silicon. KONA XM is not listed for Mac on its dedicated page, which names Windows and Linux OEM support. Find every reviewed model for this exact Mac choice.

AVerMedia also names a macOS/OBS setup for the GC515, but the reviewed material does not publish a complete Mac mode table or streaming-host USB rate; do not transfer its Windows-specific recording modes to Mac. Find models for this exact Mac choice.

AVerMedia lists GC311 for Intel and M-series Macs and names M1–M4 compatibility, but warns of capture limitations and publishes no GC311-specific Mac mode table; macOS 12 is expressly excluded. Do not transfer the Windows OBS setup or assign a Mac capture rate from the general product ceiling. For the default Mac-only answer, GC311 is not included because it is gated by earlier=yes; the earlier-inclusive Mac set lists only platform compatibility, not a verified Mac mode plan. Read the GC311 review, then find models for this exact Mac choice or see the same result with earlier models included.

Compare the Io X3 and Io 4K Plus with the KONA 1, KONA 4 and KONA 5 bundles, standalone KONA 4 and KONA 5, the Corvid 88 and KONA IP25. A Mac label alone does not establish processor family, Thunderbolt/PCIe link, driver branch, capture application or high-rate storage path; both PCIe KONA cards need an internal slot or compatible external PCIe enclosure.

Find every reviewed Mac model

When OBS Studio is essential

AJA's OBS guide lists the Io and KONA families, but a model's maximum hardware format is not proof that OBS supports that capture rate through every host path.

KONA 1 answer: AJA's OBS v17.1 guide names standalone KONA 1 up to 2K, while this site assigns one SDI source at 1080p60; no KONA 1 4K, multi-input or recorded-HDR plan is claimed.

Guide answer: The reviewed OBS paths for Io X3, Io 4K Plus, the Io Xpand/KONA 1, KONA 4 and KONA 5 bundles, standalone KONA X, KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA HDMI and Corvid 88 include conservative 1080p60 plans. KONA X's Windows release notes list OBS 27.2.x, 28.1.x, 29.1.3 and 30 but warn of issues with the latter two; no KONA X/OBS-specific 4K60 matrix is published, so this assessment assigns only 1080p60. KONA HDMI's app-specific multi-input HD route and standalone KONA 4's four-link 4K path are separate configurations.

Use the Io X3 review for its separately described HD multi-camera arrangement and the Io 4K Plus review for a single-source HD route. The distinct KONA 1, KONA 4 and KONA 5 bundles and the Corvid 88 have only single-source 1080p60 OBS plans here. The standalone KONA 4 review explains its specifically documented four-input 4K mode and required 4K firmware personality; the standalone KONA 5 review describes a conservative OBS plan limited here to 1080p60, not 4K/8K. Verify the exact driver, plugin and host configuration.

Blackmagic’s DeckLink IP 100G technical specifications list OBS Studio among third-party supported applications but warn that support may vary; this is a specialist PCIe/ST 2110 network-video card, not an HDMI or SDI OBS capture device. Its published Windows limit is eight Ultra HD p60 channels, but that is not an OBS-specific simultaneous-channel test. Read the DeckLink IP 100G assessment, and verify the OBS/driver path and ST 2110 network plan before relying on a configuration. Find models for this exact OBS choice.

The GC515 adds an AVerMedia-documented OBS path: Windows uses OBS Studio 30.2 or later with HyperDecoder, and Mac OBS setup is named without a full Mac rate table. Its 4K60 display pairing records at up to 1080p60, not 4K60. Find models for this exact OBS choice.

AVerMedia’s exact Windows setup FAQ shows original GC311 as an OBS video source and its Microphone (Live Gamer Mini) as audio; the documented recording ceiling is 1080p60 over USB 2.0. The Mac FAQ establishes a platform listing, not a Mac OBS/mode table. In the default OBS-only answer, GC311 is excluded because it is gated by earlier=yes; the earlier-inclusive OBS set contains its model-specific Windows path, not a Mac or iPad OBS workflow. Read the GC311 review, then find models for this exact OBS choice or see the same result with earlier models included.

Find every reviewed model with an OBS plan

When AJA Control Room is essential

AJA names Control Room for the Io and KONA card families, but their connectors, transport modes, host bandwidth and capture ceilings are not interchangeable.

Guide answer: Io X3, Io 4K Plus, all three Io Xpand/KONA bundles, standalone KONA 1, KONA X, KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA HDMI and KONA IP25 have Control Room plans. KONA X has one-source SDI or HDMI paths through 4K60; the separate HDMI output is not assigned as direct HDMI passthrough, and its SDI monitor route is not a generic display match. KONA 4's 4K60 plan uses four linked 3G-SDI inputs; the KONA HDMI is capture-only.

AJA's v18 Control Room manual also lists KONA XM and KONA LHe Plus. KONA XM's reviewed plan is Windows PCIe with one SDI or HDMI source; LHe Plus has one SDI or analog HD/SD input, not HDMI or 1080p60. Find every reviewed model for this exact AJA Control Room choice.

The Io X3 assessment covers HD/2K/SD; Io 4K Plus adds its selected-input 4K60 path. The IO-XPAND-04/KONA 1 has one 1080p60 plan; IO-XPAND-03/KONA 4 and IO-XPAND-02/KONA 5 reach 4K60 only through their specifically limited TB5/Control Room configurations. Standalone KONA 4 and KONA 5 have separate PCIe 4K60 Control Room routes; KONA 5 requires separate ATX power, and KONA 4 uses four 3G-SDI links and a 4K firmware personality. The KONA IP25 instead has a documented one-stream ST 2110 receive plan through Control Room. Confirm the signal, software build and host/network path before selecting a format.

Find every reviewed model with an AJA Control Room plan

SDI 4K60 on PCIe: Control Room and OBS are different answers

Control Room decision: With SDI input, 4K60 capture, PCIe, Windows and AJA Control Room selected together, four current reviewed models match: standalone KONA 4 uses four linked 3G-SDI inputs, KONA 5 one 12G-SDI input, KONA X one source with separate SDI monitoring, and KONA XM one selected 12G-SDI source; XM reaches 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2 but its 12-bit RGB mode tops out at 30p. Verify KONA X's disputed power arrangement and source format. Find this exact SDI/4K60/PCIe/Windows/Control Room request.

Switching that same setup to OBS changes the candidate set

OBS decision: Changing only the software requirement to OBS leaves seven reviewed SDI/4K60 PCIe Windows candidates, including standalone KONA 4 on its four-link SDI route, but removes KONA 5 because its reviewed OBS plan is limited here to 1080p60. Compare the separate DeckLink 8K Pro G2 and Pro Capture SDI 4K Plus evidence rather than transferring KONA 5's Control Room workflow to OBS or other cards' plans back to KONA 5. Find the same SDI/4K60/PCIe/Windows request with OBS.

KONA 4's four-link input compared with a single-link card

For SDI 4K60 on Windows PCIe in Control Room, four reviewed matches are standalone KONA 4, KONA 5, KONA X and KONA XM: KONA 4 links four 3G-SDI inputs; KONA 5 uses one 12G-SDI input; KONA X and XM provide distinct one-source paths, and XM's 12-bit RGB plan is limited to 30p even though its 10-bit 4:2:2 path reaches 60p. Verify KONA X's host power before installation. Find this same SDI/4K60/Windows/PCIe/Control Room setup.

The same 4K capture target with OBS selected

With OBS selected instead, seven models match; standalone KONA X is excluded because AJA lists app compatibility but no KONA X/OBS-specific 4K60 matrix, so its reviewed OBS plan stops at 1080p60. KONA 4 retains its four-link SDI OBS route; compare it with DeckLink 8K Pro G2 rather than transferring another card's path. Find this same SDI/4K60/Windows/PCIe/OBS setup.

Do not infer monitor pass-through from a four-link 4K input

Adding a 4K60 passthrough requirement removes KONA 4: its 4K60 input plan uses four SDI links and no monitor-through plan is assigned. KONA X does describe SDI monitoring, but its output is not encoded as generic display passthrough because the questionnaire cannot bind that route to the selected source; its separate HDMI output is not direct HDMI passthrough either. Standalone KONA 4 and KONA X therefore are not documented consumer capture-and-display substitutes; KONA 5 is the remaining reviewed match for this exact arrangement. Find this same SDI/4K60/Windows/PCIe/Control Room request with 4K60 passthrough.

Windows Control Room: the KONA HDMI 4K60 HDR route

With earlier products excluded, HDMI input, 4K60 capture, PCIe, Windows, AJA Control Room and 4K60 HDR recording selected together, two reviewed models match: KONA HDMI uses one of its first two HDMI ports and KONA X uses its single HDMI 2.0 input. AJA's v18 Control Room manual documents HDR-metadata capture; KONA X's separate HDMI output does not add passthrough. Find this exact HDMI/4K60/PCIe/Windows/Control Room/HDR request.

Changing the same Windows HDMI HDR task to OBS

Keeping earlier products excluded, HDMI, 4K60, PCIe, Windows and 4K60 HDR recording fixed but selecting OBS instead yields two reviewed matches, AVerMedia GC573 and Elgato 4K Pro; KONA HDMI's HDR route is Control Room-specific, while KONA X has no assigned OBS HDR plan. Find this same HDMI/4K60/PCIe/Windows/HDR task with OBS.

Capture-only input does not become 4K60 passthrough

With earlier products excluded and HDMI, 4K60 capture, PCIe, Windows, AJA Control Room, 4K60 HDR recording and 4K60 passthrough all selected, the reviewed library has no exact match. Neither capture-only KONA HDMI nor KONA X receives a passthrough fit: KONA HDMI has no display output, and KONA X's separate HDMI output is not documented as direct input-to-output routing. A library gap is not proof that no product exists elsewhere. Check this complete HDMI/4K60/PCIe/Windows/Control Room/HDR/passthrough request.