Earlier-model workflow
Elgato 4K60 S+: standalone recording, host and limits
The 4K60 S+ name refers to Elgato’s earlier external capture device, not the later Game Capture 4K S. The “S+” unit combines HDMI 2.0 capture and display output with onboard encoding, Windows PC mode and direct SD-card recording. Use the mode and host checks below before treating it as a match.
Standalone 4K60 recording without a PC
For card recording, Elgato says to connect the supplied power adapter, insert an SD card and leave the USB-to-PC cable disconnected. The input controls the recording mode; 4K60 HDR is saved as HEVC/H.265. Use a formatted exFAT or FAT32 card rated at least UHS Class 3/V30. FAT32 splits long files into 4 GB chunks, and Elgato recommends removing the card for transfer through a reader. Its documentation lists 1 TB as tested and about 36 GB/hour at the default 80 Mb/s 4K rate.
The 4K60 S+ is an earlier model with discontinued production and no new driver/firmware development. Compare its original model label, seller package, return terms and warranty before ordering; an SD card is not established as a box item. Read the full 4K60 S+ assessment. Open the finder for earlier HDMI cards with 4K60 capture.
Windows PC capture, OBS and 4K60 display output
PC mode is a different setup from standalone recording: the Windows host needs USB 3.0 data and the device needs its power adapter. Elgato’s setup page names OBS Studio as an option; its old system requirements list Windows 10, 8 GB RAM, a sixth-generation Core i5 or Ryzen 7 and GeForce GTX 10-series-or-better graphics. PC preview latency is documented at roughly 250 ms. Use the HDMI output for a direct display path when needed, and check the source, monitor, PC port, software version and recording format as one chain.
The model is documented for up to 4K60 HDR capture and 4K60 HDR10 passthrough, but the S+ cannot pass high refresh rates or capture 1440p. Its software and device are in legacy status, so a match is not proof that a particular current PC or OBS setup will work. See the model-specific limits. Compare earlier Windows/USB 4K60 HDR capture and passthrough matches.
Mac and high-refresh users should choose a different path
Elgato explicitly says 4K60 S+ does not connect directly to a Mac. You can use a card reader on a Mac to edit files recorded in standalone mode, but that is not live USB capture. The same support page excludes 1440p input/capture and any frame or display refresh rate above 60 Hz. If those are essential, inspect a current model’s exact capture and passthrough tables rather than treating 4K60 as evidence of 4K120 or 1440p144 support.
Find HDMI capture models with a documented Mac/USB plan or find cards documenting 1440p144 passthrough. The finder shows a library match, not a promise about an unverified computer, cable or seller package.