Earlier-model comparison
Compare Elgato HD60 S and HD60 S+ by signal path
Earlier-model comparison · external HDMI · USB 3.0
Elgato Game Capture HD60 S and HD60 S+ are separate products, not finish or bundle variants. Both can capture 1080p60 over USB 3.0 from an unencrypted HDMI source, but the “plus” model adds HDMI 2.0, 4K60 HDR10 display passthrough, UVC, compatible-app 2160p30 capture and a Windows-only HDR recording path. Both are now listed by Elgato as Legacy/EOL; compare the required signal path and software before considering an older unit.
Use the recording target to separate the two
| Model | Documented capture | Display output | Host/app caveat | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Capture HD60 S | Through 1080p60; no HDR capture or 4K recording listed | HDMI output; no 4K60 or higher-refresh mode established here | USB 3.0; Windows 10 OBS/DirectShow route. Older Intel Mac support is legacy; Apple Silicon is excluded by Elgato's requirements page. | Read the HD60 S assessment |
| Game Capture HD60 S+ | 1080p60; 2160p30 where the selected software supports it. Windows HDR capture up to 1080p60 only in the specified route. | Up to 2160p60 HDR10 passthrough; captured stream can remain 1080p60 | USB 3.0 UVC. Windows HDR needs Windows 10, 4K Capture Utility and a listed NVIDIA GPU family. HDR capture is not available on macOS. | Read the HD60 S+ assessment |
Answer: include earlier capture cards?
Guide answer: When earlier models are allowed, the HD60 S is the simpler HD-only route: unencrypted HDMI in, USB 3.0 host link and up to 1080p60 capture, with older app and driver requirements. The HD60 S+ adds a separate 4K60 HDR10 display path and Windows-specific 1080p60 HDR recording, but still cannot capture 4K60. Do not treat the two model names as interchangeable. Find models including earlier products.
That answer sits alongside earlier products in the other manufacturer families; it is not a site-wide list of every earlier card. Open the exact model reviews for the mode, OS, software and package checks, then use the finder for the combined request.
Answer: USB 1080p60 capture with earlier models included
Combined-answer guide: With the inclusive lifecycle choice, an external USB 3.0 host and 1080p60 capture target, both Elgato siblings have documented plans. HD60 S is an HD-only Windows/OBS candidate; HD60 S+ also has OBS plans on Windows and macOS, and adds 4K60 HDR10 passthrough while recording at 1080p60. Other matching cards have different inputs, host limits and software conditions, so do not infer these Elgato capabilities from the candidate count. Find this exact earlier-inclusive USB/1080p60 request.
Separate a display signal from the file you save
For HD60 S+, Elgato's resolution guidance gives a concrete example: a 2160p60 source can continue to the monitor at 2160p60 while the card captures 1080p60 over USB. A 2160p30 input can be captured at 2160p30 in compatible software, but that is not a 4K60 capture mode. The HD60 S has no equivalent 4K60 pass-through claim. If 4K60 capture is a must-have, neither of these two models is a match.
HDR also changes by path. HD60 S+ can pass HDR10 to a supported display, including when the host is macOS, but Elgato says HDR recording is unavailable on macOS. Windows HDR recording is limited to 1080p60 and requires Windows 10, Elgato 4K Capture Utility and a GeForce GTX 10-series or later GPU in the stated guidance. The current public app choices do not include 4K Capture Utility, so choose it only after checking the detailed review, not by assuming OBS or Elgato Studio shares the same HDR encoding path.
Check the old hardware and exact seller package
Elgato's Legacy/EOL notice records production stops in 2022 for both S models and says there will be no additional firmware or driver development. It continues legacy product support, which is different from a guarantee that a particular used device works, that a current operating system is compatible, or that a seller supplies the cables shown in the original box list. Confirm the printed model name, host/OS/app requirements, physical condition, USB/HDMI cables, return terms and warranty eligibility with the actual seller.
Both devices include a 3.5 mm analog audio line input, not a microphone jack. Neither is the right choice for direct analog-video digitizing: their video input is unencrypted HDMI. The official sources also describe HDCP restrictions. A converter, line-level audio feed or protected HDMI signal needs its own exact analysis; the family name is not a substitute for it.
Primary references: Elgato's current device comparison, HD60 S technical page, HD60 S resolution guide, HD60 S+ technical page, HD60 S+ resolution guide, HD60 S+ software page, and the Legacy/EOL notice.