Setup
Check the host connection and software together
A capture card can match the source and still fail your setup if the host connection is too slow, physically unavailable or not supported by the recording app. Start by distinguishing connector shape, bus generation and software support.
USB-C is a shape, not a speed guarantee
USB-C describes the reversible connector. It does not guarantee a specific data rate, controller, power level or compatibility with an older USB-A port by itself. Look for the actual requirement in the card's technical specification and the computer's manual. For high-resolution or high-frame-rate capture, a mode table can show that codec and frame-rate choices depend on whether the capture device is connected through USB 3.x or a slower port.
Use the supplied cable only for the connections it is designed to make. If you need a different cable, extension or adapter, confirm both the connector and data capability. A hub or dock adds another link and may be unsuitable for high-bandwidth capture; follow the card manufacturer's connection guidance.
PCIe cards need a real slot and a supported system
Internal cards are not laptop upgrades. Check the exact PCIe slot length, electrical lane requirement, physical clearance, neighboring card occupancy and motherboard manual. A listed x4 card might fit in a longer physical slot, but that does not prove the slot has enough lanes or is not disabled by another device. Professional capture boards can also require drivers, SDKs or a production application beyond a consumer streaming app.
Separate software names by platform
A manufacturer may name a Windows utility, a Mac application and an iPad app on the same product page. Those names do not prove that each app exposes the same maximum resolution, codec, HDR behavior or multi-source function. Look for a per-OS resolution table, app-specific notes and a version date. If that information is missing, keep the mode unconfirmed rather than carrying a desktop specification into an iPad workflow.
OBS Studio, a manufacturer's own capture utility, a video-call app and a camera utility can have different device-selection and audio-routing controls. Check whether the app enumerates the card as a video source, which audio source it exposes, whether it can choose the needed resolution and whether the operating-system version is supported.
Think about the workflow shape
A one-computer setup captures to the machine that also runs the game or camera software. A two-computer setup sends HDMI from one machine to a capture card attached to another, which can reserve the first system for gameplay and the second for encoding. The second arrangement adds a host computer, cabling, audio routing and app setup; it is not automatically lower-latency or better.
Before purchase, verify the exact host OS, required USB generation or PCIe slot, supported software, current driver/firmware, simultaneous audio route and any capture-mode limitation. Capture hardware supplies a signal path; the host and app still have to process it.
Answer the host and software choices
External USB 3.0 or faster
Twenty-two reviewed products have a documented external USB 3.0-or-faster host arrangement; Razer Ripsaw HD uses USB 3.0, while the two NZXT Signal models require USB 3.2 Gen 1. Compare the Ripsaw HD and, with earlier products included, the Signal HD60 and Signal 4K30. Check the host bus generation rather than relying on USB-C connector shape. Find every model documenting external USB 3.0 or faster.
Read the DVI Plus, AIO, HDMI Gen 2 and SDI Gen 2 reviews for their included leads and alternate-signal breakouts.
Compare the HDMI 4K Pro and SDI 4K Pro for mode tables that change with USB throughput; the SDI 4K Plus is a separate 6G/USB 3.0 model.
The 4K S and Neo use USB 3.0-class links, while the 4K X offers higher modes over faster USB data. The camera-focused Cam Link 4K also needs USB 3.x and has no HDMI passthrough. GC553Pro uses a 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 link; GC553G2 requires 10 Gbps for its full mode table. The GC551G2 uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 and explicitly rejects USB 2.0; verify the host controller rather than relying on the USB-C shape. GC311G2 uses USB 3.0, and camera-capture BU113G2 uses USB 3.2 Gen 1. The GC531 also has a 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 host link, while the GC535 needs 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 for its highest capture modes. Magewell's HDMI Plus, SDI Plus and HDMI 4K Plus use USB 3.0; their supported capture rates still depend on the host link and model-specific mode table. Check the computer's actual bus speed, not just the socket shape.
Internal PCIe
DeckLink IP 100G is a PCIe Gen 4 x8 network card with two 100 Gb/s QSFP28 ports for ST 2110 video and a six-pin auxiliary power connection. It is not an HDMI/SDI input card; read the DeckLink IP 100G review and verify slot lanes, power and ST 2110 network design. Find models documenting a PCIe-family host path.
Blackmagic's internal cards use very different physical host paths. DeckLink Micro Recorder is one-lane Gen 1 Mini PCIe and has an 8 mm HDMI connector-height warning; Quad HDMI Recorder is Gen 3 x8 and listed for x8/x16 slots. SDI Micro needs a B/M-key 2260 or 2280 M.2 slot at Gen 3 x1, whereas Quad 2 uses Gen 2 x8. The Mini Recorder HD and Mini Recorder 4K are low-profile Gen 2 x1 and x4 cards. Duo 2 and Duo 2 Mini use Gen 2 x4; the Mini adds a low-profile card and mini-DIN connectors, while the technical and installation notes use different compatible-slot wording. DeckLink 8K Pro Mini is a low-profile Gen 3 x8 card with a published 18 W figure and no named external power lead. Verify electrical lanes, carrier, bracket and enclosure clearance, cooling and power for the exact model.
The DeckLink SDI 4K review covers another PCIe reference in this result set; the DeckLink Studio 4K review documents a distinct PCIe card in the same answer set.
Read the Intensity Pro 4K, DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G and DeckLink 8K Pro G2 assessments for their lane, slot, power and assembly details.
Magewell's PCIe family also spans distinct physical and signal paths. Pro Capture Dual DVI (11070) and Pro Capture DVI 4K (11160) use Gen 2 x4 add-in-card connections, while Pro Capture Mini HDMI (11110) uses Mini PCIe Gen 2 x1 and an internal SHD breakout; it is not an external USB device or a conventional full-size PCIe card. The HDMI 4K models differ too: Pro Capture HDMI 4K (11120) is Gen 2 x4/low-profile, Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LT (11152) is Gen 2 x4/low-profile, and Dual HDMI 4K Plus LT (11260) is Gen 2 x8/normal-profile. The one-input HDMI 11040 is Gen 2 x1; Dual HDMI 11080 is x4/low-profile and Quad HDMI 11100 is x4/normal-profile. The SDI family includes SDI 11050 (Gen 2 x1/low-profile), Dual SDI 11060 (Gen 2 x4/low-profile), Quad SDI 11090 (Gen 2 x4/normal-profile), SDI 4K Plus 11180 (Gen 2 x4/low-profile) and Dual SDI 4K Plus 11270 (Gen 2 x8). Pro Capture AIO 11020 is PCIe x1/normal-profile. Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus (11150), Elgato 4K Pro, AVerMedia PCIe models and Eco M.2 remain separate configurations. Check the exact slot lanes, profile, breakout, host sharing and application requirements rather than generalizing across the card family.
The 4K Pro assessment records its requirements; GC575 specifies PCIe Gen 3 x4, GC573 Gen 2 x4, and GC571 Gen 3 x1. The GC570D is PCIe x4 Gen 2 and warns that some motherboard slots share bandwidth with M.2 or GPU devices. Check the motherboard's electrical lanes, slot sharing, physical clearance and GPU requirements before selecting a card.
Earlier models in this library also include AIO 4K (11170) and AIO 4K Plus (11140) as low-profile PCIe Gen2 x4 cards, plus Pro Capture DVI (11030) as a low-profile Gen2 x1 card. The x4 models need a suitable electrical lane path; check case bracket and board clearance, not just the slot's physical length.
Other installations are neither full-size add-in cards nor interchangeable M.2 modules. Pro Capture Mini SDI is a Mini PCIe Gen 2 x1 module with separate SDI input and loop-through, while Pro Capture Hexa CVBS is low-profile Gen 2 x1 and routes six composite feeds through one DB25 breakout. Eco Capture M.2 variants use M.2 2280 Type M PCIe rather than mSATA, with different lane needs: AIO M.2 is Gen 2 x2; Dual HDMI M.2 is Gen 2 x4; Dual SDI M.2 is Gen 2 x2; Quad SDI M.2 and HDMI 4K M.2 are Gen 2 x4; and 12G SDI 4K Plus M.2 is Gen 3 x4. Magewell's Eco-family FAQ lists no Mac driver. The DeckLink IP HD, IP HD Optical and IP/SDI HD cards use PCIe Gen 2 x4 for the computer; their 10G Ethernet connections carry SMPTE 2110 video, not the host link. Verify electrical lanes, carrier, package, cooling, clearance and computer power for the exact board.
Windows PC
Blackmagic's Windows-listed plans span a PCIe ST 2110 board and external Thunderbolt 3 or USB4/Thunderbolt 4 units, with SDI, HDMI or analog source paths. Compare DeckLink IP 100G, HD Mini and Express HD for the different host and signal routes. Find models with a documented Windows arrangement.
Razer Ripsaw HD has a documented Windows/USB 3.0 capture plan, but its cited manufacturer baseline is older and is not a guarantee for every current application. Compare it with PCIe DeckLink Micro Recorder only when a compatible Mini PCIe carrier is available, or the Quad HDMI Recorder when the workstation has the documented Gen 3 x8 path. Verify the actual host, USB port and software. Find models with a documented Windows arrangement.
The DeckLink SDI 4K review covers another SDI/PCIe example among these Windows-listed products; the DeckLink Studio 4K review gives a second model-specific Windows-listed assessment.
Windows support still needs a host and app check. DeckLink SDI Micro lists Windows but needs a compatible internal M.2 host and names no capture app; Quad 2 uses an x8 SDI route and names OBS as a third-party app whose support may vary, not a tested preset. The Mini Recorder HD lists HDMI or SDI through 1080p60, while the Mini Recorder 4K adds UHD through 2160p30. Duo 2 and Duo 2 Mini have one-source SDI/PCIe plans through 1080p60; their broad OBS listing does not establish a four-feed workload. DeckLink 8K Pro Mini lists one SDI source on a PCIe workstation, but no OBS-specific maximum-rate profile. Compare the exact mode and host details before treating OS support as a complete setup check. Find models with a documented Windows arrangement.
For the exact platform and mode notes, see Intensity Pro 4K, DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G and DeckLink 8K Pro G2.
On Magewell PCIe models, OBS and Windows do not imply one common input or rate. Pro Capture Dual DVI (11070) supports DVI-I HDMI and VGA/component routes, but the assessment is a single feed rather than two guaranteed high-rate channels; Pro Capture DVI 4K (11160) is DVI-D with an optional HDMI adapter and no confirmed 4K60 capture plan; Pro Capture Mini HDMI (11110) is a Mini PCIe x1 board with a separate SHD-to-HDMI breakout. Pro Capture SDI (11050), Dual SDI (11060) and Quad SDI (11090) have conservative one-feed Windows/OBS plans at 1080p60, with different x1/x4 slots and loop connectors. SDI 4K Plus (11180) uses x4 for one 4Kp60 input, Dual SDI 4K Plus (11270) has two documented simultaneous 4K60 channels, and Pro Capture AIO (11020) selects SDI, HDMI or analog through an x1 card with a typical 1080p60 plan; composite/S-Video remain SD. A technical-sheet 144 fps headline is qualified by bandwidth and pixel clock, not a guarantee for every feed. HDMI 4K plans also differ: Pro Capture HDMI 4K (11120) has only a retailer-qualified 4K30 tag, 11152 has Windows capture/loop-through at 4K60 and an EDID-based 1440p144 workflow, and 11260 documents two simultaneous 4K60 HDMI channels. Neither LT's HDR plan is OBS HDR. Earlier Pro Capture HDMI/Dual/Quad cards have a separate conservative Windows 1080p60 plan; check each model rather than transferring limits across cards.
Compare the Magewell DVI Plus, AIO, HDMI Gen 2 and SDI Gen 2 assessments individually. Windows compatibility does not imply that their signal inputs or capture ceilings are interchangeable.
For internal Windows HDMI ingestion, compare the single-channel Pro Capture HDMI, low-profile two-channel Dual HDMI and normal-profile four-channel Quad HDMI. Their conservative OBS target is 1080p60; verify x1/x4 slot lanes, card clearance, driver and combined workload instead of assuming every input can run at a headline maximum.
The Eco Capture HDMI 4K Plus M.2 is a different PCIe-family fit: check the M.2 Type M socket and module clearance rather than treating it as a full-size expansion card or borrowing another Magewell model's capture ceiling.
The related Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus is a distinct card with a different input/capture table; its mode limits should not be applied to the single-, Dual- or Quad-HDMI models.
See the HDMI 4K Pro, SDI 4K Pro and SDI 4K Plus assessments for the actual source/host/rate boundaries.
Compare 4K Pro for PCIe and 4K X for external high-rate passthrough. The Neo offers a lower capture ceiling, while Cam Link 4K is designed for camera ingest, not a console display loop-through. GC553Pro tops out at an HDMI 2.0/5 Gbps class path; GC553G2 has a Windows 4K144 Streaming Center plan with demanding 10 Gbps host requirements. The GC551G2 has a USB/UVC Windows plan up to 1080p60, while 4K30 capture and 4K60 display passthrough are separate. The GC311G2 documents a Windows 1080p60 recording/display pass-through plan, and BU113G2 has separate OBS baseline and Streaming Center higher-rate plans. The internal GC575 is HDMI 2.1/PCIe Gen 3 x4 with a paired-mode Windows matrix; GC573 is HDMI 2.0/Gen 2 x4 and needs a supported GPU tier for high-rate capture; GC571 uses Gen 3 x1 and tops out at 4K30 capture. The GC313Pro has a Windows/OBS 1080p60 USB-C source plan, while HDMI GC531 and GC535 have separate USB bandwidth and matrix conditions. The GC570D is another Windows OBS path, but it requires a PCIe x4 Gen 2 slot; check input port and motherboard bandwidth sharing. Magewell's HDMI Plus is HDMI 1.4/2K capture, SDI Plus is SDI rather than HDMI, and HDMI 4K Plus has an HDMI 2.0 input with a 4K30 capture table. Their listed Mac support does not supply the Mac-specific mode matrix absent from the reviewed source material. Confirm exact model, OS/app versions and USB or PCIe requirements for the chosen mode.
Other Magewell plans keep the model differences visible: AIO 4K has a conservative Windows/PCIe/OBS 1080p60 plan and separate 4K30 ceiling; AIO 4K Plus distinguishes HDMI 4K60 from SDI 4K30; and Pro Capture DVI is assessed at 1080p60 with its input breakout identified. Mini SDI is a conservative one-feed Windows/OBS 1080p60 plan with separate SDI loop-through; Hexa CVBS is a six-channel composite workflow capped at 720×576/30 fps. The Eco M.2 products—AIO, Dual HDMI, Dual SDI, Quad SDI, HDMI 4K and 12G SDI 4K Plus—have different inputs and PCIe lanes; check the exact M.2 host, driver, cooling and package rather than borrowing another variant's plan. Blackmagic's DeckLink IP HD, IP HD Optical and IP/SDI HD use PCIe for their ST 2110/SDI paths; UltraStudio 4K Mini, 4K Extreme 3 and Media Player 10G use Thunderbolt 3. The Extreme 3 also documents a separate PCIe cable-kit route. Choose by input and host, not operating-system label alone.
Mac
Blackmagic's Mac-listed arrangements span internal PCIe and external links. DeckLink IP 100G needs a PCIe Gen 4 x8 Mac/workstation path and lists four, not eight, UHD p60 channels on Mac; Mini Recorder 12G and Mini Replay 12G specify Apple silicon with Thunderbolt 4. These differ from Thunderbolt 3 HD Mini and USB4/TB4 Express devices. Read DeckLink IP 100G, Mini Recorder 12G and Mini Replay 12G before assuming a computer's port or PCIe expansion is compatible. Find models with a documented Mac arrangement.
Mac support does not identify a suitable PCIe host by itself. Quad HDMI Recorder lists Mac support through PCIe, but DeckLink Micro Recorder is a one-lane Mini PCIe card and its Mac OS listing names no chassis or carrier that provides that slot. Quad 2 requires a Mac Pro PCIe slot, while SDI Micro needs a B/M-key M.2 host that the reviewed listing does not identify in a Mac model. Mini Recorder HD and Mini Recorder 4K use low-profile internal PCIe Gen 2 x1 and x4 paths; Blackmagic's installation note calls for a Mac Pro with PCIe slots. Duo 2 and Duo 2 Mini also need a supported Mac Pro PCIe path, and the Mini's low-profile bracket and mini-DIN connectors do not remove its Gen 2 x4 requirement. DeckLink 8K Pro Mini requires a suitable internal x8/x16 path. USB-C or Thunderbolt alone is not a PCIe slot; confirm the exact host, driver, application and card clearances before treating an operating-system listing as a complete setup.
The DeckLink SDI 4K review covers another model in this Mac/PCIe result set; the DeckLink Studio 4K review supplies a separate Mac-listed PCIe example.
Read the Intensity Pro 4K, DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G and DeckLink 8K Pro G2 reviews for the Mac Pro slot requirement and model-specific caveats.
Magewell's Mac listing supports a platform association for many PCIe cards but does not supply model-specific capture-mode matrices for all of them. Pro Capture Dual DVI (11070) and Pro Capture DVI 4K (11160) therefore retain general Mac compatibility, not the Windows 1080p60 plan or an assumed high-rate arrangement. Pro Capture Mini HDMI has no reviewed Mac operating plan. Other listed PCIe models include Pro Capture SDI 4K Plus (11180), Dual SDI 4K Plus (11270), Pro Capture AIO (11020), and the related HDMI and older SDI cards; don't transfer Windows 4Kp60 or simultaneous 4K60 plans to Mac or assign AIO an unlisted Mac capture rate. PCIe generation and slot still matter. Magewell lists no Mac driver for the M.2 Eco model. USB Capture HDMI 4K Pro and SDI 4K Pro have separate Mac throughput tables; other USB plans need exact-mode confirmation.
The older Pro Capture HDMI (11040), Dual HDMI (11080) and Quad HDMI (11100) are also included under the general Mac compatibility listing; no separate Mac capture-mode matrix was reviewed for those PCIe cards.
The older Pro Capture SDI (11050), Dual SDI (11060) and Quad SDI (11090) also appear in Magewell's general Mac listing; no model-specific Mac rate table was reviewed, so do not reuse the conservative Windows feed plans as Mac performance evidence.
The Pro Capture HDMI 4K (11120) is another general Mac-listing match with a low-profile PCIe Gen2 x4 host path; the reviewed sources do not establish a model-specific Mac capture-mode matrix for it.
The Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LT (11152) and Dual HDMI 4K Plus LT (11260) are also listed for Mac, but the reviewed mode evidence does not provide model-specific Mac tables; do not carry their Windows 4K60 workflows over to Mac.
The separate Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus (11150) also appears in Magewell's general Mac listing. The reviewed product sources do not provide a model-specific Mac capture-mode table, so confirm the exact driver and application instead of transferring Windows modes.
DVI Plus, AIO, HDMI Gen 2 and SDI Gen 2 have no model-specific Mac capture-mode table; check the exact app and mode rather than assuming Windows rates.
The HDMI 4K Pro review and SDI 4K Pro review describe their Mac-specific USB-tier tables; SDI 4K Plus has no reviewed Mac format matrix.
The 4K X and 4K S offer external game-capture paths, while the Neo documents up to 1080p60 in a Mac plan. Cam Link 4K is the camera-to-USB route; its Mac OS and CPU requirements vary by hardware revision. AVerMedia's GC553Pro and GC553G2 have separate Mac OBS mode limits, and their Windows HDR/high-rate maxima do not transfer. The GC551G2 has an Apple Silicon/OBS example with a 1080p60 ceiling; its 4K30 and 4K60 HDR rows belong to other modes, not a Mac 4K60 HDR recording guarantee. The GC311G2 has a conservative 1080p60 Mac plan; BU113G2 lists Mac USB capture but restricts 4K60 MJPEG to Ultra-class Apple silicon and current firmware, with no Mac HDR/RGB24. The GC313Pro, GC531 and GC535 add Mac support listings, but the GC535's documented macOS capture limit is 4K30; do not carry Windows ceilings over. Magewell's HDMI Plus, SDI Plus and HDMI 4K Plus are also listed for Mac; the reviewed product pages do not provide an exact Mac capture-mode matrix for any of the three. Check the selected app and exact unit's supported macOS version.
Other PCIe models with general Mac listings but no model-specific mode tables include AIO 4K, AIO 4K Plus, Pro Capture DVI, Mini SDI and Hexa CVBS. Verify an actual Mac PCIe host or expansion chassis, driver and app instead of treating a listing as a performance plan; do not reuse a Windows mode without model-specific evidence.
Blackmagic's other Mac-recognized external and internal paths also differ: UltraStudio 4K Mini, 4K Extreme 3 and Media Player 10G use Thunderbolt 3, while DeckLink IP HD, IP HD Optical and IP/SDI HD use PCIe Gen 2 x4. USB-C or Thunderbolt alone does not provide those internal PCIe slots.
USB-C iPad
Decision: Ten current-reference products list a USB-C iPadOS host, including GC313Pro; its iPadOS 17+ listing does not name an iPad capture app or mode. Do not confuse this coarse platform listing with Elgato Capture for iPadOS support.
For Elgato Capture for iPadOS, compare 4K S, 4K X and camera-focused Cam Link 4K; the Neo calls for a compatible third-party capture app. AVerMedia lists iPadOS 17+ for GC553Pro, GC553G2, the GC551G2 and GC311G2; BU113G2 is also listed for iPadOS. The GC313Pro also has an iPadOS 17+ listing, but the manufacturer does not name an iPad capture app or mode table. This is platform listing evidence rather than an Elgato Capture promise. Check the iPad's USB-C/data support and the exact app's current compatibility; Elgato also does not publish a Cam Link-specific iPad resolution matrix.
AVerMedia lists the original GC311 for iPadOS 17+ on a USB-C iPad, but does not specify its iPad capture app, supported modes, cable/adapter or power arrangement. Its capture-device connection is Micro-USB 2.0, so verify the exact iPad connection before treating the platform entry as a full workflow. The default iPadOS-only answer excludes GC311 because it is gated behind earlier=yes; the earlier-inclusive result lists it only as platform compatibility, with the workflow still unverified. Read the GC311 review, then find models for this exact iPadOS choice or see the same result with earlier models included.
Elgato Studio
Decision: All four current-reference devices name Elgato Studio in a supported host arrangement, but the app does not give every model the same capture modes or platform support.
Compare the 4K X and 4K Pro for high-bandwidth capture paths, or the Neo for up-to-1080p60 capture. Verify the current app release and OS/mode notes.
OBS Studio
Blackmagic names OBS among third-party supported applications for UltraStudio Express HD, Express Recorder 3G and Mini Recorder 12G, but their source types, host paths and capture ceilings differ; the manufacturer says third-party support may vary. Read the exact assessments before choosing a source/app pairing. Find models documenting OBS Studio.
The Razer Ripsaw HD master guide lists OBS compatibility, but this is not a tested performance result and does not assign the ambiguous 2160p30 table row to OBS. The Quad HDMI Recorder assessment separately limits its OBS evidence to a one-feed Windows 1080p60 plan. Find models documenting OBS Studio.
The DeckLink SDI 4K review records OBS in the third-party application list with support variability, not as a tested preset. The DeckLink Studio 4K review also treats its OBS listing as variable-support third-party software rather than a tested preset.
Blackmagic's OBS entry is a third-party compatibility listing, not a mode-specific performance test. Quad 2 is assessed for one Windows SDI feed rather than an eight-channel benchmark, while the SDI Micro model section names no capture app. The Mini Recorder HD and Mini Recorder 4K use one-source Windows plans; those do not establish tested OBS presets for 4K30, 2K DCI, HDR or simultaneous inputs. Duo 2 and Duo 2 Mini have broad third-party app listings, not a validated four-channel OBS profile. DeckLink 8K Pro Mini also has a broad compatible-application listing; it does not establish an OBS 4K120, 8K60 or HDR recording result. Check the exact driver, app version, input layout and host. Find models documenting OBS Studio.
Compare the Intensity Pro 4K, DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G and DeckLink 8K Pro G2; their named OBS compatibility does not establish every model's top-format OBS workflow.
For Magewell PCIe models, OBS compatibility still does not establish every card's mode or channel ceiling. Pro Capture Dual DVI (11070), Pro Capture DVI 4K (11160) and Pro Capture Mini HDMI (11110) have conservative single-feed Windows 1080p60 assessments with different host/breakout routes. The SDI, Dual SDI and Quad SDI plans likewise cover one Windows 1080p60 feed; SDI 4K Plus (11180) and Dual SDI 4K Plus (11270) have different 4K paths, and the Pro Capture AIO (11020) selects one SDI, HDMI or analog route, with composite/S-Video remaining SD. The reviewed PCIe models have no model-specific Mac rate matrix. Pro Capture HDMI 4K (11120) remains a Windows/PCIe model with a retailer-qualified 4K30 tag; 11152 LT has Windows 4K60 capture/loop-through and an EDID-based 1440p144 workflow, while 11260 documents two simultaneous 4K60 HDMI channels. Neither LT's HDR plan is OBS HDR. The earlier Pro Capture HDMI, Dual HDMI and Quad HDMI assessments are conservative Windows 1080p60 paths without passthrough; Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus (11150) has its own Windows/OBS plan. The M.2 Eco Capture HDMI 4K Plus requires a Type M socket, and its HDR10 input is not an established HDR recording plan; USB Capture HDMI 4K Pro's SDK-only HDR mode is likewise not an OBS workflow.
See the DVI Plus, AIO, HDMI Gen 2 and SDI Gen 2 reviews for the actual source-mode and host limits.
Read the HDMI 4K Pro, SDI 4K Pro and SDI 4K Plus assessments to keep the app name separate from each model's actual format table.
The 4K Pro and 4K X address high-rate game capture; the Neo gives a lower-resolution USB alternative. For camera ingest, Cam Link 4K is a webcam source, not an HDMI passthrough card. The Windows GC553Pro and Mac path support OBS, while GC553G2's 4K144 capture remains tied to Streaming Center; the presence of an OBS plugin does not assign that maximum to OBS. The GC551G2 is documented as an OBS-capable UVC device, with a conservative 1080p60 Windows plan and a separate Mac 1080p60 limit. The GC311G2 has a named Windows OBS 1080p60 plan; BU113G2 has a conservative 1080p60 Windows OBS plan, not a documented OBS pairing for its 4K60 MJPEG maximum. Among the PCIe models, GC575 names an OBS plugin but reserves 4K120/144 capture for Streaming Center, GC573 names OBS for Windows recording, and the GC571 US listing names OBS. The source-dock GC313Pro has an explicit Windows 1080p60 setup; HDMI-based GC531 and GC535 appear in AVerMedia's OBS plug-in materials, but retain separate mode limits. The GC570D US page names OBS and the review keeps its Input 1 HDR and Input 2 capture roles separate; this is not evidence that every third-party app/mode combination was tested. Magewell lists OBS-compatible applications for HDMI Plus, SDI Plus and HDMI 4K Plus; the Mac plans carry no resolution ceiling from the Windows examples. Confirm input format, device audio, exact revision and supported app/GPU requirements rather than treating the app name as a performance guarantee.
Other Magewell assessments include AIO 4K, AIO 4K Plus and Pro Capture DVI, each with its own conservative Windows rate and input breakout. Dual DVI, DVI 4K and Mini HDMI likewise have distinct one-feed plans and host paths. The Mini SDI plan covers one Windows 1080p60 feed with separate loop-through; Hexa CVBS names OBS for six composite/audio inputs but remains standard-definition capture. The Eco AIO M.2, Eco Dual HDMI M.2, Eco Dual SDI M.2, Eco Quad SDI M.2, Eco HDMI 4K M.2 and Eco 12G SDI 4K Plus M.2 name OBS-compatible software for distinct host/input arrangements and do not imply passthrough or universal per-channel throughput. Blackmagic also lists OBS among applications for UltraStudio 4K Mini and 4K Extreme 3, but this is not a mode-specific performance test; do not assume their 4K60 or HDR ceilings are available in every OBS workflow.
Elgato Capture for iPadOS
Decision: 4K S, 4K X and Cam Link 4K document Elgato Capture for iPadOS in this library; Game Capture Neo's iPad workflow instead names a third-party app.
Choose among 4K S, 4K X and camera-focused Cam Link 4K only after checking current iPadOS app/device support and the USB-C host. Elgato's compatible-device list names Cam Link 4K but does not establish an iPad 4K60 mode. Do not infer the same app path or resolution from general iPad compatibility.
Thunderbolt host connection
The host options span Thunderbolt 3 and USB4/Thunderbolt 4 generations. Compare the Thunderbolt 3 HD Mini, Media Player 10G, UltraStudio 4K Extreme 3 and UltraStudio 4K Mini with USB4/TB4 Express HD, Express Recorder 3G and Mini Recorder 12G. A USB-C connector alone does not establish Thunderbolt or a 40 Gbps USB4 path; confirm the computer port, generation and cable for the exact model. Find models for this same Thunderbolt host choice.
ExpressCard/34 laptop slot
No current-reference model in this reviewed library has a documented ExpressCard/34 host plan. If you include earlier products, AJA Io Express has an optional ExpressCard/34 laptop adapter; check whether the offer includes that adapter and its tether. Check this same ExpressCard/34 host choice.
AJA Control Room
No current-reference model in this reviewed library documents an AJA Control Room arrangement. With earlier models included, six reviewed AJA devices have a documented Control Room plan; confirm the exact AJA software/driver release and operating system rather than assuming the latest app supports each legacy device. Check this same AJA Control Room software choice.
Important host/software interactions
iPadOS with Elgato Capture
Decision: The combined iPadOS plus Elgato Capture for iPadOS requirement matches 4K S, 4K X and Cam Link 4K, not every model that can capture to an iPad.
The 4K S, 4K X and camera-to-USB Cam Link 4K document this named app path. Elgato's list does not give a Cam Link iPad resolution table, so do not carry its desktop 4K60 figure over to the tablet. Game Capture Neo's iPad plan uses Camo Studio instead, so it is excluded from this exact software request.
iPadOS with Elgato Studio
Decision: No reviewed model documents Elgato Studio as an iPadOS capture app, so this exact operating-system/software combination has no current match.
Elgato Studio's presence in desktop plans does not transfer to the iPad; the supported iPad options in this library use Elgato Capture or a compatible third-party app. This is a documented-library gap, not a claim that no other iPad capture workflow exists.
Mac with an external USB capture card
Decision: The Mac plus external USB 3.0-or-faster intersection contains twenty-one current-reference models, including all ten reviewed Magewell USB Capture devices. HDMI 4K Pro and SDI 4K Pro use Mac-specific 10/5 Gbps mode tables; HDMI Plus, SDI Plus, HDMI 4K Plus, SDI 4K Plus, DVI Plus, AIO, HDMI Gen 2 and SDI Gen 2 have general Mac listings without a reviewed Mac-specific matrix, so do not transfer Windows limits.
DVI Plus, AIO, HDMI Gen 2 and SDI Gen 2 have general Mac compatibility listings here, not Mac-specific 1080p60 mode guarantees.
The Mac mode tables for HDMI 4K Pro and SDI 4K Pro top out at 10 Gbps; SDI 4K Plus has general Mac/OBS compatibility but no reviewed Mac-specific capture modes.
4K S and 4K X have external game-capture plans, while Neo documents up-to-1080p60 Mac capture. The camera-focused Cam Link 4K also uses USB 3.x, but its exact Mac OS/CPU requirements vary by revision. The GC553Pro Mac plan does not include HDR or RGB24, and GC553G2 has a lower Mac OBS ceiling than its Windows Streaming Center maximum. GC551G2 is a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Mac/OBS option up to 1080p60; do not transfer its Windows display or capture ceilings to Mac. GC311G2 lists a modest 1080p60 Mac path, and BU113G2 has a separate Mac mode ceiling with special Ultra-class hardware for 4K60. The GC531 and GC535 also appear in the Mac/USB set; GC535's documented macOS capture ceiling is 4K30, not its Windows high-rate limit. Magewell's HDMI Plus, SDI Plus and HDMI 4K Plus join this OS/host intersection based on general Mac and USB listings, but no Mac-specific format matrix was identified. No PCIe assumption is needed for this host path.
Mac with internal PCIe capture
The exact current-reference Mac/PCIe set includes standalone KONA X, a PCIe Gen 3 x4 card with separate Windows and Mac Control Room plans; current v18 macOS installation requires Apple silicon with macOS 14 or later, while Intel hosts need the supported v17.6 branch. This remains a PCIe installation, not a direct Thunderbolt device. Find the exact Mac and PCIe request.
Fifty current-reference models match PCIe with macOS; AJA KONA LHe Plus adds a documented Mac/Control Room route with SDI or analog HD/SD inputs. AJA's v18 LH manual covers Intel and Apple silicon, while the separate KONA XM page names Windows and Linux rather than Mac. Confirm slot fit and the exact input/breakout before choosing the LHe Plus. Find this exact Mac/PCIe intersection.
DeckLink IP 100G is a specialist ST 2110 network card, not a conventional HDMI/SDI ingest card: the Mac plan needs PCIe Gen 4 x8 and lists four UHD p60 channels rather than eight. Verify the host expansion path, power, network fabric, stream direction and exact application before treating the platform match as a production fit. Find the exact Mac and PCIe request.
The DeckLink SDI 4K review documents another Mac-listed PCIe card in this intersection; the DeckLink Studio 4K review covers a second model-specific PCIe example.
AJA's Mac-compatible Corvid family needs exact board and host checks. The Corvid 88, Corvid 44, Corvid 44 BNC, Corvid 44 12G and Corvid 44 12G BNC are separate PCIe assessments. AJA's current Corvid 88 page and 2026 specification list PCIe 3.0 x4, while its comparison and the NTV2 17.1.3 device reference list PCIe 2.0 x8; confirm the exact board revision before choosing a Mac slot or enclosure. The Corvid 44 variants also have distinct 3G/12G paths and Apple-silicon macOS conditions. Find this same Mac and PCIe request.
Standalone KONA HDMI is a PCIe 2.0 x8 four-input card; AJA's v18 Mac installer requires Apple silicon and macOS 14 or newer. It remains an internal PCIe device, unlike a direct Thunderbolt capture unit, so verify the exact Mac slot or supported expansion route and application. The other reviewed AJA cards have different host requirements: KONA 4 uses PCIe 2.0 x8, KONA 5 uses PCIe Gen 3 x8 with a 6-pin ATX feed, and KONA IP25 uses Gen 4 x8 for ST 2110. Find this same Mac and PCIe request.
Blackmagic's Mac-listed PCIe cards do not share one install. Quad 2 needs a Mac Pro PCIe slot, and SDI Micro's Mac listing does not identify a Mac chassis with its B/M-key M.2 slot. DeckLink Micro Recorder needs a one-lane Gen 1 Mini PCIe carrier and clearance for its 8 mm connector; Quad HDMI Recorder needs a PCIe Gen 3 x8 Mac workstation. The Mini Recorder HD is Gen 2 x1, while Mini Recorder 4K is Gen 2 x4; Blackmagic's installation note calls for a Mac Pro with PCIe slots, and their Windows OBS modes do not transfer automatically. Duo 2 and Duo 2 Mini need a supported Mac Pro PCIe path; the Mini remains Gen 2 x4 despite its low-profile card and mini-DIN connectors. DeckLink 8K Pro Mini needs an internal x8/x16 path. The three DeckLink IP HD, IP HD Optical and IP/SDI HD cards use PCIe Gen 2 x4 for their host path; their network/video ports do not replace it. Check the exact slot, carrier or chassis, driver, application and source layout, not just the operating-system label. Find this exact Mac and PCIe request.
Compare the Intensity Pro 4K, DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G and DeckLink 8K Pro G2 for the exact slot and package checks.
Magewell's general Mac listings do not provide model-specific capture-mode matrices for many PCIe cards. Pro Capture Dual DVI (11070), Pro Capture DVI 4K (11160), Pro Capture SDI 4K Plus (11180), Dual SDI 4K Plus (11270), Pro Capture AIO (11020), Pro Capture HDMI 4K (11120), Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus LT (11152) and Dual HDMI 4K Plus LT (11260) have general compatibility references, not Mac mode ceilings. Do not transfer Windows 4Kp60, simultaneous 4K60 or AIO 1080p60 plans to a Mac without model-specific evidence; verify driver, PCIe host or enclosure and app. Pro Capture Mini HDMI has no reviewed Mac plan. Magewell lists no Mac driver for Eco Capture M.2.
The single-channel Pro Capture HDMI, Dual HDMI, Quad HDMI and Pro Capture HDMI 4K Plus assessments support the broad Mac/PCIe intersection, not a Mac-specific performance promise. The Elgato 4K Pro remains a Windows PCIe choice and the Eco module remains excluded by its OS limit. Keep both conditions in the finder rather than replacing missing mode tables with assumptions.
The Pro Capture SDI, Dual SDI and Quad SDI family reviews likewise establish general Mac/PCIe recognition, not a mode matrix; the Windows/OBS feed assessed for each model is not copied onto Mac.
The AIO 4K (11170), AIO 4K Plus (11140) and Pro Capture DVI (11030) have general Mac listings but no model-specific mode tables; they need PCIe x4, x4 and x1 host links respectively. Mini SDI and Hexa CVBS also have general Mac compatibility listings without reviewed Mac capture matrices. Confirm the actual Mac expansion path, driver and software rather than relying on Windows modes.
Mac, USB and a 4K60 capture minimum
Decision: For unencrypted HDMI, a Mac, external USB and a 4K60 capture minimum, the current library has five candidates, including Magewell HDMI 4K Pro in the Mac 10 Gbps NV12 table; GC535 remains excluded because AVerMedia caps its macOS capture at 4K30.
See the HDMI 4K Pro assessment for the exact Mac NV12 and USB-throughput boundary; do not apply its Windows 20 Gbps maximum to a Mac.
The GC553Pro and GC553G2 are the AVerMedia options in this intersection; do not apply the Windows high-rate matrices to Mac plans. The GC535 remains relevant for a Windows 4K60 plan, but its Mac capture limit is 4K30, below this threshold.
Include earlier models for USB 1080p60 capture
Thirty-two earlier-inclusive USB products match a documented 1080p60 capture request; the original Cam Link is a camera-to-USB/UVC path, while the original AVerMedia GC551 is an HDMI model with a separate 4Kp60 display path. Read the original Cam Link assessment for its USB 3.x camera route and no documented HDMI output, then compare the original GC551 (1080p60 recording, 4Kp60 display passthrough; not GC551G2), the HD60 S, HD60 S+, Ripsaw HD and distinct NZXT Signal HD60 and Signal 4K30. Only S+ documents 4K60 HDR10 passthrough; neither Elgato S model captures 4K60, and their software/lifecycle limits differ. Other candidates have different 4K passthrough and 1080p120/4K30 recording distinctions. Find this exact earlier-inclusive USB and 1080p60 request.
The additional Magewell review links are DVI Plus, AIO, HDMI Gen 2 and SDI Gen 2; distinguish VGA/component and SDI routes from direct HDMI.
The USB assessments distinguish HDMI 4K Pro, 12G-SDI 4K Pro and 6G-SDI 4K Plus; check the exact mode table instead of assuming that USB 3.0-class labels imply equal bandwidth.
Read the HD60 X assessment for its earlier/EOL status and compare it with current 4K X, Neo or camera-focused Cam Link 4K workflows. GC553Pro and GC553G2 add distinct external HDMI tiers, with different USB bandwidth and display/capture ceilings. The GC551G2 documents 1080p60 capture over USB, while the separate earlier GC553 can capture 1080p60 but is limited to 4K30 recording and should not be confused with GC553G2. The BU113 adds an earlier USB3 camera path with no HDMI loop-through and a Mac ceiling of 1080p60; its 4K60 HDR input maximum is not a recording mode. GC311G2 is a pass-through option for this baseline target, while BU113G2 is a no-passthrough camera capture route. Current GC531 and GC535 also match this external USB capture target; the GC313Pro is omitted because its US host-port generation is unresolved. Magewell's HDMI Plus and HDMI 4K Plus add HDMI paths, while the SDI Plus adds a distinct BNC/SDI path; each has its own 1080p60 Windows/OBS plan. The exact model, support note and offer need separate checks.