Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S+ review

The Elgato Game Capture 4K60 S+ is an earlier, external HDMI device built around one unusual combination: it can encode up to 4K60 HDR onboard, record directly to an SD card without a computer, or send video to a Windows PC over USB 3.0. A separate HDMI output carries a display signal through the box. That combination is still useful for a console or event workflow that values self-contained recording, but it is not the same product as Elgato’s later-named 4K S, and it is a poor fit for a Mac-first or high-refresh setup.

What the S+ actually captures

Elgato specifies an unencrypted HDMI 2.0 input, HDMI 2.0 output, USB-C for data and a separate USB-C power input. Its on-board encoder is rated up to 200 Mb/s for 4K60 AVC/H.264 SDR and up to 140 Mb/s for 4K60 HEVC/H.265 HDR. This is capture hardware, not a general HDMI splitter: the source must not use HDCP-protected output. The manufacturer’s resolution guide lists common 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080p and 2160p modes, but explicitly rules out 1440p capture and frame or refresh rates above 60.

Capture and display pass-through are separate jobs. Elgato describes a 4K60 HDR10 output path and 4K60 HDR recording; that does not make this a high-refresh card. If the display must receive 1440p144, 1080p240 or newer HDMI 2.1 formats, this model is outside the documented range. Do not choose it from a “4K” label alone: check both the format recorded and the format reaching the monitor.

Two mutually exclusive recording workflows

For PC capture, the setup guide connects the S+ to a Windows computer over USB 3.x and says to keep the power supply connected. Elgato documents OBS Studio alongside its 4K Capture Utility, while the device itself handles encoding. The USB preview has about 250 milliseconds of latency in Elgato’s setup article, so it should not be confused with a direct low-latency display path; use the HDMI output for play-through when the wiring plan calls for it. The archived PC requirements name Windows 10, a USB 3.0 port, 8 GB of RAM, a sixth-generation Core i5 or Ryzen 7, and a GeForce GTX 10-series-or-better GPU. These are legacy requirements, not a promise of compatibility with every modern Windows build or OBS release.

Standalone recording works differently. Insert a supported SD card, connect the supplied power adapter and record from the device; Elgato says not to connect the PC USB cable in this mode. The input signal determines the saved resolution and frame rate, and an HDR input is recorded as HEVC/H.265. Elgato recommends exFAT or FAT32 and UHS Class 3/V30 media; FAT32 splits larger recordings into 4 GB segments. At the default 80 Mb/s 4K rate, the manufacturer estimates roughly 36 GB per hour, while the bitrate can be adjusted. Cards up to 1 TB are listed as tested, not as a guarantee for every card. To get files onto a computer, remove the card and use a reader; plugging the S+ into a Mac is not a transfer shortcut.

Where the documentation draws hard lines

Elgato’s support material says the device cannot connect directly to macOS. A Mac can read files from the SD card after recording, but it cannot be treated as the live USB host. The supported-resolution page also says no 1440p input/capture, no rates above 60 fps and no refresh above 60 Hz. It captures HDR10, not Dolby Vision, HDR10+ or HLG. Its multi-app support page excludes the 4K60 S+, so do not assume one feed can be opened by several applications at once. A 3.5 mm TRS line input is available for line-level audio, but it is not a microphone jack.

Legacy status matters more than a headline mode

Elgato lists production as stopped in November 2022. Its current legacy notice says valid warranties and support continue, but no new inventory, spare parts, driver development or firmware updates are planned, and future compatibility with new operating systems and third-party software is not guaranteed. The 4K Capture Utility itself is also listed as legacy software with development stopped in March 2026. That does not prove an individual unit or a particular app has failed; it means the buyer should verify the exact computer, application version, seller condition, return terms and warranty instead of assuming ongoing updates.

Elgato’s technical page lists the device, power supply, two USB 3.0 Type-C cables and a Premium High Speed HDMI 2.0 cable in the original box. It does not establish that any used or open-box seller still has them, and the reviewed package list does not name an SD card. Confirm the printed “4K60 S+” label and every supplied cable before ordering. The exact US retail SKU was not established in the sources reviewed.

Assessment

The strongest case for the 4K60 S+ is specific: standalone 4K60 HDR recording, an onboard encoder and 4K60 display passthrough in a self-contained HDMI 2.0 workflow. The same documentation makes the limits clear: 60-fps ceiling, no direct Mac capture, SD-card workflow details, and discontinued software/hardware development. It is an earlier reference worth comparing only when that standalone path matters and the exact system and offer have been checked. This is a document-based assessment, not a hands-on test or a claim about current availability.