Buying Guide
The Best Capture Cards Under $200
From the Game Capture Neo to the 4K60 Pro MK.2: three streaming devices ranked on connection and key figure, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Up to $200 you reach 4K60 and HDMI 2.1 capture cards for high-end consoles and PCs. Every card cost 100 to 200 when we checked and is a dedicated capture card.
We sorted these picks by type, what it does and connection, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and any figure a maker omits is noted as missing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Elgato Game Capture Neo
Undercutting the HD60 Pro on price when we checked.
Best for: Getting 4K60 HDR passthrough for the least money.
Our take Check price for Elgato Game Capture Neo (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Elgato HD60 Pro PCIe Capture Card
1080p60 capture with passthrough.
Best for: Buyers who want 1080p60 capture with passthrough.
Our take Check price for Elgato HD60 Pro PCIe Capture Card (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 Internal Capture Card
The top of this price range, adding HDR10 pass-through and recording.
Best for: Spending more than the HD60 Pro costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Our take Check price for Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 Internal Capture Card (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the HD60 Pro on price when we checked. | Getting 4K60 HDR passthrough for the least money. | Check price for Elgato Game Capture Neo (opens in a new tab) |
| 1080p60 capture with passthrough. | Buyers who want 1080p60 capture with passthrough. | Check price for Elgato HD60 Pro PCIe Capture Card (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding HDR10 pass-through and recording. | Spending more than the HD60 Pro costs for the fullest feature set in this group. | Check price for Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 Internal Capture Card (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Elgato Game Capture Neo on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Elgato's Game Capture Neo records 1080p60 and passes 4K60 HDR through to your TV.
Best for
- Getting 4K60 HDR passthrough for the least money.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It needs no drivers. It works with a PC or an iPad. It captures from PlayStation, Xbox, Switch or any HDMI console, and it is small enough to sit next to the console.
The capture unit is about the size of a smartphone, so it packs easily for events. Setup needs only three connections: the console, the display and a computer or iPad. You also get driver-free setup.
A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the HD60 Pro was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Type: Game capture card
- What it does: Captures a console or second PC
- Connection: HDMI in and out, USB
- Key figure: 1080p60 capture, 4K60 HDR passthrough
Pros
- 4K60 HDR passthrough
- 1080p60 capture
- Driver-free setup
- Undercutting the HD60 Pro on price when we checked
Also Consider2 of 3
Elgato HD60 Pro PCIe Capture Card on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The HD60 Pro is built around 1080p60 capture with passthrough, with Instant Gameview low-latency preview on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want 1080p60 capture with passthrough.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Game Capture Neo, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It sits in a PCIe slot and captures 1080p60 with zero-lag passthrough. Flashback recording and unlimited capture length come through Elgato's software. Instant Gameview keeps delay low while recording, and recordings save to your drive with no time limit.
It suits a desktop with a spare PCIe slot. It also comes with an internal card that frees a USB port. A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. It was priced above the Game Capture Neo and below the 4K60 Pro MK.2 at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Type: Internal PCIe capture card
- What it does: Captures a console or second PC
- Connection: PCIe, HDMI in and out
- Key figure: 1080p60 capture
Pros
- 1080p60 capture with passthrough
- Instant Gameview low-latency preview
- Internal card that frees a USB port
- 1080p60 capture key figure, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Game Capture Neo at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 Internal Capture Card on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 4K60 Pro MK.2 stands out for HDR10 pass-through and recording, and it adds HEVC and H.264 encoding.
Best for
- Spending more than the HD60 Pro costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Game Capture Neo cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It suits a dedicated streaming PC with a free PCIe slot. It needs an unencrypted HDMI source, so turn off HDCP on the console before capturing. HEVC encoding keeps 4K HDR recordings smaller than H.264 at the same quality, which saves drive space on long sessions.
It is made in Taiwan. It needs a PCIe x4 slot. A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. Only the HD60 Pro came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Type: Internal PCIe capture card
- What it does: Captures a console or second PC
- Connection: PCIe, HDMI in and out
- Key figure: 4K60 HDR10 capture and pass-through
Pros
- HDR10 pass-through and recording
- HEVC and H.264 encoding
- Lag-free pass-through up to 2160p60
- The top of this price range, adding HDR10 pass-through and recording
Cons
- Costs more than the Game Capture Neo at the time of writing
How We Chose These Capture Cards Under $200
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up three streaming gear on type, what it does, connection and key figure from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and all 4 compared fields are stated for every pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Game Capture Neo to the 4K60 Pro MK.2, state type, what it does and connection.
- Who each pick suits
- The Game Capture Neo for undercutting the HD60 Pro on price when we checked; the HD60 Pro for 1080p60 capture with passthrough; the 4K60 Pro MK.2 for the top of this price range, adding HDR10 pass-through and recording.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Game Capture Neo ($100 to $150) to the 4K60 Pro MK.2 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Capture Card Under $200
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Features beyond the spec table
The Game Capture Neo: 1080p60 capture. The HD60 Pro: Instant Gameview low-latency preview. The 4K60 Pro MK.2: HEVC and H.264 encoding.
Where your budget lands
$100 to $150 buys the Game Capture Neo and the HD60 Pro; $150 to $250 buys the 4K60 Pro MK.2 at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Getting 4K60 HDR passthrough for the least money: the Game Capture Neo. Spending more than the HD60 Pro costs for the fullest feature set in this group: the 4K60 Pro MK.2.
USB bandwidth
Capture cards and 4K cameras use a lot of USB bandwidth. Give them their own port rather than a shared hub.
Do you need a capture card
Streaming a PC game from the same PC needs no capture card. A capture card is for consoles, a second PC or a camera.
How to Choose a Capture Card Under $200
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting 4K60 HDR passthrough for the least money | Game Capture Neo | Undercutting the HD60 Pro on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want 1080p60 capture with passthrough | HD60 Pro | 1080p60 capture with passthrough |
| Spending more than the HD60 Pro costs for the fullest feature set in this group | 4K60 Pro MK.2 | The top of this price range, adding HDR10 pass-through and recording |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Game Capture Neo, the HD60 Pro and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Streaming gear | Type | What it does | Connection | Key figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Capture Neo | Game capture card | Captures a console or second PC | HDMI in and out, USB | 1080p60 capture, 4K60 HDR passthrough |
| HD60 Pro | Internal PCIe capture card | Captures a console or second PC | PCIe, HDMI in and out | 1080p60 capture |
| 4K60 Pro MK.2 | Internal PCIe capture card | Captures a console or second PC | PCIe, HDMI in and out | 4K60 HDR10 capture and pass-through |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Game Capture Neo, sat in the $100 to $150 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the 4K60 Pro MK.2 at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Streaming gear |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | Game Capture Neo, HD60 Pro |
| About $150 to $250 | 4K60 Pro MK.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Game Capture Neo the Lowest Price Here?
It carries the badge for undercutting the HD60 Pro on price when we checked. It is aimed at getting 4K60 HDR passthrough for the least money.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Game Capture Neo and the HD60 Pro apart?
The Game Capture Neo: 4K60 HDR passthrough. The HD60 Pro: 1080p60 capture with passthrough. The 4K60 Pro MK.2: HDR10 pass-through and recording.
Who should choose the 4K60 Pro MK.2?
The 4K60 Pro MK.2 carries our Premium Pick label for the top of this price range, adding HDR10 pass-through and recording. It ranks third of 3 here and sat in the $150 to $250 tier at our last price check; it suits spending more than the HD60 Pro costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Should I pick the Game Capture Neo or the 4K60 Pro MK.2?
The Game Capture Neo suits getting 4K60 HDR passthrough for the least money; the 4K60 Pro MK.2 suits spending more than the HD60 Pro costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
What should I buy first for streaming?
Usually a microphone, then lighting, then a better camera. Controllers and capture cards depend on your setup.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Game Capture Neo, chosen for undercutting the HD60 Pro on price when we checked. Look at the HD60 Pro for 1080p60 capture with passthrough and the 4K60 Pro MK.2 for the top of this price range, adding HDR10 pass-through and recording if those matter more to you.
Check that your console, cable and PC all support the same HDMI version.