Elgato's 4K X sits near the top of its capture range, aimed at creators who want HDMI 2.1 bandwidth without stepping up to pricier pro interfaces. It's a direct rival to cards like AVerMedia's HDMI 2.1 models, focusing on high-refresh capture and low-latency passthrough for console and PC setups.
Do you actually need 4K144 capture?
If you play at 120-144Hz on a capable PC (or want headroom for future kit), 4K144 capture can keep motion looking clean in fast shooters and racing games. VRR support matters if your frame rate fluctuates, helping avoid tearing on your display while you record or stream. HDR10 support is useful if you play in HDR and want your recordings to retain the wider contrast, though your workflow (OBS settings, platform support) will still dictate the final look.
- HDMI 2.1 + 4K144 for high-refresh capture and passthrough
- VRR to keep gameplay smooth on compatible displays
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 bandwidth for moving high-bitrate video to your PC
