Capture Cards
Capture cards have quietly become a two-PC streaming staple and a must-have for console YouTubers. PixelLoadout tracks internal and external cards across every current generation, with a strict eye on latency and pass-through behaviour.
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What's in this category
Capture cards have quietly become a two-PC streaming staple and a must-have for console YouTubers. PixelLoadout tracks internal and external cards across every current generation, with a strict eye on latency and pass-through behaviour.
Who this is for
Console streamers, two-PC streamers, and YouTubers editing console gameplay.
What you'll learn
Difference between hardware and software encoding, why 4K/60 pass-through matters even when you record at 1080p, and which cards support VRR pass-through cleanly.
Featured buying guides
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New buying guides for this category are currently being prepared by the PixelLoadout Editorial Team.
Latest reviews
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Latest comparisons
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Head-to-head comparisons for this category are on the editorial roadmap.
Explore Capture Cards
Dedicated pages for each sub-topic will be published as content is prepared.
Popular articles
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Beginner guides
Beginner guides being written
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Best products this year
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Our editorial best-of roundup for this category will publish once individual reviews are complete.
Frequently asked questions about capture cards
Do I need 4K capture if I stream at 1080p?
You need 4K/60 pass-through so you can play in 4K while capturing at 1080p — otherwise your gameplay is capped to 1080p on the source console.