Iogear’s latest capture card proffers up to 30Hz 4K gameplay capture or 120Hz 1080p capture for $129.99. That makes it extremely cheaper than Elgato’s equivalent card.
The recently revealed HD60 X has an MSRP of $199.99 and offers similar recording specs. In addition, it supports up to 30fps 4K capture or 120fps in 1080p.
Other elements of the so-called UpStream 4K Game Capture Card with Party Chat include passing through (but not capturing) 1440p footage at 144Hz, 4K HDR footage at 60Hz, and 1080p at 240Hz.
Capture cards like these are strived at content creators like Twitch streamers and YouTubers, giving them a quick and straightforward way to retrieve their gameplay footage willing to be broadcast online. The UpStream 4K Game Capture Card is an external device that links to the broadcast PC thru USB.
But it’s able to capture content from various devices, including Xbox consoles and the PS5. In addition, Iogear says the card is compatible with broadcast software including Streamlabs and XSplit and that it can also record party chats between players.
The UpStream 4K Game Capture Card also includes a workaround for footage protected by HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), which is generally used to prevent cards from being able to grab movies and TV shows.
Some capture cards will forget to display video when it’s HDCP protected, meaning they have to be unplugged if you want to break from playing games to stream Netflix. Iogear workaround is a toggle switch that lets it pass through this protected footage. You won’t be able to capture it, but it’s easier than having to unplug your card altogether.
Iogear’s new capture card may capture a similar range of resolutions and frame rates as Elgato’s HD60 X, but it doesn’t match its spec for spec. In addition, there’s no mention of it being able to capture HDR footage and no honor of being able to pass through variable refresh rate content.
IOGEAR, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., manufactures innovative information technology products for consumers and organizations of varying sizes that are designed to help integrate technologies in everyday life, share resources, and decrease clutter at home in, business, and on the go.
IOGEAR meets various user needs by offering a broad range of solutions, including KVMs, AV & Digital homes, Computer Accessories, Networking, Mobility, and Gaming. IOGEAR distributes throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
ATEN International Co., Ltd is a Taiwanese multinational manufacturer of connectivity and access management hardware, with its headquarters in Xizhi District, New Taipei, Taiwan. Its products include:
- KVM switches.
- Audiovisual switches and matrices.
- Intelligent power distribution units.
- Information technology management systems.
- Interface adapters.
ATEN is the parent firm of IOGEAR and has its subsidiaries in several countries. The company is currently the largest KVM switch manufacturer in the world.
Founded in 1979, ATEN’s first products became available in 1981. In 1999, ATEN became a public company and established IOGEAR, a US-based subsidiary focusing on consumer electronics and information technology, for improved localization in the region.
The following year, ATEN developed the first 4–port USB 2.0 hub and received the world’s first USB 2.0 hub certification. Thus became a USB testing standard for the USB Implementers Forum, Inc. ATEN went public in 2003 and has since remained the only listed KVM manufacturer globally.
In 2006, ATEN was named ‘One of Asia’s Best 200 under a Billion’ companies by Forbes. 2010 and 2012 saw ATEN diversify its offerings by inaugurating professional-grade audiovisual (VanCryst) and green energy (NRGence) lines.
In 2012, ATEN collaborated with the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology to develop “listen” software aimed at helping the deaf and hard of hearing. This collaboration won the Red Dot Communication Design Award and the Samsung Apps Contest championship that year.
The following year, ATEN joined the HDBaseT Alliance and began developing video extenders and matrices featuring HDBaseT technology. In 2014, QYResearch, a Chinese market research agency, reported that ATEN shipped 55.8% of global KVM switches sales. In addition, ATEN would win another Red Dot Award in 2015 for its Video Matrix Series GUI.