AVerMedia launches its first HDMI 2.1 USB capture card, priced at $299.99
By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. He founded WinRumors, a site dedicated to Microsoft news, before joining The Verge in 2012.
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It’s nearly three years since HDMI 2.1 consoles like the Xbox Series X and PS5 launched and we’re finally seeing HDMI 2.1 capture cards appear on the market. AVerMedia is launching its $299.99 Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (what a name) HDMI 2.1 USB capture card today, offering streamers and gamers the ability to play the latest consoles with 120Hz options turned on and still capture at 4K/60fps.
Streamers have been eagerly awaiting 4K/60fps capture over USB, as right now there are limited options for capturing this resolution and frame rate over USB, especially as Elgato’s 4K 60 S+ was discontinued late last year. Most have had to opt for PCIe capture cards instead.
AVerMedia’s latest capture card supports up to 4K/144Hz pass-through, complete with HDR and VRR support. So it’s now possible to play at 4K/144Hz on a gaming PC and then capture footage at 4K/60fps on a streaming PC, alongside support for playing at 4K/120Hz on the latest generation consoles and capturing at 4K/60fps.
AVerMedia is also supporting some other pass-through options for different resolutions and refresh rates, but not all of the HDMI 2.1 spec initially. Only 1080p/240Hz is supported right now, alongside just 1440p/144Hz at launch. A firmware update is promised for October 19th that will enable 1440p/240Hz, but there’s no such promise from AVerMedia for 1080p/360Hz yet. “Support for other additional resolutions will be added gradually,” says AVerMedia. So, if you have a 360Hz e-sports
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