Elgato has a new external capture card, which we will discuss in our Elgato 4K X Review. It has several key upgrades and improvements like VRR and HDR10 content, plus support for recording until 4K 144Hz.
Elgato is a popular name when it comes to manufacturing streaming hardware. Now, they are offering us what was once broadcast-level hardware, products with more accessible price points.
Their collection of capture cards has always been a staple among customers. Now, the lineup is getting the necessary upgrades exhibited in the 4K X. The product can capture 4K at high frame rates without adding more parts to your computer.
To learn more about its upgrades and performance, continue reading our Elgato 4K X Review. But first, let us check what Elgato included in the package.
Elgato 4K X Packaging
The package of the 4K X is blue, featuring the Elgato branding with bold white text. In front, you will find the product image with its name and a few features. Its rear also shows the capture card surrounded by its primary features with brief descriptions.
Aside from the 4K X, the box contains the following items:
- Instruction manual
- HDMI 2.1 cable
- USB-C cable
We examined each item when we opened the box for this Elgato 4K X Review. We noticed the instruction manual with multiple languages, which we appreciate since it makes things more convenient.
Elgato 4K X Review – Design and Functionality
The 4K X is a compact capture card with a plastic body, making it lightweight and portable. It resembles the older HD60 X but has a few differences. Plus, the product has a minimalist design that looks good on any desk.
You will find an LED power indicator and a 3.5mm audio jack in front. The rear houses the HDMI 2.1 in and out ports and the USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port. The latter transfers power and data from your computer to record footage.
With two HDMI 2.1 ports, you can stream up to 4K at 144Hz or 1080p at 240Hz. This high-resolution streaming capability is a massive upgrade from the HD60 X, which only worked with 4K30.
You can expect full-speed 4K 144Hz pass-through with the 4K X, making it ideal for streaming with minimal lag. Plus, you can monitor your audio without delay using the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Powering the 4K X is a high-speed Type-C, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. We appreciate Elgato for including two cables in the package. These are a top-quality USB-C to C and an HDMI 2.1 cable.
The cables are sturdy and better than other cables of its kind.
While writing this Elgato 4K X Review, we noticed the base of the capture card sporting two rubber feet. These help stop the 4K X from moving around or toppling over a flat surface. However, these are not very effective.
Since the 4K X is lightweight, any cable can lift it. Since the included cables are thick, they will easily lift the product, so keep that in mind. It is not a huge issue, but it is worth considering.
Key Features of the Elgato 4K X
Level up Your Archive
Elgato Capture software makes recording high-fidelity gameplay easy, and you can do it while live streaming in low resolution. The feature preserves all details, categorises recordings within seconds, and allows exporting files to another software for advanced editing.
Compatible With Any App and Platform
Compatibility is one of the notable features we want to highlight in this Elgato 4K X Review. Add the 4K X as a source in apps like OBS, Twitch Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, vMix, Meld Studio, etc. Aside from that, you can stream with chat interactions, overlays, and commentary on YouTube, Twitch, Discord, TikTok, and other platforms.
Capturing Without Limits
Capture cutscenes, music, chat, and gameplay with the 4K X as much as you want. You have no time limits, and the 4K X does not require watermarks.
Live Commentary
With the 4K X, you can include your mic as a separate track and conveniently adjust its volume or mute.
Ready to Edit
You can export video files and audio tracks as AAF files to make them ready for editing. These files will work with Vegas Pro, Adobe Premiere, and other applications and programs.
Flashback Recording
The 4K X lets you retrieve and save hours of cached gameplay.
An Organised Library With Innovative Features
Keep your archive organised with intelligent features. An example is Smart Folder for quick file grouping and identification.
Stream Link
You can record your gameplay without overlays while streaming live. These recordings are also ready for post-editing in your preferred software.
Portable Design to Capture Anywhere
This capture card has a compact and portable design, making it excellent for streaming anywhere you go. Setting up the product was also convenient when we tested it for this Elgato 4K X Review.
Specifications
- Features: VRR passthrough, HDR10 passthrough and capture
- Capture resolutions: 1080p60, 1080p240, 4K60, 4K144,
- HDMI Interface: HDMI 2.1
- Input: HDMI (Unencrypted)
- Output: HDMI (lag-free passthrough)
- Connections: USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), 3.5mm line-in
System Requirements
- Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit), MacOS 11, iPad OS 17 or later versions
- CPU: Intel Core i5 6000 or higher, AMD Ryzen 5 or higher
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series or later
- I/O: USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 1 (limited capture resolution)
Hands-on with the Elgato 4K X
We used the 4K X to test its performance and share our user experience with this product. Before discussing how it performed, let us focus on the setup process and the Elgato 4K Game Capture Utility.
The 4K X is a plug-and-play capture card, making it easy to set up only by plugging it. When we used it for this Elgato 4K X Review, we had no issues since it recognised our devices immediately.
Setting it up in programs like OBS and XSplit is also a breeze. Add the 4K X as a video source in the program, and then adjust it to suit your stream. Once you finish making adjustments, it is ready to capture.
We recommend connecting the extra HDMI cable when using the 4K X to play games and capture simultaneously. Using it will enable the passthrough on your monitor. We also tested this function, which worked perfectly, even with games requiring frame-perfect inputs.
Although Elgato no longer prompts you to download the Elgato 4K Game Capture Utility, the software is worth installing. You can tweak various settings based on your preferences, even if you primarily use other streaming software like OBS.
We loved the intuitive interface of the Elgato 4K Game Capture Utility. Its simplicity made settings easy to understand, and we did not experience difficulties navigating the menus.
With this software, you can conveniently start and stop recordings since the buttons are accessible on the interface.
The Elgato 4K Game Capture Utility is set to flashback recording by default. This function will always record what you are doing, allowing you to go back and save clips.
The 4K X adapted several improvements, technologies, and features, making it better than previous capture cards. These elements support many recording resolutions, including HDR10 and VRR, which have become common in video gaming today. Although these resolutions were present before, streaming at 144Hz was a challenge.
We used the 4K X while streaming with all its compatible resolutions and did not experience issues. It successfully recorded our gameplay without lags.
Aside from testing all the available resolutions, we played various titles, and everything was fine. It maintained a lag-free pass-through, offering smooth and seamless recordings.
After our tests, we saved and exported our videos. We were impressed since it retained the quality of everything it captured.
The videos had no video issues like file errors. Exporting it to other video editing software was also seamless and convenient, which Elgato promised.
We used the 4K X and recorded our gameplay using all the supported resolutions. However, we wanted to share our experience when we used HDR10.
Playing games with high graphics like Final Fantasy XVI was fantastic at 4K30 input with HDR10. The passthrough was flawless, and we did not need to configure complex settings to achieve high-quality recordings.
The compatibility of the 4K X with various streaming software like OBS was seamless. We had no issues with the connectivity and integration between the software since everything worked smoothly.
Once we finished configuring the settings, we used the 4K X. The capture card also flawlessly worked when streaming at high frame rates, allowing YouTube and Twitch streaming.
Elgato 4K X Review Summary
The 4K X is an excellent upgrade over the HD60 X. This product integrates modern features like HDMI 2.1, HDR10, and VRR support, plus compatibility with many resolutions.
This capture card is essential for any streaming setup, especially for capturing external devices with an HDMI output. It eliminates the hassle of using an add-in card to your system. This product is excellent for streamers and content creators since it has handy features and a plug-and-play design.
Visit the official Elgato product page for more details about the 4K X.
