- What is a video capture card?
- But my console/PC can stream on its own!
- Console Gaming
- PC Gaming
- Other uses of video capture cards
- Types of capture cards
- What model to buy?
- j5Create JVA02 Live Capture Adapter with Power Delivery: Great for entry-level streamers
- j5Create JVA04 Game Capture Station: The best video capture card for gamers with top-notch gear
- j5Create JVA06 Dual HDMI Video Capture: Capture your game and your camera footage simultaneously
- Interested in learning more about j5Create products?
What is a video capture card?
Simply put, a video capture card is a device that receives video from one source via HDMI (typically a gaming console or PC) and sends the same video out to a monitor or TV (also via HDMI). So far, a video capture card seems redundant! But the unique thing that a capture card does is that it converts the video it receives to a format that a PC can read. This data can be sent either via a USB connection in the case of external capture cards or through a PCI-E connection for internal capture cards. This data is then encoded by the computer and turned into a video file that can be saved or streamed in real-time with almost zero latency.
But my console/PC can stream on its own!
Yes. Yes, it can! But there are caveats. First of all, let’s separate console and PC gaming in addressing this issue.
PC Gaming
When it comes to PC, it is true that you might not need a video capture card, at least for the same reasons that were mentioned above. But there’s a reason why many professional streamers are using one PC for gaming and another PC just for the purpose of streaming. While we don’t recommend a dual setup if you’re just starting out, if you are sure that streaming is the way forward, then a dual streaming setup is the more ideal solution in the long run.
Perhaps the main reason why you would benefit from a dual setup is the distribution of workload between the two PCs. With a dual setup, you have a dedicated PC just for streaming, which prevents the stream from taking up valuable resources and purring more strain on your component, resulting in better game quality and fewer lags. Even if your game crashes or your gaming rig starts acting out, your stream will still be up and running as you talk to your audience and try to fix the issue.
Having a secondary setup to use for streaming becomes almost a no-brainer if you have an older setup lying around that you are no longer using. You don’t need a Core i9 to do some video encoding, your six- or seven-year-old mid-range CPU is most likely up to the task.
Types of capture cards
There are two main types of video capture cards: internal and external.
Depending on who you ask, an external capture card might be the more convenient option as there’s no need for you to open your computer case and fiddle around with the PCI-E port. But if you know what a PCI-E port is, you probably have a different opinion on which one is more convenient!
External capture cards are small boxes (maybe a tad bigger than an SSD) that connect to the computer via USB, whereas internal capture cards connect directly to the motherboard if you have an extra PCI-Express port. This means lower-end motherboards are not able to house a capture card as they typically only have a single PCI-E port, which is used up by the graphics card.
There is little to no difference in the functionality of the two types. It is recommended, however, that you opt for an internal capture card if you’re not planning on using it on multiple computers because a PCI-E connection is definitely more reliable. It also helps the internal capture card’s cooling as it enjoys the airflow that already exists inside the case. An internal capture card, of course, assumes that you have a desktop PC and not a laptop!
On the other hand, an external capture card is a way to go if you capture on a laptop, or at least your streaming rig is a laptop. If you also want to stream with a DSLR outdoors and having your desktop PC is not an option, an external capture card gives you the flexibility you need.
To wrap up this segment, if you have a desktop PC, are planning on using your game capture card on that one rig, and won’t benefit from portability, then go for an internal capture card (but make sure you have a spare PCI-E connection). In any other case, an external capture card is a way to go.
Interested in learning more about j5Create products?
As an official j5Create distributor within the Middle East and North African region, Newcom offers a wide range of j5Create products, including the j5Create video capture cards mentioned in this article.
If you are interested in any of the products discussed in this article, please make sure to check out our products page. For further information or any inquiries, make sure to directly call us or reach out through our Contact Us page.
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