Should you get the Razer Ripsaw HD or the Elgato HD60 S capture card?

Close, but the Razer Ripsaw HD has it

The Elgato HD60 S was a little ahead of its time when it first launched, but as time passed, it's been surpassed in the hardware stakes by not only Razer, but also by AVerMedia. That doesn't mean it's a bad capture card, not at all.

But if you're looking for the best of the two out of the Razer and the Elgato, the Razer is the one to get.

Setting it up is simple: you just need the Razer Synapse 3 application to ensure the right drivers and firmware are in place. From there you just hook it up to your favorite capture or broadcast software. It's fully supported in Streamlabs OBS, OBS Studio, and XSplit, covering all the big bases.

What makes it better though? By virtue of launching in 2019, it's better equipped for today's streamer, especially those playing on PC or Xbox One X, and that's down to the 4K60 passthrough feature. The HD60 S doesn't have this, so if you really want your games to look their best while you're playing regardless of your stream, the Ripsaw HD has the edge. The HDMI 2.0 input and output makes this possible.

For streaming, it matches the HD60 S, with a USB-C 3.0 interface for virtually zero lag, and a 3.5mm audio input if you need to mix party chat from your console. But until Elgato updates its external capture card to support 4K passthrough it falls behind the Ripsaw HD.

Elgato still great for beginners

One area the Elgato might still be a better choice is if you're an absolute beginner to streaming or recording game footage. Of the three apps mentioned above, both Streamlabs OBS and OBS Studio can be confusing at first.

Elgato has its own software that bundles with the HD60 S, Game Capture HD, that is very beginner friendly. Nothing is buried in menus — all the important features are out front with simple controls — and you can use it to capture as well as stream. It'll even help you add a simple overlay to your broadcast if you wish.

Of course, it's fully supported in all the major streaming software when you're ready to step up and get a little more advanced. You're also more likely to be able to find a deal on the HD60 S since it's an older product.