AVerMedia 4K Capture Card for Streaming
Bottom line: The AVerMedia 4K Capture Card for Streaming: Records 4K30 and captures up to 1080p240 for high-refresh gameplay; main trade-off: capture caps at 4K30, so no 4K60 recordings for YouTube uploads.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Records 4K30 and captures up to 1080p240 for high-refresh gameplay
- ✓ VRR pass-through at 1440p120 or 1080p120 keeps consoles tear-free
- ✓ Ultra-low-latency pass-through, so no lag on your play display
- ✓ Plug-and-play USB-C, no driver hunt before your first stream
- ✓ Ships with USB-C-to-A and HDMI 2.0 cables plus quick start guide
Cons
- ✗ Capture caps at 4K30, so no 4K60 recordings for YouTube uploads
- ✗ External USB box needs desk space and a free port, unlike PCIe cards
- ✗ Bundled HDMI 2.0 cable limits headroom versus HDMI 2.1 setups
- ✗ AVerMedia lists PS5/Pro, Xbox Series X/S and Switch, but no warranty terms
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored AVerMedia 4K Capture Card for Streaming using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the streaming gear category. AVerMedia's streaming gear lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for streaming gear of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- High-Quality Capture: Record 4K30 gameplay with high refresh rates of up to 1080p240, while enjoying VRR pass-through at 1440p120 or 1080p120.
- Zero Latency: Say goodbye to lag and interruptions during gaming and streaming, with the Extreme 3's ultra-low latency on the pass-through signal.
- Easy to Use: With plug and play technology, the Extreme 3 makes streaming straightforward and hassle-free.
- Wide Compatibility: Compatible with a range of game consoles including PS5, Xbox One X/S, and Switch, and able to stream on various platforms such as Youtube and Twitch.
- Complete Set: Includes 1x Live Gamer Extreme 3 (GC551G2), 1x USB Type-C to Type-A cable, 1x HDMI 2.0 cable, and 1x quick start guide for effortless setup.
Full Specifications
| Brand | AVerMedia |
|---|---|
| Platform | Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Windows, Xbox, iOS |
| AV Output | MPEG-4 |
| Model Name | 4K30 VRR |
| Easy to Use | With plug and play technology, the Extreme 3 makes streaming straightforward and hassle-free. |
| Complete Set | Includes 1x Live Gamer Extreme 3 (GC551G2), 1x USB Type-C to Type-A cable, 1x HDMI 2.0 cable, and 1x quick start guide for effortless setup. |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Model Number | GC551G2 |
| Zero Latency | Say goodbye to lag and interruptions during gaming and streaming, with the Extreme 3's ultra-low latency on the pass-through signal. |
| Compatibility | PC, PS5, Xbox, Switch, Mac |
| Built-In Media | HDMI 2.0 Cable, Live Gamer EXTREME 3 (GC551G2), Quick Start Guide, Type-C to Type-A Cable |
| Item Type Name | Game Capture |
| Item Dimensions | 6.8 x 4.65 x 2.68 inches |
| Mfr Part Number | GC551G2 |
| Antenna Location | Video Recording, Image Capture |
| Compatible Devices | Gaming Console, Personal Computer, Smartphone, Tablet |
| Hardware Interface | USB |
| Wide Compatibility | Compatible with a range of game consoles including PS5, Xbox One X/S, and Switch, and able to stream on various platforms such as Youtube and Twitch. |
| High-Quality Capture | Record 4K30 gameplay with high refresh rates of up to 1080p240, while enjoying VRR pass-through at 1440p120 or 1080p120. |
| Warranty Description | 3 year manufacturer |
| Full listing title | AVerMedia 4K Capture Card for Streaming,1440p120 Video Capture Device for PS5/Pro, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, compatible with Twitch, OBS, Windows, Mac - GC551G2 Live Gamer Extreme 3 |
Ready to buy?
AVerMedia 4K Capture Card for Streaming,1440p120 Video Capture Device for PS5/Pro, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, compatible with Twitch, OBS, Windows, Mac - GC551G2 Live Gamer Extreme 3 is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
Related Streaming Gear
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Best Budget SATA SSD for Gaming and Boot Drives in 2026
- Best Wireless Controller for PC Gaming on Couch and Living Room (2026)
- Inside the Intel 8087: Decapping a 1980 Math Coprocessor's Microcode
- Running Local LLMs on a Raspberry Pi 5 in 2026: What Works, What Doesn't
- Open WebUI — self-hosted ChatGPT for your local models
- Best GPU for 1080p 240Hz Esports: RTX 3060 12GB Build (2026)
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Won't Install on Windows XP: Driver Hunt + Fix
- Best 1440p 240Hz Gaming Monitors for Competitive FPS in 2026
- Best GPUs for Mixtral 8x22B Local Inference in 2026
- NVMe vs SATA for Gaming: WD Blue SN550 vs Crucial BX500 in 2026
- Best Monitor Deals for Prime Big Deal Days 2026: 5 Picks for Gaming and AI Desks
- Best Budget SSD for PC Builds in 2026
- Cisco's Open Security LLMs: Local Vulnerability Scanning on an RTX 3060
- Raspberry Pi AI Kit 2025: Specs, Uses, and Limits
- Best Sim-Racing Wheel and Shifter Setup for Beginners in 2026
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
- Stable Diffusion on Intel Arc vs RTX 3060 12GB: Which Budget GPU Renders Faster?
- 4K Gaming PC Build 2026: Cost, Parts, FPS
- Best Streaming Starter Kit for New Twitch Streamers in 2026
- Build a Privacy-First Ring Alternative on a Raspberry Pi 4 in 2026
- Single vs. Dual Channel Memory: Intel Core Ultra 7 270K
- Cheapest 1440p GPU in 2026: Budget Buying Guide
- Ryzen AI Max Mini PC 128GB: Specs, Uses, Alternatives
- Build a Fully Local PDF-to-Audiobook Pipeline on Jetson Orin Nano Super
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090