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AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 vs AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt: Comparison

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 and AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt differ on form factor: AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 at Compact external box, 120 x 70 x 27.6mm, 115g, AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt at Standalone (PC-Free).

Specs

Specification
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (GC553G2) (External USB 3.2 Gen 2 / 4K60 Real Capture / 4K144 & 4K120 & 1440p240 Marketed Passthrough / HDMI 2.1)
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt (GC551) (Standalone PC-Free / 4K30 HDR Capture to SSD / 4K60 HDR Passthrough / Built-in WiFi Streaming)
AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt
Form FactorCompact external box, 120 x 70 x 27.6mm, 115gStandalone (PC-Free)
BrandAVerMediaAVerMedia
Connection TypeUSB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps)USB-C / Thunderbolt
Max Recording Resolution2160p60 (true 4K60) — independently confirmed by WindowsCentral and TweakTown as the actual recording ceiling, despite marketing copy prominently featuring 4K1444K30 HDR
Passthrough ResolutionUp to 2160p144 HDR/VRR, 4K120 on LG OLED displays, 3440x1440p120, 1440p240 (firmware-enabled), 1080p360 — these are the numbers AVerMedia markets most prominently, and they describe the HDMI monitor feed only, not what's recorded4K60 HDR
ModelGC553G2Live Gamer Bolt (GC551)

Verdict

AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1

8 / 10 Expert Rating

A genuinely strong 4K60-capture, 4K144-passthrough card let down only by marketing copy that leads with the passthrough number — read the fine print, and it holds up well against pricier internal alternatives.

AVerMedia Live Gamer Bolt

8 / 10 Expert Rating

The clear pick for genuinely PC-free console streaming, at a price that only makes sense if you actually need that independence.

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