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AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 vs Elgato Cam Link 4K: Comparison
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 vs Elgato Cam Link 4K: the connection type difference
The first real difference is connection type: AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 USB-C / Thunderbolt against Elgato Cam Link 4K HDMI in, USB 3.0 out.
Which should you buy, AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 or Elgato Cam Link 4K?
Buy the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 for Single-PC streamers who game and stream from the same machine and anyone standardized on AVerMedia's RECentral software ecosystem. The same goes for streamers capturing HDR console footage who want encoding off their PC's CPU. Avoid it for buyers who already have a spare NVENC-capable GPU and don't need onboard encoding. Take the Elgato Cam Link 4K for DSLR, mirrorless, or camcorder owners who want to use their existing camera for streaming or video calls. It is the wrong buy for anyone without a compatible camera already, a dedicated webcam is the simpler and cheaper solution. Our rating of the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (8/10): A genuinely useful onboard-encoder pick for single-PC streamers doing HDR console capture, though it costs more than AVerMedia's simpler externals. Our rating of the Elgato Cam Link 4K (8/10): the simplest way to turn an existing DSLR, mirrorless camera, or camcorder into a genuinely better video source for streaming and calls.
What AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 and Elgato Cam Link 4K have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, form factor included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.
Specs and benchmarks
These products are in different categories and don't share enough specifications to compare meaningfully.
Which one should you pick?
Choose AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Elgato Cam Link 4K if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | Elgato Cam Link 4K |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | $129.99 View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely useful onboard-encoder pick for single-PC streamers doing HDR console capture, though it costs more than AVerMedia's simpler externals.
Elgato Cam Link 4K
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The simplest way to turn an existing DSLR, mirrorless camera, or camcorder into a genuinely better video source for streaming and calls.