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AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 vs Elgato HD60 S+: Comparison
What is the difference between AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 and Elgato HD60 S+?
The first real difference is connection type: AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 USB-C / Thunderbolt against Elgato HD60 S+ USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C. Max recording resolution is not the same on both, 4K30 HDR on the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 versus 1080p60 HDR10 on the Elgato HD60 S+. Passthrough resolution is not the same on both, 4K60 HDR on the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 versus 4K60 HDR10 on the Elgato HD60 S+.
Which should you buy, AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 or Elgato HD60 S+?
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. It is the wrong buy for buyers who already have a spare NVENC-capable GPU and don't need onboard encoding. Take the Elgato HD60 S+ for console streamers who want HDR10 capture at 1080p60 with clean 4K passthrough to their display. Avoid it for anyone who specifically needs native 4K recording for YouTube uploads, step up to the 4K S instead. 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 HD60 S+ (8/10): HDR10 capture at 1080p60 with clean 4K60 passthrough, the middle rung of Elgato's lineup done well.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Form factor and hdr support read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- External USB
- Elgato HD60 S+
- External USB
Brand
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- AVerMedia
- Elgato HD60 S+
- Elgato
Model Number
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (GC553)
- Elgato HD60 S+
- HD60 S+
Connection Type
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- USB-C / Thunderbolt
- Elgato HD60 S+
- USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C
Max Recording Resolution
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- 4K30 HDR
- Elgato HD60 S+
- 1080p60 HDR10
Passthrough Resolution
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- 4K60 HDR
- Elgato HD60 S+
- 4K60 HDR10
HDR Support
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- Yes
- Elgato HD60 S+
- Yes
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 HD60 S+ if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | Elgato HD60 S+ |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | 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 HD60 S+
8 / 10 Expert Rating
HDR10 capture at 1080p60 with clean 4K60 passthrough, the middle rung of Elgato's lineup done well.