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AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 vs Roland VR-1HD: Comparison
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 vs Roland VR-1HD: the latency difference
Start with latency, because it is the widest measured gap between them: AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 16 ms against Roland VR-1HD 20 ms, 25% in favour of AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1. Hdr support is not the same on both, Yes on the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 versus No on the Roland VR-1HD.
Which should you buy, AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 or Roland VR-1HD?
The AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 suits Single-PC streamers who game and stream from the same machine and anyone standardized on AVerMedia's RECentral software ecosystem. It is equally the pick 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. The Roland VR-1HD is the one to take for house-of-worship or small studio setups needing built-in audio mixing, though it is not the pick for 4K or HDR workflows of any kind. The same goes for solo streamers running multiple cameras who need live switching without a PC-based switcher. It is not the one for simple single-source game capture, where a plain capture card is cheaper. 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 Roland VR-1HD (7/10): A genuinely useful hardware switcher/mixer for solo multi-cam streamers. Skip it if you just need a single-source capture card, since it's overbuilt and pricier for that job.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 and Roland VR-1HD differ on connection type?
Yes. Connection Type reads USB-C / Thunderbolt on the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 versus USB 3.0 on the Roland VR-1HD.
Is the Form Factor the same on the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 and Roland VR-1HD?
It is. Both are listed at External USB, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- External USB
- Roland VR-1HD
- External USB
Brand
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- AVerMedia
- Roland VR-1HD
- Roland
Model Number
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (GC553)
- Roland VR-1HD
- VR-1HD
Connection Type
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- USB-C / Thunderbolt
- Roland VR-1HD
- USB 3.0
Max Recording Resolution
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- 4K30 HDR
- Roland VR-1HD
- 1080p60
Passthrough Resolution
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- 4K60 HDR
- Roland VR-1HD
- 1080p60
HDR Support
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- Yes
- Roland VR-1HD
- No
Latency
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1
- 16 msBest
- Roland VR-1HD
- 20 ms-25%
Which one should you pick?
Choose AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 if you want the lower latency (16 ms vs 20 ms).
Choose Roland VR-1HD if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 | Roland VR-1HD |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| 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.
Roland VR-1HD
7 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely useful hardware switcher/mixer for solo multi-cam streamers.