Hauppauge

Hauppauge HD PVR 2

Expert rating5 / 10

Form Factor:: External USB
Max Recording Resolution:: 1080i60 / 720p60
Passthrough Resolution:: 1080p60
HDR Support:: No

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Manufacturer: Hauppauge Last updated: 2026-09-12

Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Review

The Hauppauge HD PVR 2 is a standalone HDMI/component recorder that encodes H.264 in hardware, so it can record straight to a USB flash drive without a PC attached at all, which is what sets it apart from most USB capture dongles.

It caps out at 1080i60/720p60 recording and 1080p60 passthrough over USB 2.0, so it's not a 4K or even a clean 1080p60 progressive-scan device, but the standalone recording is genuinely useful for capturing old consoles or set-top boxes without leaving a PC running.

Comparison to Alternatives

Where the Elgato Game Capture HD60 needs a PC running the whole time, the HD PVR 2's hardware H.264 encoder lets it record straight to a USB drive standalone, closer in spirit to the AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus (GC513), which also records PC-free to microSD. The HD PVR 2 is the older and lower-resolution of the two, since the GC513 records 1080p60 clean while the HD PVR 2 only manages interlaced 1080i or 720p60.

Our verdict

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Expert rating5 / 10

A niche standalone recorder for HDMI/component sources without a PC. Interlaced-only 1080i recording and USB 2.0 make it feel dated next to the GC513.

Best for

Recording last-gen consoles or set-top boxes without a PC running
Archiving component or HDMI sources to a USB drive directly
Buyers who specifically need hardware H.264 encoding at the source

Not for

Anyone wanting clean progressive 1080p60 recording
4K or HDR capture of any kind
PC-connected streaming setups, where a USB webcam-class capture card is simpler

Specifications

What these specs mean

Identity

Brand	Hauppauge
Model Number	HD PVR 2 (Model 1512)

Design

Form Factor	External USB
Connection Type	USB 2.0

Performance

Max Recording Resolution	1080i60 / 720p60
Passthrough Resolution	1080p60
HDR Support	No

Signal handling

Latency	30 ms

Software and compatibility

Standalone Recording	Yes

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the Hauppauge HD PVR 2 (External USB / 1080i60 Standalone Recording / 1080p60 Passthrough / Hardware H.264 Encoder)?

Key specs for the Hauppauge HD PVR 2: Form Factor External USB, Connection Type USB 2.0, Max Recording Resolution 1080i60 / 720p60, Passthrough Resolution 1080p60, HDR Support No, Onboard Recording Yes, hardware H.264 encoder, records to USB drive without a PC.

Who is the Hauppauge HD PVR 2 (External USB / 1080i60 Standalone Recording / 1080p60 Passthrough / Hardware H.264 Encoder) best suited to?

Best suited to: Recording last-gen consoles or set-top boxes without a PC running; Archiving component or HDMI sources to a USB drive directly; Buyers who specifically need hardware H.264 encoding at the source.

What are the drawbacks of the Hauppauge HD PVR 2 (External USB / 1080i60 Standalone Recording / 1080p60 Passthrough / Hardware H.264 Encoder)?

Not the best fit for: Anyone wanting clean progressive 1080p60 recording; 4K or HDR capture of any kind; PC-connected streaming setups, where a USB webcam-class capture card is simpler.