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AVerMedia Launches First Capture Cards to Enable 4K HDR Game Streaming

Streamers no longer need to sacrifice picture quality for hardware streaming limitations—and the Live Gamer 4K can even capture in 4K HDR for the highest quality streaming or video capture.

Today AVerMedia Technologies, Inc. launched the Live Gamer 4K and Live Gamer ULTRA 4K UHD game capture cards, unleashing the power of 4K HDR game capture and streaming for today’s PC and console gaming. The top of the line Live Gamer 4K (MSRP $299.99) is an internal PCIe card capable of capturing 4K HDR at 60 frames per second, the first consumer card capable of capturing 4K HDR footage. The high performance, laptop-friendly Live Gamer ULTRA (MSRP $249.99) is a driverless external card capable of capturing up to 4Kp30 with full 4K HDR passthrough and onboard video processing. 

4K and 4K HDR video is a rising trend in gaming, both on PC and 4K-capable consoles. With both new AVerMedia cards, gamers can capture at full 4K resolution, including HDR, or choose to play in Full HD with insanely high frame rates (up to 240 frames per second). The affordable pricing of the Live Gamer 4K UHD line, which includes the recently released Live Gamer EXTREME 2, lets streamers who aren’t yet uploading at 4K “future proof” their rig without breaking the bank. Gaming is increasingly becoming a 4K medium and these Live Gamer cards provide entry to a new world of incredible clarity and realism, including the ability to play in 4K HDR while capturing.

The internal PCIe Live Gamer 4K is perfect for gamers with a powerful desktop PC for gaming or standalone capture from a 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) PC or console, providing the ability to capture at the very highest resolutions and frame rates. HDR, previously only available via expensive professional capture cards, provides more accurate color and greater contrast ratio along with the increased resolution provided by 4K (3840 x 2160) at up to 60 frames per second.

The external Live Gamer ULTRA, on the other hand, provides a solution for laptop users and streamers on the go, allowing ultra low latency capture over USB 3.1 with a small footprint. Its driverless setup ensures the card is immediately recognized when it’s plugged in, and while it can’t capture in 4K at 60 fps like its big brother, it can still capture at 4Kp30 and at 120 fps in 1080 HD when paired with a laptop or PC that can handle the throughput. It also supports HDR passthrough, allowing gamers to play and view HDR while recording in standard 4K, and its onboard video processing helps lighten the computer’s CPU load.

The Live Gamer 4K and Live Gamer ULTRA cards are now available at retail and online, and include AVerMedia’s proprietary RECentral software that supports simultaneous streaming to Twitch, YouTube and Mixer from a single app, and CyberLink’s PowerDirector 15 video editing software, which supports 4K video.

All Live Gamer 4K UHD Cards

• Widely Compatible: Work with all major capturing and streaming software, including OBS and XSplit
• Video/Audio I/O: HDMI 2.0
• Recording Format: MPEG 4 (H.264+AAC) or (H.265+AAC)
• Bundled Software: AVerMedia RECentral, CyberLink PowerDirector 15

Live Gamer 4K (GC573)

• Top of Line Tech: AVerMedia’s top capture card, capable of handling any game at ultra-high resolution and framerate and with ultra-low latency
• 4Kp60 HDR: The first consumer card to capture High Dynamic Range, which provides brighter whites and darker blacks and a wider color gamut overall, significantly superior to standard 4K
• Maximum Performance: Via Internal PCI Express x4 Gen2 card form factor
• Look like a Rock Star: RGB lighting with three preset modes to make your setup shine
• Max. Pass-Through Resolution: 2160p60 HDR / 1440p144 / 1080p240
• Max. Capture Resolution: 2160p60 HDR / 1440p120 / 1080p240
• Recorded Quality: 150 Mbps default @2160p60; up to 240 Mbps is possible
• MSRP: US$299.99

Live Gamer ULTRA (GC553)

• For Pros and Aspiring Pros: AVerMedia’s intermediate capture card, designed to work well with both laptops and desktop gaming PCs and equipped with onboard video processing to lighten the CPU load
• Laptop-friendly Form Factor with Ultra Low Latency: USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C interface
• Supports HDR Passthrough: Play and view 4K HDR gameplay while capturing at 4Kp30; other cards force you to turn off HDR before capturing
• Max. Pass-Through Resolution: 2160p60 HDR / 1440p144 / 1080p240
• Max. Capture Resolution: 2160p30 / 1440p60 / 1080p120
• Recorded Quality: 150 Mbps default @2160p30; up to 240 Mbps is possible
• MSRP: US$249.99

If you want to know more about AVerMedia make sure you check them out: www.avermedia.com/gaming , @AVerMediaGZ and facebook.com/AVerMedia.GamerZone

We here at XboxAddict are incredibly excited to hopefulyl test these out and report back our 4K findings!