Question / Help Capture Cards for older consoles

[T-major]

I'm looking to get into streaming, but I need a capture card with analog support (for N64 and Wii) with preferably the option for HDMI. Some of them don't work well with OBS, and USB 2.0 cards seem to have issues in general (input delay and whatnot) based on replies to previous threads about this subject. Elgato Game Capture HD seems to be the most recommended one but it's USB 2.0 so I'm getting a lot of mixed messages. My stream would not be very high quality.

I'd rather not get an Internal card. I also have no disk drive so any card that requires a disk to install is out of the question. Is Elgato being USB 2.0 really going to be an issue? It seems like the best option.

 

[madlarkin6]

I currently have an open thread similar to this. I've gone through 3 separate cards (one being the elgato). The only one of the three that actually gave me video output was the Elgato, but had an unbearable delay. The typical "fix" for this issue is to delay your facecam/audio. The problem I have with that is that the webcam "catches up" to live even after giving it a delay after a few seconds. Some people I talked to didn't have a delay issue with the Elgato...supposedly putting out lower resolutions doesn't give the delay but I never confirmed this, so maybe an N64 capture would have no delay (hopefully).

 

[dodgepong]

If you don't want an internal card, but you want a card with no delay, the only real options are USB 3.0 cards. The XCAPTURE-1 is a very nice choice, though pricey for some people.

Elgatos are a gigantic pain in the butt to get synced with microphone/webcam/other desktop audio. And you better hope you're not using it for speedrunning, or your splits will be off.

If you won't have a USB 3.0 port, then I strongly suggest you reconsider your choice to not get an internal card, as there are some nice internal cards that are more affordable.

 

[T-major]

I would be using it for mostly Speedrunning, so I guess the Elgato is out. I do have USB 3.0 ports but I'd rather not shell out more money for a capture card that uses it.

I'll get an Internal one if that's my best bet. No point in being picky about it. Thanks for the help!

 

[dodgepong]

If you're willing to just live with SD support via composite and forgo HDMI support, the AVerMedia c039 is a pretty good USB 2.0 card. You only have to worry about delay from USB 2.0 cards if they are HD, and the c039 is just SD, so there won't be any delay problems.

 

[T-major]

I was planning on getting an Avertv HD DVR. I've heard good things (outside of the company having awful customer support) and it's a good price normally. I can even get an even better deal on it right now. I've read it works fine with OBS, so unless I've misunderstood and its incompatible, I think I'll stick with it. I think it'd be a better option to get a decent card now than get a cheap one and want to upgrade later.

 

[Boildown]

Which sort of video input do you need? I.e. composite, HDMI, component, VGA, etc?

 

[dodgepong]

The HD DVR is a good choice for an internal card. I have one and have found it to be pretty good. Its only real shortcoming in my mind is that it only goes up to 1080i, but that might not be a big deal since most console games output 720p anyway.

Boildown, he said in his OP that he will be capturing the N64 (composite), the Wii (composite or component), and maybe HDMI.

 

[T-major]

That pretty much seals the deal, then. I'll order one while I can get a good deal (likely today)

Thanks again for all the help!