Question / Help Which capture card?

[Germaximus]

Hi there.

I've spent the last two hours scouring the internet trying to figure out which capture device I should go with for live streaming my console gameplay from my PS3 and such and I keep coming across answers that are interesting but also confusing to me.

I don't know anything about computers. I buy prebuilt PCs. My newest one is a very nice gaming PC from Digital Storm.

I see these mentions of internal PC capture cards. I didn't even realize that was a thing. For me, it seems like an external capture card would be the simplest since I'm a complete idiot when it comes to what kind of card is compatible with what processor and that kind of PC stuff.

That said, I want the best quality I can get. Are these internal cards easy to install? Do they come with clear instructions for PC idiots like myself? How do I know if it's compatible with my PC?

My PCs processor is a dual (I believe) i5-4570, and my video card is Nvidia GeForce GTX 760.

I've been using OBS to live stream my PC gameplay (thank you so much for this amazing program by the way!) but I also really want to get into live streaming my console gameplay as well.

Thanks!

 

[Jack0r]

In general the internal cards are easy to install, unplug the case of any electric power, open the case so you can put the device in. Now comes the interesting part, your Mainboard just needs a slot that fits to the capture device.
So for example if your capture device uses PCI-Express, you need a free PCI-Express slot. An older PCI card would need a free PCI slot. You can check the manual of your Mainboard to find out more. (Of course do this before buying the device).
Then you mainly just have to slide the device into the slot and fix it with a screw or holder depending on what your case uses. Re-attach electricity, boot and install the drivers for your device (often a good idea to get the latest ones off the internet, the ones on the cd that came with it might be old)

The big benefit is that these devices normally have a very low latency (the time it takes to show video/audio on your PC), and thus you have no big problems with audio and video sync. USB2.0 devices sometimes have delays of several seconds and are thus more complicated to handle. USB3.0 devices on the other hand are very picky with the USB controller you use.

So now to decide on which device is best, for you its also interesting to note that the PS3 outputs a HDCP protected video signal over HDMI, a Capture Card will stop you from recording this. But its possible to get around that (Google will help you, I cant explain it further). Alternatively you can use the component output of the console, this output is not protected and can be captured just fine but the quality might be a bit lower?!, your capture card just needs to support component input.

Now sorry for this long text, but I think its better to explain a bit more now, than when its too late, to my recommendations:
Avermedia Game Broadcaster HD (component and hdmi, up to 1080p with 30fps)
Avermedia Live Gamer HD (only HDMI, up to 1080p 30fps)
(Avermedia Live Gamer Portable (USB2.0, component and HDMI, up to 1080p 30, delay)
(Elgato Game Capture HD (USB2.0, component and HDMI, up to 1080p 30fps, delay)
Black Magic Intensity Pro (component and hdmi, up to 1080i 30, can be picky with inputs)

more expensive but very nice capture devices:
SC-512-NL (DVI up to 1080p 60?)
XCapture-1 (USB3.0, VGA, Composite, HDMI, up to 1080p 60?)