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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteConnect the gaming PC’s HDMI output to the Elgato card’s HDMI In, connect the card to the streaming PC, then add it in OBS as a Video Capture Device. The streaming PC runs OBS and encodes the stream; the capture card carries the gaming PC’s video signal into it. Audio needs its own check, especially if you use a headset connected to a controller.
Before you connect anything
Confirm that the capture card accepts the resolution and refresh rate you plan to send, and that the streaming PC has the connection the card requires. Elgato’s current setup guide covers external USB cards and the internal 4K Pro PCIe route. It says USB 2.0 does not provide enough bandwidth; use USB 3.0, or USB 3.2 Gen 2 for 4K X. Check the exact model’s specifications for supported input modes before choosing a card or setting the gaming PC’s output. Elgato’s capture-card setup guide.
- External card: the streaming PC needs a suitable USB port and the card’s supported cable.
- Internal card: the streaming PC needs a compatible PCIe slot.
- Passthrough: if the card supports it, HDMI Out can feed the gaming display so you can play on that screen.
The card receives the HDMI signal; it does not encode or compress the stream. OBS and the streaming PC handle encoding. Elgato also notes that adding a capture card to a single-PC setup does not by itself improve performance; a dual-PC arrangement is useful because the capture and streaming work are split between two computers. Elgato’s explanation of capture-card use.
Connect the gaming PC to the streaming PC
External USB card
- Connect an HDMI output on the gaming PC to the capture card’s HDMI In.
- Connect the capture card to the streaming PC using the USB cable and port specified for that model. Avoid USB 2.0; it does not provide sufficient bandwidth for Elgato capture cards.
- If you want passthrough and the card supports it, connect the card’s HDMI Out to the gaming monitor. The card sends the signal onward to that display.
Internal PCIe card
- Install the card in a PCIe slot compatible with its requirements in the streaming PC.
- Connect the gaming PC’s HDMI output to the card’s HDMI In.
- If supported and needed, connect the card’s HDMI Out to the gaming display for passthrough.
Ports, cables and supported video modes vary by model. For example, Elgato documents HD60 X as an external-card setup and 4K60 Pro MK.2 in its OBS instructions; those examples do not establish a universal best card. Match the card to your intended input mode and the streaming PC’s available connection. Check Elgato’s model-specific setup information.
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Add the capture card in OBS
- On the streaming PC, open OBS Studio.
- Add a source and choose Video Capture Device.
- Select the Elgato card from the device list.
- Check the preview. It should show the gaming PC’s output. If it does not, work through the no-signal checks below before changing unrelated OBS settings.
Elgato’s guide confirms OBS Studio works with its capture cards. Its 4K60 Pro MK.2 OBS guidance recommends a 48 kHz sample rate and stereo for audio. Treat that as model-specific guidance, not a universal menu path or setting for every Elgato model and software version; check the documentation for your card. Elgato’s OBS Studio setup guide.
Route game audio and headset audio
First decide where the gaming PC’s game audio should go. If it is carried by the HDMI output, check that OBS receives audio from the capture device as well as its video. Exact operating-system and OBS audio controls depend on the PC and card, so verify the device’s audio meter or monitoring rather than assuming a working video preview also means audio is reaching OBS.
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When a controller headset or party chat is involved
If your headset is plugged into a console controller and you need its audio in the capture, Elgato’s optional Chat Link setup routes controller output to both the headset and the capture device. However, the headset microphone goes to the controller; it does not pass directly to the capture card. Use a separate microphone path if you need your own voice in the PC workflow described by Elgato. Elgato Chat Link guide.
For a PC line-in connection with Chat Link Pro, Elgato says to use Line-In, not Mic-In. This analog routing is relevant only if your headset and controller setup calls for it. Elgato Chat Link Pro guide.
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Troubleshoot a black screen or missing signal
- Check the input jack: the gaming PC’s cable must go to the card’s HDMI In, not HDMI Out.
- Check for HDCP: a protected video signal can prevent capture. Confirm the source is not outputting HDCP-protected video.
- Check USB bandwidth: use the connection required by the card; USB 2.0 is insufficient. For 4K X high-refresh-rate operation, Elgato specifies an HDMI 2.1 cable.
- Try a known-good HDMI cable: a cable that cannot carry the selected mode can result in no signal. Confirm the cable supports the resolution and refresh rate in use.
- Recheck the target mode: make sure the gaming PC’s output is within the card’s supported input combinations. Specs differ by model.
These checks follow Elgato’s setup guidance; use the exact card’s current specifications for its supported modes. Elgato setup guide.
Choose between external USB and internal PCIe
| Consideration | External USB card | Internal PCIe card |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming PC connection | Suitable USB port and supported cable; USB 2.0 is insufficient. | Compatible PCIe slot. |
| Example in Elgato guidance | HD60 X. | 4K60 Pro MK.2. |
| Passthrough | Use HDMI Out to the gaming display if the model supports it and you need it. | Use HDMI Out if the model supports it and you need it. |
| Supported resolution and refresh rate | Depends on the specific model; check its input-mode specifications against the gaming PC’s output and intended stream. | |
There is no one card or universal resolution and frame rate that fits every dual-PC setup. Compare the streaming PC’s available port or slot, the card’s input modes and bandwidth, whether you need passthrough, and your audio-routing needs.
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