Get the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2). The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper...
The Ruling
The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $50.
At a Glance
Every axis is scored out of 10 from the catalog specs below. The scores are relative to the products on this page, so a 10 means “best of these”, not “perfect”, and two identical columns mean the catalog genuinely cannot separate them. Axes the catalog holds no figure for on both sides are left off entirely rather than guessed at.
| Category | AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) | AVerMedia PW515 Live Streamer Cam Link |
|---|---|---|
| Capture Quality | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Passthrough | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Value | 10/10 | 8/10 |
The Split
HDMI 2.1 external capture card with high-refresh passthrough for next-gen gaming workflows.
On paper the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) takes capture resolution (4K144 (MJPEG via Streaming Center) / 4K60 (OBS Mac)) and passthrough resolution (Up to 4K144). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. It is the cheaper of the two, by $50.00.
Leads on
Video capture device for gameplay, cameras, or HDMI sources with creator-friendly passthrough and recording support.
It gives up capture resolution and passthrough resolution to the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2). That costs $50.00 more than the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2).
Leads on
One spec is the same on both of them, so none of it is part of the decision.
The Record
A group is won by whoever takes more of its rows outright. Specs the catalog cannot rank are shown but never decide a group.
Bottom Line
The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) is the pick on the specs the catalog holds, but “better on paper” and “right for you” are different questions. Each case below names what the product is actually good at and who that suits.
The largest gap is capture resolution, where the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) leads — 4K144 (MJPEG via Streaming Center) / 4K60 (OBS Mac) against 4K30. Across the catalog's specification sheet the two differ on 2 specs. They match on 1 spec, including connection type. Two capture cards from AVerMedia, each taking a different approach to video quality and latency.
Get the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2). The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $50.
The AVerMedia PW515 Live Streamer Cam Link costs $249.99 against $199.99, a difference of $50. On the catalog's specifications it does not lead the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) anywhere, so the premium buys brand, build or something the catalog does not record. Whether that is worth it depends on which of those you would actually use.