AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) vs Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2
Get the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro). The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper...
The Ruling
AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) or Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2? Get the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro).
The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $169.01.
At a Glance
Where each one actually leads
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 S (GC553Pro) | Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Capture Quality | 10/10 | 2.5/10 |
| Passthrough | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Value | 10/10 | 4.7/10 |
The Split
What each one wins
AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro)
External HDMI capture card built for high-resolution gameplay recording and streaming workflows.
On paper the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) takes capture resolution (4K60) and passthrough resolution (4K60). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. It is the cheaper of the two, by $169.01.
Leads on
-
Capture Resolution4K601080p60
-
Passthrough Resolution4K604K30
Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2
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 S (GC553Pro). That costs $169.01 more than the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro).
Leads on
- Nothing on the spec sheet goes this one’s way.
Where they’re identical
One spec is the same on both of them, so none of it is part of the decision.
- Connection Type usb-c, hdmi
The Record
14 specs, grouped by area
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
Who each one is for
The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) and Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2?
The largest gap is capture resolution, where the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) leads — 4K60 against 1080p60. 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 and Magewell, each taking a different approach to video quality and latency.
Which is better for streaming, AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) or Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2?
Get the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro). The AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) wins Capture Quality and Passthrough. It is also the cheaper of the two, by $169.01.
Is the Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 worth the extra $169 over the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro)?
The Magewell USB Capture HDMI Gen 2 costs $319.00 against $149.99, a difference of $169. On the catalog's specifications it does not lead the AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) 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.