Elgato 4K S vs Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card

Elgato 4K S vs Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card: Get the Elgato 4K S. The Elgato 4K S wins Capture Quality and Passthrough.

Elgato 4K S
Elgato
Elgato 4K S
$159.99
Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card
Razer
Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card
$159.99

The Ruling

Elgato 4K S or Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card? Get the Elgato 4K S.

The Elgato 4K S wins Capture Quality and Passthrough.

Check price on Amazon

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.

CategoryElgato 4K SRazer Ripsaw HD Capture Card
Capture Quality10/102.5/10
Passthrough10/107/10
Value10/1010/10

The Split

What each one wins

Elgato 4K S

Portable 4K capture device with low-latency output for multi-platform content workflows.

On paper the Elgato 4K S takes capture resolution (4K60) and passthrough resolution (4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. The two are priced the same, so price does not decide it.

Leads on

  • Capture Resolution
    4K60
    1080p60
  • Passthrough Resolution
    4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240
    4K30

Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card

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 Elgato 4K S. The two are priced the same, so price does not decide it.

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

Full specification comparison of Elgato 4K S and Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card, grouped by area.
Specification
Elgato
Elgato 4K S
Razer
Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card
Capture QualityElgato 4K S
Capture Resolution✓ 4K601080p60
Resolutionno datano data
PassthroughElgato 4K S
Passthrough Resolution✓ 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p2404K30
MotionNot enough data
Refresh Rateno datano data
Audio ResolutionNot enough data
Max Sample Rateno datano data
Mic InputsNot enough data
XLR Inputsno datano data
ConnectivityNot enough data
HDMI Portsno data1
Connection Typeusb-c, hdmiusb-c, hdmi
PowerNot enough data
Power Requirementno datano data
Phantom Powerno datano data
CompatibilityNot enough data
Operating Systemno datano data
Other specsNot enough data
Pcie Slotsno datano data
Interfaceno datano data
Audio Supportno datano data

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 Elgato 4K S 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.

Our pick
Elgato 4K S $159.99
Best ValuePortability Pick

The Elgato 4K S is priced at $159.99. It leads in capture resolution (4K60) and passthrough resolution (4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240). Offers the most spec advantages per dollar in this comparison.

  • + Better capture resolution (4K60 vs 1080p60)
  • + Better passthrough resolution (4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 vs 4K30)
  • + Low-latency design for real-time monitoring

Also worth knowing

  • ✓ You want 4K60 capture quality
  • ✓ You want 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 capture quality
  • ✓ You need gear you can easily take on the go

Best for value-focused buyers, mobile creators, 4k60 content creators.

The alternative
Most Connectivity

The Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card is priced at $159.99. More I/O options for complex setups.

  • × Weaker capture resolution (1080p60 vs 4K60)
  • × Weaker passthrough resolution (4K30 vs 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240)

Also worth knowing

  • ✓ Your workflow matches its specific feature set

Look elsewhere if

  • × You want 4K60 or higher capture quality
  • × You want 4K60 / 1440p120 / 1080p240 or higher capture quality

Best for complex setup builders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Elgato 4K S and Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card?

The largest gap is capture resolution, where the Elgato 4K S 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 Elgato and Razer, each taking a different approach to video quality and latency.

Which is better for streaming, Elgato 4K S or Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card?

Get the Elgato 4K S. The Elgato 4K S wins Capture Quality and Passthrough.

Related Comparisons

Elgato 4K S vs AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K GC573 Compare → Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card vs AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K GC573 Compare → Elgato 4K S vs AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) Compare → Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card vs AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) Compare → Elgato 4K S vs AVerMedia BU135 Dual HDMI Capture Card Compare → Razer Ripsaw HD Capture Card vs AVerMedia BU135 Dual HDMI Capture Card Compare →