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Connect 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 on that streaming PC as a Video Capture Device. The capture card passes the video signal; the streaming PC still handles encoding and sending the stream. Audio needs its own check: HDMI can carry game audio, while controller headset and chat audio may need a separate analog route.
Before you connect anything
Check that the card supports the resolution and refresh rate the gaming PC will send, and that the streaming PC has the connection the card requires. Elgato’s setup guidance covers external USB cards and the internal 4K Pro PCIe route; the exact supported video modes vary by model. Elgato says USB 2.0 does not provide enough bandwidth for its external cards, and specifies USB 3.0 or better generally, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 for 4K X. Confirm the current specifications for your exact card and desired mode before buying or wiring it: Elgato downloads and product information.
- External USB card: The streaming PC needs a suitable USB port and the card’s supported cable.
- Internal PCIe card: The streaming PC needs a compatible PCIe slot and room for installation.
- Passthrough: If you want to play on a monitor connected through the card, the model must have HDMI Out and support the signal mode you intend to use.
A capture card does not encode or compress the stream. Elgato describes its role as receiving the HDMI signal; the streaming PC and OBS handle encoding. Adding a card to a single-PC setup does not by itself improve performance, since OBS can capture the game directly on that computer. See Elgato’s explanation of what a capture card does.
Connect the gaming PC to the streaming PC
External USB card
- On the gaming PC, connect an HDMI output from the graphics card to the capture card’s HDMI In. Do not connect the gaming PC to HDMI Out.
- Connect the capture card to the streaming PC with the USB cable and port supported by that card. Use a direct, sufficiently fast port rather than assuming a USB 2.0 connection will work.
- If the card supports passthrough and you want to play through it, connect the card’s HDMI Out to the gaming monitor. The card sends the signal onward to the display; verify that the model supports your chosen resolution and refresh rate.
Internal PCIe card
- Install the card in a compatible PCIe slot in the streaming PC, following the model’s installation instructions.
- Connect an HDMI output from the gaming PC to the card’s HDMI In.
- If the card has HDMI Out and you need passthrough, connect that output to the gaming display, subject to the card’s supported modes.
Elgato’s current setup guide describes these external and internal paths. The connector layout, cabling and supported modes are model-specific, so use the guide for your particular card: Elgato HD60 X setup guide and Elgato 4K60 Pro MK.2 setup guide.
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Add the card as a source in OBS
- On the streaming PC, open OBS Studio.
- In the Sources box, select +, then choose Video Capture Device.
- Create a new source, select the Elgato card from the device list, and confirm.
- Check the preview. It should show the gaming PC’s HDMI signal. If the device is absent or the preview is blank, use the troubleshooting checks below.
- Check OBS’s audio mixer while game audio is playing. Confirm the capture device’s audio is present and not muted before you go live.
Elgato says OBS Studio works with its capture cards and documents adding a card as a source. Audio menu options can vary by card and software version. For the 4K60 Pro MK.2, Elgato recommends a 48 kHz sample rate and stereo in its OBS guidance; treat that as model-specific guidance rather than a universal setting for every card: Elgato OBS Studio setup guide.
Choose how game, headset and chat audio reach OBS
Video and audio are separate checks even when both travel over HDMI. Make sure the gaming PC sends game audio to the HDMI output connected to the card, then confirm OBS receives that audio from the capture device. The exact operating-system audio selection depends on the PC and its configuration.
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Controller headset audio is a different case. If a console controller is feeding a headset and you need party or chat audio in the capture, Elgato’s Chat Link documentation describes an optional analog route: Chat Link splits controller output to the headset and capture device. It does not send the headset microphone directly to the capture card; use a separate microphone path to capture the speaker’s voice in the PC workflow Elgato describes. For a PC line-in connection with Chat Link Pro, Elgato says to use Line-In, not Mic-In. Details: Elgato Chat Link guide and Elgato Chat Link Pro guide.
Troubleshoot a missing or black capture
| What you see | Check and fix |
|---|---|
| OBS does not list the card | Confirm the card is connected to the streaming PC, powered as required, and using a supported USB port or PCIe installation. For external cards, Elgato says USB 2.0 is insufficient; check the exact model’s connection requirements. |
| OBS lists the card but shows no signal | Verify the gaming PC is connected to HDMI In. Confirm the source is not sending HDCP-protected video, which a capture card cannot capture. Reseat the connections and try a known-good HDMI cable. |
| Signal drops or behaves unreliably | Check that the USB port and cable provide the bandwidth needed for the selected mode, and that the HDMI cable supports it. Elgato specifically requires an HDMI 2.1 cable for 4K X high-refresh-rate operation; this requirement is model- and mode-dependent. |
| Video appears but game audio does not | Check that the gaming PC is sending audio to the HDMI output connected to the card, then inspect the OBS mixer for the capture device and confirm it is not muted. If the audio comes from a controller headset, determine whether an analog route such as Chat Link is needed. |
| Chat is captured but the headset microphone is missing | Chat Link does not carry the headset microphone directly to the capture card. Route the speaker’s microphone separately to the streaming PC or its audio workflow. |
Resolution, refresh rate and cable requirements depend on the card and the selected input mode. If a mode fails, check the current specifications for the exact model rather than assuming every Elgato card accepts the same signal.
Rank #3
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Or let it run in the cloud
A dual-PC capture setup is for sending a live gaming PC feed into OBS. If what you need instead is a YouTube channel that keeps playing uploaded recordings when your computers are off, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option: upload a video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not stream a camera feed.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
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