This HDMI gadget lets me play Swap 2 and PS5 video games on my PC

I have been a PC gamer my entire life, and whereas I like building desktop PCs for myself and associates — and taking part in video games at greater graphics settings and body charges — I nonetheless get pleasure from gaming on consoles. I’ve gotten plenty of mileage out of my PS5 since launch, and extra lately, the Nintendo Switch 2.

That mentioned, one factor I’ve at all times wished is a straightforward solution to play my Swap 2 and PS5 on my PC every time I do not really feel like utilizing my TV, with out sacrificing audio or video high quality. Positive, I might simply hook the consoles straight as much as my monitor, however what I actually wished was to have the ability to play them by Home windows itself, nearly like they had been simply one other app working on my PC.

The answer turned out to be surprisingly easy: a seize card — the identical form of {hardware} content material creators use for streaming and recording gameplay.

Seize playing cards are HDMI gadgets that may file gameplay whereas additionally supporting video passthrough. If you wish to play a console in your PC with zero lag and high-quality video and audio, merely put, a seize card is the way in which to go.

With that in thoughts, I appeared for one that might deal with all the pieces I wished, primarily 4K 120Hz assist, and ended up selecting the Elgato 4K X. I snagged it on sale for $200, down from its common $250 worth, and whereas that’s admittedly nonetheless expensive, I’ve discovered it to be value each penny thus far. Since hooking it as much as my PC, it is made gaming on no matter console I need extra enjoyable and extra handy.

How does a seize card work?

It captures the console’s video sign and shows it in your PC

There are two varieties of seize playing cards: inner ones that plug straight into your PC’s PCIe slot, and exterior ones that sit exterior your PC. For this story, I am specializing in exterior seize playing cards since they’re extra frequent. Two large manufacturers dominate the market: AVerMedia and Elgato. Since I am utilizing an Elgato, I am going to stroll by its setup course of and software program particularly.

The Elgato 4K X, together with different playing cards in Elgato’s lineup, have three ports: an HDMI in, an HDMI out, and a USB-C port. The HDMI in connects on to your console, whereas the HDMI out goes to no matter show you need your console to seem on — often a TV. If you wish to play your console in your PC, you do not really have to plug the HDMI out into your monitor. I nonetheless have my HDMI out hooked as much as my TV, which lets me play on my PC whereas retaining the choice to play on my TV every time I need.

That brings us to the USB-C port (which is a USB 3.2 Gen 2), the place all of the magic occurs. It plugs into your PC, letting you see and play your console by the Elgato Studio app (as you possibly can see within the picture above with my PS5), so you possibly can play your console in your PC identical to some other app working on Home windows. The Elgato Studio app is free to obtain from Elgato’s web site, and when you hook up your seize card by way of USB-C, gameplay from the console you linked to its HDMI in port seems instantly, with no latency.

The caveat is that your PC wants a USB-C port able to supporting the video and audio bandwidth from the Elgato. The Elgato 4K X particularly requires a USB Sort-C 3.2 port for 4K 144FPS seize, whereas a few of Elgato’s different seize playing cards have much less stringent necessities however supply much less high quality, just like the Elgato Game Capture Neo, which requires a USB 3.0 Sort-C port and helps solely 1080p seize. For those who’re undecided which kind of USB-C port your PC has, the best factor to do is double-check your motherboard guide or, for a laptop computer, its spec sheet.

The expertise thus far

Swap 2 and PS5 video games look nice on my PC by the Elgato, with no latency

I picked up the Elgato 4K X in December and have been utilizing it nearly day by day to play console video games on my PC, and thus far, I’ve discovered the expertise to be incredible. I’ve performed video games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and MLB The Present 25 on the Swap 2 and PS5, respectively, all linked by the seize card at 4K with zero latency. Whereas I get pleasure from taking part in console video games on my TV, typically I simply wish to sport late at evening at my desk on my PC — and this seize card has been excellent for that.

One of many greatest perks of the Elgato 4K X is that it captures each audio and video. I can hear my PS5 or Swap 2 by Elgato’s Studio software program, so all console audio comes by my PC headphones with no hitch. Positive, you can use an AUX wire to get console audio in your PC and join it on to your monitor — however I’ve discovered the Elgato technique a lot smoother. As I discussed earlier, it is mainly like working my console as an app proper in Home windows.

After all, seize playing cards are able to recording gameplay as nicely, so if you wish to stream to platforms like YouTube or Twitch, or file gameplay to make use of in movies, they’ll try this successfully as nicely.

The Elgato 4K X I am utilizing is a pricier mannequin at $250 as a result of it helps capturing console gameplay at as much as 4K at 144 FPS in SDR, with VRR assist, however there are additionally cheaper fashions, such because the Elgato 4K S, which helps you to seize gameplay at 4K 60 FPS for $160.

General, if you wish to seize console gameplay in your PC — whether or not for private use, recording movies, or streaming — a seize card is unquestionably value trying out. I’ve zero regrets about selecting one up, and it is made me get pleasure from console gaming much more.