All hardware gameplay recording solutions: record SD and HD gameplays

#1 06-26-2010, 05:20 AM

HD capture boxes (USB 2.0)

Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR (Editor's pick) is a benchmark for recording from game consoles. Allows to record HD video up to 720p and 1080i. Uses component video input (supporting pass through). Uses hardware h.264 encoding. Supports component (YPbPr) pass through.
AverTV USB HD DVR (C874) (DarkCrystal HD Capture Station) allows to record HD video up to 720p and 1080i, via Component (YPbPr) and Analog Video content via S-Video/Composite. Uses hardware h.264 encoding. Playback through HDMI out supported. Hardware Transcoder Supports component (YPbPr) pass through.
Elgato EyeTV HD - Allows to record HD video up to 720p and 1080i. Uses component video input. Uses hardware h.264 encoding. Dual-format capture mode for fast playback on an iPhone and iPad. Supports Mac OS.

HD capture boxes (USB 3.0)

Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle - Allows to record HD videos up to 1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60, 1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p29.97, 1080p30, 720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60. Support HDMI and component video input. Does NOT have hardware encoding, so is very resource intensive.

HD capture PCIe cards

Hauppage Colossus HD PVR (Editor's pick) - Allows to record HD video up to 720p and 1080i. Uses hardware h.264 encoding. Uses component video as well as HDMI input.
Blackmagic Intensity Pro - Allows to record HD video up to 720p and 1080i. Uses HDMI input (digital) as well as component video input. Does NOT have hardware encoding, so is very resource intensive.
AverTV HD DVR - Allows to record HD video up to 720p and 1080i. Uses HDMI input (digital) as well as component video input. Does NOT have hardware encoding, so is very resource intensive.

SD capture cards

EasyCap DC60/DC60+ with Ulead Video Studio - the cheapest SD recording solution. Uses component video.
EzCap 116 with ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD
Diamond VC500 with Arcsoft Show Biz
Dazzle DVC 100
Dazzle Video Creator Plus HD (Dazzle DVC 100 + Pinnacle Studio v14)
Pinnacle Studio MovieBox HD Ultimate Collection includes hardware and software (Studio Ultimate). Supports SD gameplay recording only.
Pinnacle Studio MovieBox HD includes hardware and software (Studio HD). It allows to record from composite (not component!) video and S-Video. Supports SD gameplay recording only. Note that MovieBox supports firewire (IEEE1394), but AFAIK you can't use it for recording gameplays, because it is intended to be used with camcorders and other devices.