When it comes to streaming, I’ve always struggled with choosing a capture card that is designed for newcomers like me in mind.
The wide variety of options, coupled with a host of features that I’m not even sure I need, makes finding a capture card that is both easy to use and contains high quality difficult. Which is why I’m happy to report that the Avermedia GC551 Live Gamer Extreme 2 is a card that is not only simple to understand, but one that captures gameplay at a very high quality.
The LGX2 is a capture card that is capable of capturing footage at 1080p60 with 4Kp60 pass through. That ensures that you get to play with the highest quality settings while still keeping your bandwidth down due to the massive amounts of data a 4K stream would require. This is all done through USB 3.1 Type-C connection, of which a cord is included.
My first impressions were that this was a rather small box all told, with the LGX2 fitting in roughly the size of my palm. The device is easy to carry around, and its size (145.3 x 97.2 x 29 mm) and low weight mean that it remains relatively unobtrusive. The unit itself also features a detachable cover where you can swap out the default art included with a picture of your choice, provided you print one out. My biggest disappointment at this stage lies in the fact that the cords provided, particularly the USB 3.1 cord, is short, and I had to move around both my computer and console setup so that it could connect.
Once plugged in, any issues I had faded away fast, as the LGX2 only required a simple driver installation before getting to work. And does it ever work – in each of the times I recorded gameplay, the device captured like a charm at the promised level of quality. It’s been several weeks since I started using it, and I have not encountered a single problem related to its use. It streams at 1080p60, my recordings are of comparable quality, and there appeared to be no lag.
The included software is also easy to use, and are a nice bonus if you’re lacking similar programs already. Despite not being a card that is designed to plug and play, the LGX2 was easy to set up, easy to use, and difficult to screw up. For someone who is often daunted by the prospect of using capture cards. I had no such trouble here.
In summary, the LGX2 is a great card for streaming newcomers or even those who just want to have a simple, high-quality capture card at their side. For those looking to have the highest capture quality possible, you should look elsewhere, as the LGX2 cannot reach those heights. But for me, I can see this card staying by my side for a long time to come.
