The Live Gamer Extreme 2: A Capture Card with Limited Appeal
If you're looking for a capture card that allows you to play games in 4K but only captures or streams at 1080p or lower, the Live Gamer Extreme 2 might be the card for you. However, this device is not as impressive as its predecessor, the original Live Gamer Extreme from 2015. The Extreme 2 features an identical design to the first, which is great, but it has cut out the analog inputs that were a popular feature in its predecessor.
The design served its purpose, and it's great to see that AVerMedia has maintained this aspect of their product. However, when expensive game streaming products are already pretty niche, and I'm involved in many large communities of retro gaming enthusiasts who have to resort to adapting absurd old broadcast equipment or buying even more expensive purpose-built upscaler units to get good captures of older game consoles, the loss of analog inputs is a disappointment. Instead, we're left with two HDMI 2.0 ports for input and output.
The Extreme 2 also uses USB3.1 gen 1 type C instead of micro USB 3.0, which is a downgrade in terms of connectivity options. This means that it only works on Windows and doesn't seem to work with USB-C ports or USB 3.1 gen 2 type A ports. It receives power and passes through the feed, but sometimes shows a black screen instead of "No Signal," which can be frustrating for users.
Despite these limitations, the Live Gamer Extreme 2 does offer one useful feature: it allows you to play games in up to 4K at 60fps via passthrough, and then capture or stream at 1080p 60fps or lower. This is a great option for those who want to have the future-proof-ish option of passing through 4K signals without having to invest in more expensive equipment. However, it's worth noting that the results from this card will be drastically better than what you'd get with the Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus.
In terms of software, RECentral 4 is a great capture and streaming software that allows for direct capture, screenshotting, and live streaming with multiple scenes and sources and even multi-streaming. I'll hopefully have a deeper dive on the software coming in its own video later in July.
The Live Gamer Extreme 2 also has some drawbacks when it comes to performance. It can record high bitrates in RECentral or OBS Studio via uncompressed access, but it initially suffered from the Nvidia encoder bug in RECentral. This means that users need to make sure their software is up-to-date if they plan on using this feature.
In terms of minimum specs, a 4th generation i7 and an Nvidia 870M graphics card are recommended to get decent recording out of it. However, laptop CPUs just can't keep up with 1080p60 encoding even on the higher end. This means that users need a discrete graphics card backing them up to achieve good performance.
The Live Gamer Extreme 2 also has some limitations in terms of compatibility. It only works on Windows and does not work with Linux. Additionally, it uses the YUY2 decode format, which is better than NV12 but no RGB mode for those who want maximum placebo video quality.
Overall, the Live Gamer Extreme 2 feels like a basic capture card that's priced too high considering its limited features. At $200, it just doesn't feel special compared to other options in this release cycle. However, if you're buying a basic capture card today and can fund it, the Live Gamer Extreme 2 would be the one to go with if you want to have the future-proof-ish option of passing through 4K signals.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enIf you’re looking for a capture card thatlets you play in 4K but only capture or stream1080p or lower, the Live Gamer Extreme 2 mightbe the card for you.The Extreme 2, or the GC551 is a bit of aweird entry in their 4K passthrough card lineup,and I’m honestly not a fan.But let’s discuss it after a word from oursponsor…Upgrade your video security system today tothe Lorex 4K Color Night Vision Security Cameras.This system has upgradable storage space,support for up to 8 cameras, 200 foot colornight vision and beautiful 4K video.No more blurry, useless security footage,Lorex's system has your home or business covered.You can even monitor from your smartphone!Learn more with our partner link in the videodescription.Of the three new capture cards released thisweek by AVerMedia, the Live Gamer Extreme2 is by far the weakest offering.I was hoping to release my review of the LiveGamer Ultra today instead, or maybe combinethem both into one video - BUT I ran intoproblems with the Ultra, so you get this today.Other than my dislike for RECentral 2 at thetime, I really liked the original Live GamerExtreme from 2015.It offered low-latency 1080p60 capture andpassthrough via USB 3.0 and even had an analogbreakout connection for capturing PS3 or otherolder consoles.It had all of the I/O in the back so it couldactually sit on a desk - unlike MOST capturecards - and had a window flap where you couldprint your own faceplate for it.Neat.It was well-rounded and allowed for captureof most game consoles all in one device - unlikeElgato’s HD60.But the Live Gamer Extreme 2….Is not as impressive.It features an identical design to the first- which is great, the design served its purpose- but cut out the analog inputs.Yeah, I get it, “get with the times” iswhat most product-focused companies want tosay…BUT when expensive game streaming productsare already pretty niche and I’m involvedin many large communities of retro gamingenthusiasts that have to resort to adaptingabsurd old broadcast equipment or buying evenmore expensive purpose-built upscaler unitsto get good captures of older game consoles,this always annoys me.Instead, we just get two HDMI 2.0 ports forin and out.And instead of micro USB 3.0, we now get USB3.1 gen 1 type C - though they call it USB3.0 everywhere, and for good reason.Since this isn’t a UVC device like the LiveGamer Ultra, it’s limited to Windows anddoesn’t seem to actually work with USB Cports nor USB 3.1 gen 2 type A ports.It receives power, passes through the feed,and RECentral even knows it’s plugged inSOMETIMES and just shows a black screen insteadof “No Signal”, but the feed is neveraccessible.Perhaps gen 2 drivers are more complicatedand this is something AVerMedia can fix intheir driver updates, but I always get frustratedwhen devices have USB C ports for one end,but don’t work with actual PC-side USB Cports.So what CAN this card do?Simple: The Extreme 2 lets you play your gamesin up to 4k 60fps via passthrough, and thencapture or stream at 1080p 60fps or lower.Many people have been requesting this fora while - no interest in making 4k contentor HDR or anything like that - just send 4Kand capture 1080p60.This card will do that, and does it well.And theoretically you’re getting a sharper1080p file as a result thanks to the downscalingfactor - though YouTube’s harsh 1080p compressionwill destroy that anyway, though you couldprobably upscale the footage to 1440p or backto 4k with decent results on YouTube if yourecorded to a high enough bitrate.It’s worth noting, too, that the resultsfrom this card are going to be drasticallybetter than what you’d get with the LiveGamer Portable 2 Plus that I reviewed lastyear.I’ve never been happy with the video qualityof the Portable devices other than as a “Ireally need to record to SD card right now”solution, so if you weren’t happy with theUSB 2.0 limited compression, this might bea good solution.But that’s… it, really.No HDR support other than passthrough.It will passthrough the HDR signal but thenthe actual capture feed cuts out and goesto “No Signal.”No HDR capture not tonemapping like the otherdevices.No high refresh rate support, either.60hz or bust with this bad boy.It can record high bitrates in RECentral - orwhatever you want via uncompressed accessin OBS Studio - though it initially sufferedfrom the Nvidia encoder bug in RECentral.So make sure your software is up to date ifyou plan on using that.I cover this more in my Live Gamer 4K review.If you’re on a laptop, a 4th generationi7 and a Nvidia 870M graphics card are recommendedas minimum specs to get decent recording outof it.I’ve found that laptop CPUs just can’tkeep up with 1080p60 encoding even on thehigher end - you need a discrete graphicscard backing it up.This card also does not work with Linux.Windows only for now.It is low-latency so integrating into streamsetups will not be a problem - but again,does not feel low-latency enough for me toplay off of the preview.Unlike the other cards, you only get the YUY2decode format - which is better than NV12,but no RGB mode for those of you who wantmaximum placebo video quality.For $200, this capture device just feels…weird.Unlike its previous iteration, or the othercards in this release cycle, there’s nostand-out feature for the Live Gamer Extreme2.It’s basic, but feels pricey to releasefor only $100 less than their full 4k60 HDRcapture option.But then again, Elgato hasn’t released a4K passthrough USB card yet, so maybe it’snot too bad.I dunno, was just pretty bummed that thiscard didn’t really offer anything special.But I guess if you’re buying a basic capturecard today and can fund it, the Live GamerExtreme 2 would be the one to go with if youwant to have the future-proof-ish option ofpassing through 4K signals.As covered better in my Live Gamer 4K review,RECentral 4 is a great capture and streamingsoftware that allows for direct capture, screenshotting,and also live streaming with multiple scenesand sources and even multi-streaming.I’ll hopefully have a deeper dive on thesoftware coming in its own video later inJuly.Is this the capture card you’re lookingfor?Or do you prefer the flashier features ofthe Ultra or 4K devices?Comment below.Down there in the description are affiliateproduct links and links to our sponsor, LorexTechnology, that you should check out.Consider subscribing and turning on notificationsso you don’t miss an upload.I’m EposVox and I’ll see you next time.\n"
