To maintain FPS and stream quality, capture cards are almost always a necessity for streaming. While widely known as a product, the specifics of how capture cards work can be a mystery. While they appear to be a complicated piece of technology, these cards are actually more simple than you might think. 

Understanding how capture cards work requires a basic understanding of how video game graphics work. Games render their animation in real-time, by sending signals to the GPU which then turn those signals into the visuals you see on your screen. These real-time visuals differ from the pre-rendered files that are used for most videos. As most modern games are generally GPU intensive, your GPU can struggle to both render your game graphics and also encode them into video footage for streaming. This is where capture cards come into play.

Internal vs External Capture Cards

There are two types of capture cards, internal and external. While they have different methods of installation, the basics of how they work are largely the same. An internal capture card will be installed directly into the computer, while an external card will be connected through USB or other similar means. 

An internal card simply needs to be installed in the PC you are playing games on, and the video and audio signals will be sent directly from the card to your streaming PC for encoding. For PC’s, the internal card is installed directly onto the motherboard of the Gaming PC via one of the PCI slots. 

An external card connects to the device you are using to play games on, and the device you are going to record/stream the footage on. 

How the Card Works

The capture card works as a sort of “bridge” between whatever device you are gaming on and the computer used to upload the footage. The gaming device can range from another PC to consoles like an Xbox One or even a Switch. 

Due to the density of the data, most capture cards will end up creating a small amount of lag between the gaming device and streaming device. Better quality capture cards will reduce this lag considerably. If you’re simply saving this video file for later use, such as uploading gameplay footage to YouTube, this footage will be stored on the streaming PC.

The resulting file will likely be encoded in an H.264 format, which is the standard format used for almost all video files. If you’re going to be streaming the footage through Twitch, Mixer, or other streaming sites, the video file will be encoded and sent directly out to your viewers. 

It is important to note that the capture card does NOT do the encoding itself; that will still be done by your streaming PC. A common misconception is that capture cards will both capture and then encode the video files, which would lead to some offloading of processing from your computer to the capture card. Many consumers tend to be disappointed when a capture card does not end up lightening the processing load of their streaming PC, but this is simply not something most capture cards are capable of doing. 

Some capture cards are capable of performing some encoding, but this is typically a process for only the highest end cards. Throughout the whole transfer process, most capture cards will do little more than transmit data from one device to another. 

Not all capture cards are created equal, so it’s extremely important to do your research on top capture cards. Some capture cards aren’t able to simultaneously receive and send out data, making streaming impossible. These capture cards will still be able to store the recorded files for use onto an external drive, making them work fine for recording gameplay footage for reviews or Let’s Plays. 

No matter how you plan to use a capture card, it should be able to get you your footage cleanly and easily. If you’re planning on entering the world of streaming, or just want to learn more about it, understanding the mechanics of these important devices can prove invaluable.

Odds are you’re looking for the final piece to complete your perfect custom gaming setup: a new large gaming mouse pad. However something so simple has quickly evolved, moving from the regular small flimsy cloth to monstrous sizes featuring wireless charging, RGB lights, and prints from the latest games. 

When it comes to your setup, smaller changes can change your entire gaming performance. Being able to quickly jerk your mouse without running off the pad is essential. To help you avoid this issue, we compiled a list of the largest gaming mouse pads we could find.

Note: If you’re looking for a mouse pad with less width, check out our reviews of the best extended gaming mouse pads.  The mouse pads reviewed below are typically the same length, but have a much larger width. 

The Havit mouse pad is large enough to contain your mouse movement when you have to do a 180 to aim at the guy shooting your back. It’s design guarantees fast movement, excellent speed and effortless control during gaming.

Its frame is designed to be more durable, made from mercerized waterproof material, so you don’t have to worry when your drink spills or other accidents. And thanks to its rubber bottom, it wouldn’t slip off when you are playing very intense games. It has a stunning matte black finish.

The AUKEY Gaming Mouse Pad XXL is a large size mouse pad designed to keep everything in place if you make a lot of movements while gaming, this oversized pad is large enough to contain your gaming movements. 

It is designed with a rubber bottom that prevents it from slipping off. Its smooth surface helps you maintain accuracy, and make the mouse movement feel like cutting through butter with a knife. Its surface is wide enough to accommodate even your keyboard and other gaming setup.

From one of the most well known names in the gaming mouse pad space, the QcK XXL Mouse Pad by SteelSeries offers a comparable size to the other pads reviewed. It offers the same quality and smooth surface we’ve come to expect from the QcK line.

The potential downfall of the QcK XXL is that the black material is very susceptible to stains and fading. After about a year of use, I had to replace mine because of white stains that would no longer come out and ruined the esthetics of my setup.

The Glorious 3XL prides itself as the world’s largest mouse pad.

The smooth cloth surface makes control easier and enhances the speed of your mouse movement. The stitched edge is designed to guide the mouse pad from fraying and also improve its overall beauty and durability.

If you play with Powers DPI and sensitivity settings, you certainly need a large mouse pad to contain the massive mouse movement. The Corsair MM350 is large enough to do the job; it is the size of an average desk and can contain both your keyboard and mouse comfortably.

The Corsair MM350 is a premium cloth surface, mouse pad with a rubber bottom to prevent slipping and stitched edges to prevent fraying.

If you are looking for a mouse pad, there are three things you should put into consideration; size, design and surface quality. If you’re looking for maximum surface area, then the Glorious 3XL Extended Gaming is your ideal gaming mouse pad. But if you want a mouse pad that has more to its’ esthetics than a plain black mat, consider the Corsair MM350. For optimal surface quality & durability, the SteelSeries QcK XXL Mouse Pad is your best bet.

If you’ve ever seen a PC without proper cable management, you know how it can turn a beautiful custom build into a rat nest. That brand new 2080 hidden beneath a jungle of thick wires is a damn shame.  That’s why we believe it’s essential to invest in a cable kit when you’re building your next PC. Your PC will look better, be easier to clean (we know you’ve been putting it off), and your shiny new RGB components in your glass case will thank you for it later.

For those who’ve never used a cable kit mod before, Antec is a great place to start. Currently one of the highest rated cable kit companies on the market, it’s easy to understand the hype behind Antec’s cable products. Antec cable kits feature cables made from quality materials with premium PET sleeves, a choice between 300mm or 500mm cable length, and solid 16AWG cables. There’s no denying that Antec is a company that has spent the time and resources to make a terrific product. On top of offering a quality cable kit, Antec backs their products with a generous three-year warranty, something I’ve yet to find in other companies selling comparable cable kits.

Regarding aesthetics, Antec offers the same clean design featured in many of their other PC components. While only offering a modest number of color options, the color schemes available cover a wide range to fit any build or RGB setup, with sharp vibrant cables and classic all black or white options.

In respect to compatibility with PSUs, each Antec cable kit will include a set of standardized cable sizes necessary for most standard builds, including a 24-pin ATX cable, two 8-pin and two 6-pin PCI-E cables, a 4x4pin ESP, and matching-colored cable combs for easy installment.

If you are unsure whether their cable kit will be compatible with your PSU, make sure to double-check before purchasing a kit. Given that Antec is one of the few companies selling quality cable kits for most builds, they’ve made it a point to offer true first-class support for their products. They actively advertise that should you have any specific questions regarding the compatibility of their cable kits, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact them through their support site.

When it comes to cable kits, CableMod sets the gold standard for cable management. Offering premium, easy to install cable kits with almost limitless customization, CableMod has really cornered the market in terms of deluxe cable kits. It’s clear the cables from CableMod were built to last, with a modern, sleek design made from quality materials and top-tier aesthetics. 

To start, CableMod kits come fully equipped with a staggering number of innovative features that just haven’t been matched by their competitors. One of the most notable features is that CableMod offers cable kits which are meant to be complete replacements for the existing cables in your build. In other words, rather than just selling cable extensions that hook into the cables connected to your PSU, CableMod is able to “cut out the middle man” by offering their own unique cables which connect directly to your build’s PSU. This cuts down on the excess & unused cable length that can buildup when using cable kits which only come as extensions to your build’s existing cables. 

Since one of the main selling points of cable kits is to offer a cleaner more organized aesthetic inside your build’s case, we’re surprised that complete cable replacement kits haven’t become an industry standard for companies selling cable kits.

Another feature unique to CableMod kits is their trademarked “ModFlex Sleeving”, a special sleeving which is softer than normal nylon sleeving and thinning than traditional cloth braiding. If you’ve ever experienced trying to connect inflexible cables around a motherboard or other components in a cramped case, you’ll know it’s an exercise in futility. Thankfully, the Modflex cables are flexible, twistable, and bendable, a godsend when working with limited space in a fully decked-out case. For those looking for a stiffer cable, they also offer a line of cables using “ModMesh” which provides more rigid support for the cables. The ModMesh also offers a more vibrant color for anyone looking to really maximize their build’s color setup.

Continuing on with aesthetics, CableMod offers the most customization in regards to color compared to other brands. With over 30 colors to choose from, including dual-color options and a number of RGB light strip accessories, you can pick the perfect cables to fit your build’s color scheme. And since all of CableMod’s products come in their trademarked sleeving, they’re 100% heat-shrink free, a material used in many cable kits which covers the internal wiring with a rubber-like material (think boring matte black). 

Finally, in terms of compatibility, the team over at CableMod has really gone out of their way to ensure they have a cable kit for every major power supply brand. EVGA? They’ve got you. Corsair? No Problem. The same goes for SeaSonic, ASUS, XFX, and a number of smaller brands. If you’re not sure about which cable kit to buy, CableMod has listed their entire catalog of cable kits on their site along with the respective matching power supply. (Don’t be an idiot like us and buy the wrong cable kit from Amazon. I’m not kidding, I didn’t realize until I went to build my new rig.) 

The last entry on our list, Asiahorse offers solid cable kits at a great value, perfect for anyone making their first build. While lacking some of the customization options offered by their competitor’s, Asiahorse offers all the cable kit essentials you’ll need for your next build at a budget-friendly price point. 

With a basic no-frills aesthetic you’d expect from the least expensive entry on our list, there’s not much to say about Asiahorse concerning looks. A few color options with standard braided cables terminating with all-black combs. In this case, Asiahorse’s cable kits may be your best option if you already know your case will be opaque or will lack a clear view of the inside. 

For anyone indifferent about aesthetics or hesitant to invest into a more expensive cable kit, Asiahorse cables kits are a safe bet offering all the functionality you’ll need from a cable kit. 

While they may not be the flashiest products on the market, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Asiahorse cable kits. With durable triple-weave 18AWG cables at a length of 300mm and enough flexibility to maneuver around the bulkier components like the motherboard or GPU, Asiahorse’s cable kits strike a nice balance between performance and price. Note however that they do not offer a 500mm size, so anyone building a full size PC could run into cable length issues. Each kit includes the standard cable setup, with a 24-pin ATX cable, two 8-pin and two 6-pin PCI-E cables, and a 4x4pin ESP cable. 

Unfortunately, since Asiahorse is a company based outside of the US, they don’t have a site offering support for their products. This means if you have any questions about your build’s compatibility with Asiahorse cable kits, you won’t have any means to get in touch with their support team. We also couldn’t find any information on a warranty for their cable kits, something we don’t foresee being a problem but is worth pointing out.

Whether purchasing a new build or updating an existing one, we love the organization cable kits provide. With companies like CableMod offering cable kits with a variety of color options and a streamlined approach to cable management, they’re the perfect addition to anyone looking to make the perfect build.