Capture card bandwidth calculator
Will your capture card handle 4K at 60 frames per second? Pick the resolution, frame rate and colour format to see the data rate of uncompressed video and which USB connection can carry it without compression.
How video bandwidth is worked out
Uncompressed video is a stream of pixels. Multiply the width by the height to get pixels per frame, then by the frame rate and by the bits that describe each pixel. Full colour RGB uses 24 bits per pixel, while 4:2:2 and 4:2:0 formats share colour information between pixels and use 16 and 12 bits. A 1080p picture at 60 frames per second in RGB is 1,920 times 1,080 times 60 times 24, close to 2.99 gigabits per second.
Compare that with the link between the capture card and the computer. USB has overheads, so about 80 percent of the headline speed is a sensible planning figure. USB 3.2 at 5 gigabits per second gives about 4, which handles 1080p60 uncompressed but not 4K60 in RGB.
Uncompressed data rates for common signals
Approximate rates in gigabits per second for RGB 8-bit video, before any compression.
| Signal | Data rate | Smallest USB link that carries it |
|---|---|---|
| 720p 60 | 1.33 Gbps | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| 1080p 60 | 2.99 Gbps | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| 1440p 60 | 5.31 Gbps | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| 4K 30 | 5.97 Gbps | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| 4K 60 | 11.94 Gbps | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 |
Compression and why most cards use it
Raw video is huge. One hour of 1080p60 RGB is about 1.3 terabytes, which fills most drives in no time. That is why most capture cards and most recording software compress the video with an encoder. The card may compress the stream before it travels over USB, or it may pass the signal through to the monitor while sending a compressed copy to the computer.
This means the figure here is a worst case. A card that advertises 4K60 on USB 3.0 almost certainly compresses on the card, so the stream it sends is a fraction of the raw rate. Use the calculator to understand which cards must compress, and to see how much headroom a faster link would give.
Choosing a capture setup
For streaming at 1080p60, a card on USB 3.0 is plenty. For 4K60, look for a card that supports it explicitly and check that your PC has a fast enough port, ideally a direct motherboard port. Pair the capture with an encoder setting that matches your upload speed, which you can plan with the streaming bitrate planner.
If you capture from a PC or console, make sure the source output matches the card. Check cable limits with the HDMI and DisplayPort bandwidth calculator, and storage with the SSD endurance calculator if you record a lot. See also the recording size calculator.
How to use the capture card bandwidth calculator
- Choose the resolution you want to capture.
- Enter the frame rate.
- Choose the colour format. RGB uses the most data and 4:2:0 the least.
- Read the data rate and which USB link can carry it.
- Remember that many cards compress, which lowers the rate on the link.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a USB 3.0 port carries its full headline speed. Overhead takes about a fifth.
- Forgetting that uncompressed recording fills a drive within minutes.
- Using a long or low-quality cable that cannot keep up with the link speed.
Related tools and guides
Keep going with these: HDMI and DisplayPort bandwidth calculator, streaming bitrate planner, recording size calculator, SSD endurance calculator, best graphics cards guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much bandwidth does uncompressed 1080p60 need?
About 3 gigabits per second in 8-bit RGB, from 1,920 times 1,080 times 60 times 24 bits. That fits USB 3.0 at 5 gigabits per second once overhead is allowed for, but not USB 2.0, which is far slower. Compression lowers it further.
Can USB 3.0 carry 4K60 capture?
Not uncompressed in RGB, which needs about 12 gigabits per second. It can in the 4:2:0 format at about 6 gigabits per second only on faster links, and most cards compress on board so they work over USB 3.0 anyway.
Why do capture cards compress video?
Raw video is enormous, with one hour of 1080p60 RGB near 1.3 terabytes. Compression cuts the rate by a large factor, so the stream fits over USB and the files fit on a drive, with little visible loss at good settings.
What is the difference between RGB, 4:2:2 and 4:2:0?
RGB stores full colour for every pixel at 24 bits. The 4:2:2 and 4:2:0 formats share colour between neighbouring pixels, using 16 and 12 bits. They cut data a lot with small visible loss on video, but they soften text and sharp edges.
Does my USB port matter for a capture card?
Yes. Use a direct port on the motherboard, on the rear for a desktop, and avoid hubs and long cables. A card that needs USB 3.0 will drop frames or fail on a slow port or a poor-quality cable. Test another port if frames drop.
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