Do I need a capture card to stream PC games?

No — OBS and Streamlabs can capture PC games directly via Game Capture or Display Capture. Capture cards are primarily for console streaming (PS5, Xbox, Switch) or using external cameras (DSLR, mirrorless) as stream cameras.

Will a capture card add lag to my gameplay?

Not if you use passthrough. The HDMI passthrough sends your game signal directly to your monitor with zero added latency. The capture card simultaneously sends a copy to your PC for streaming. Your gaming experience is completely unaffected.

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