Hauppauge Gaming HD PVR Review

I recently purchased the Hauppauge HD PVR for use with my Xbox 360, in order to record and then upload gaming videos onto my Youtube channel. I had long heard about how this HD PVR was far better than any of the other recording options out there, and I knew that many of the large gaming channels on Youtube used a HD PVR from Hauppauge to capture their gameplay. Before I bought this PVR though, I was using a Dazzle capture card that could get decent frame rates on SD gameplay, but wasn’t smooth or clear enough to really provide entertaining footage on Youtube. Below is a sample of the quality that the Dazzle captured in; not bad, but certainly not high quality.

Before I get started, I just want to let you know that there are two versions of the PVR: the gaming edition, and the normal PVR. The gaming edition is slightly more expensive, but really has no real features that you need to record from a gaming console. Instead, it comes with a totally unnecessary updated software suite that really isn’t too different, and a green light instead of a blue on. I purchased the normal model, and it works just fine when recording gameplay. Below is a sample video showing the quality of the capture, and compared to the video above it’s a massive difference.

Now, when I first opened the box there were a few things that I immediately used; the actual PVR and power cord, the attached USB cable, and the complimentary component cables that let you link your PVR to your TV. I really like that they include this, because this means that you don’t have to go out and buy a new set of cables. You just attach your cables from your console to the PVR, and then attach the cables included with the PVR to the PVR and the TV. However, the included cable is a component cable, so if you use composite (red white yellow) or HDMI cables, you’ll probably have to spring for a new cable in the end.

There is a bit of lag between the preview screen on your computer and the actual gameplay, which means that you can’t play off of your computer monitor. However, there is NO lag, and I mean NONE, when playing on your TV. I haven’t even noticed that it’s plugged in half of the time. However, in order for you to play your console when it’s plugged into the PVR, you have to turn on both the console and the PVR for a picture to show up on your TV.

In the end, this PVR is great for anyone that is looking for a legitimate option for recording gameplay, but costs quite a bit of money and really isn’t worth it for anyone who is only going to use it a few times each year. Just keep the $210.00 price tag in mind when considering purchasing this PVR. I’ve been using mine almost monthly to record gameplays onto my computer, and will continue to use it even more the more time I get to play games.