Probably the biggest competitor to the HD PVR 1 & 2 of Hauppauge

Then I try it first time:
The Elgato Game Capture HD (EGCHD) is in my opinion, is as I read the title, one of the biggest competitors to the legendary HD PVR from Haupauge.
The general difference is that the EGCHD provides the opportunity to take via HDMI. Here too, just as with other capture cards with HDMI, HDCP, a signal is encrypted, it is not possible to receive. HDCP is an encryption that is designed to prevent you can not save and / or copy copy-protected material. This encryption is, for example, Blu-ray players or PlayStation 3 used (for PS3 equal more). The Xbox 360 is here on the sidelines. So you can use the HDMI port for receiving a signal, for example the Xbox 360.
But receiving a PlayStation 3 signal is also possible. For this Elgato delivers a special cable that you can put 3 in the "MULTI AV OUT" output of PlayStation. The other end of the cable comes in the EGCHD. This connector is similar to an S-Video Anschulss. The EGCHD can result in up to 1080p and take this with up to 30 Mbit / s. I suppose in general to 720p and 15 Mbit / s, since the frames / sec. are displayed progressively. This prevents the blurring of the image, as for example in the 1080i format is possible (but this is no fault of EGCHD. This occurs generally in all devices on). The output is in two Eingansanschlüssen the HDMI-out port. So you need no component input on TV more, but only one HDMI. If, for example, only has a PC monitor with HDMI, you should buy this capture card. The picture on the TV (pass-through) is output as it comes in in the EGCHD (without Dolby Digital (HDMI)). The quality is comparable or perhaps an eating better than the HD PVR. The program for the EGCHD there for free on the side (Game Capture (.) Com) from Elgato GCHD. This program offers many advantages:
The program is free, so you can the EGCHD anywhere with you and you can not then also an associated PC dependent / bound to a license-bound software as well. Probably the biggest difference as opposed to the HD PVR software is that you can recorden Flashback. This means you can record what they have seen or played the hindsight, if you have, for example, forget to press the Rec button. And this even 2 hours later. You can also cut the captured directly to the program and upload it to YouTube or Facebook for example. Important: You can only cut, so pack no audio track in it. To add these audio tracks you then need a separate video editing program such as Sony Movie Studio HD Platinum 11. In the video settings of the program you can adjust among other things, what you want to select an input (HDMI / Component). You can also change the image itself (color depth / contrast / etc.). This is usually not necessary. Included are brief instructions in English, a long USB cable, a (relatively short) HDMI cable, the special PlayStation 3 cable and a component adapter for playing the Wii for example, or with the old XBox.

Now again all pros and cons summarized:

Pro:
-> All the necessary cables included
-> HDMI cable
-> Component Adapter
-> Special PlayStation 3 cable
-> USB cable
-> Flashback Recording (up to 2 hours)
-> Licensing and free software
-> User-friendly and easy to use software
-> Small Form Factor
-> No component input on your TV needed
-> Recording with up to 30 Mbit / s at a resolution of 1080p

Cons:
-> Short geratenes HDMI cable

Conclusion: A very positive result. Particularly noticed is the recording via HDMI and the flashback Recording. This capture card could represent the "old", such as the HD PVR completely in the shade.

PS: The hochangepriesene HDPVR 2 is inferior to the Elgato as these with max. Can accommodate 14 Mbit / s !!!