Magewell Eco Capture HDMI 4K M.2

About this product

Kiosks, signage players and compact recorders tend to be built around small computers with no spare PCIe slot. When one of those needs an HDMI input, the Eco Capture HDMI 4K M.2 provides it. It is a one-channel M.2 capture card, built on the small card format normally used for solid-state drives, and a 4K capture card for sources up to 30 frames per second. It brings one HDMI source into a computer that has no room for a full-size PCIe capture card, such as a mini PC or an embedded system.

What goes in

• One HDMI input. HDMI 1.4 (and DVI-D 1.0), with input resolutions up to 4096×2160 at 30 frames per second, through a 297 MHz HDMI receiver.
• Source at 4K 60? This card takes 4K at up to 30 frames per second. For a source that only outputs 4K at 60, choose the Eco Capture HDMI 4K Plus M.2, with HDMI 2.0 at 4096×2160 60 fps.
• Audio. Embedded HDMI audio, up to eight channels through Magewell’s SDK.
• Custom EDID. EDID is the information a capture card gives the source about which formats it accepts. It can be customised on this card, which lets you steer a source to the format your system wants.

What comes out

• Uncompressed video to your software. The card hands frames to the computer at resolutions up to 4096×2160. Your software then handles encoding, recording or streaming.
• Processing on the card. Scaling, de-interlacing, colour format conversion and frame rate conversion are done in the card’s own video pipeline (about 360 megapixels per second), which keeps the load off the computer’s processor.
• Formats. 8-bit capture formats in 4:2:0 (NV12, I420, YV12), 4:2:2 (YUY2, YUYV, UYVY) and 4:4:4 (V308, IYU2, V408, BGR24, BGR32).
• Several programs at once. Unlimited capture streams can be taken from the one input, provided they all use the same capture format. That lets you record in one program and preview or stream in another.

A standard HDMI socket on your case

An M.2 card is too small to carry an HDMI socket. On this version (Magewell part number 11520, our SKU 115200000) the card has a small 20-pin JST SHD socket, and it comes with a 31 cm cable that ends in a full-size HDMI type A socket. You fix that socket to the case and plug a normal HDMI cable into it. A second version (part number 11524) with a flat ribbon cable and adapter board is a separate SKU.

Fitting and setting up

• The slot. The card fits an M.2 2280 Type M slot with PCIe (Gen2 x4). It is the standard 2280 size, 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. Choose an M.2 slot that provides PCIe; slots that only take SATA drives are for storage. Check the host computer’s manual before ordering, or ask us.
• Drivers. Magewell supplies a Windows and Linux driver and an SDK, so install the driver as part of setup. Recommended systems are Windows 10/11 and Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025 (x86 and x64), and Linux on x86, x64 and ARM with kernel 2.6.35 or later.
• Software you already use. Works with VLC, VirtualDub, OBS, XSplit, vMix, VidBlaster, Wirecast, and other DirectShow or V4L2 software. It is also compatible with Magewell’s own Capture Express, Bridge for NDI and Plugin for Premiere.
• Room to grow. Several cards can share one computer, so you can add inputs later. A 16-position switch on the card sets its number.
• Power and heat. Maximum power consumption is about 3.75 W. The operating temperature range is 0 to 40°C, worth checking for a small sealed case. The card is built to work continuously, 24 hours a day.

Where it earns its place

Choose it when one HDMI source at up to 4K 30 is the job and space and power are tight: maximum consumption is about 3.75 W. For two HD HDMI sources on one card, see the Eco Capture Dual HDMI M.2. For SDI sources, see the SDI models on the Eco Capture range page. If the computer has a free PCIe slot, the Pro Capture cards are the full-size alternative.