SOLVED! Game Capture HD60 S Needs To Be Connected To A USB 3.0 Port

Once it comes to capture cards for live streaming, Elgato Game Capture HD60 S is the choice of many PC gamers. HD60 S is designed to support unencrypted HDMI video signals up to 1080p at 60 FPS which meets all streaming needs. That being said, HD60 S is far from perfect and users have reported issues, especially once it comes to USB 3.0. Read to the end if you cannot use your HD60 S and keep seeing the message about “Game Capture HD60 S needs to be connected to a USB 3.0 port”.

Triggers

Privacy Settings

According to Elgato themselves, the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (1803) introduced new privacy settings that can interfere with certain capture cards and camera devices. If such settings are not properly configured, the cards would have a hard time working as expected. Hence, once it comes to the “Game Capture HD60 S needs to be connected to a USB 3.0 port” message you should give privacy settings some thought.

USB Port

All in all, HD60 S only performs to its full potential once connected to a 3.0 USB port. If your USB port is not 3.0 or if it’s 3.0 but it’s experiencing issues, there is no way for you to use HD60 S.

Laptop Power

In case you are using a laptop, running it on battery alone may not be enough. “Game Capture HD60 S needs to be connected to a USB 3.0 port” is one of the consequences of inadequate power supply.

Drivers

As the streaming procedure can be taxing on hardware, it requires your chipset drivers to be up-to-date. Even if the chipset supports the device, having outdated chipset drivers will lead to many complications. Hence, it would be wise to take a look at these drivers if you have a hard time using HD60 S.

BIOS

Generally speaking, Elgato Game Capture HD60 S won’t work well if your BIOS is out-of-date. While BIOS updates tend not to increase performance in any way, they grant your PC increased compatibility with external devices. Therefore, you should check your BIOS version and see if there are updates available.

A Few Fixes

Apply Changes To Privacy Settings

Due to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (1803), new settings regarding privacy came into existence. These privacy settings include permissions for camera as well as microphone. Game Capture HD60 S, being a live stream device, is also dependent on the same settings. Thus, it is wise to spare a few moments to configure the settings.

Camera 

• Step 1. Type “camera privacy” into the Search bar and press Enter to open Camera privacy settings.
• Step 2. On the sidebar to the left, make sure you are in App permissions > Camera.
• Step 3. Look for the toggle under Allow apps to access your camera and set it to On.

Microphone 

• Step 1. Type “microphone privacy” into the Search bar and press Enter to open Microphone privacy settings.
• Step 2. On the sidebar to the left, make sure you are in App permissions > Microphone.
• Step 3. Look for the toggle under Allow apps to access your microphone and set it to On.

If the toggles were turned off before, it is likely that they were the culprit. Now that you have turned them on, try using the capture card again and see how things turn out.

Think About USB Ports

Next, it’s time to take USB ports into consideration. You suspect that the USB port you are currently using is responsible? Then connect the device to another port and see if that can resolve the problem. Desktop users should try both the ports in the front and the back of the PC case.

• Keep USB-C Cable in mind: Errors may occur if you are currently using a USB-C to USB-C cable. The cable may appear to fit into the socket and create a connection to the capture card at first. However, most of these cables are charging cables that only support the speed of USB 2.0. Hence, they cannot provide the speed required by the Game Capture HD60 S unless you use an adapter.
• Make use of an USB-C Adapter: Modern Windows 10 laptops contain USB-C ports which could mean access to an extra USB 3/3.1 Roothub. In this case, it is possible to use an adapter to convert the port from USB-C to USB-A. This means that you can connect the device’s originally provided cable to your computer.
• Keep your laptop charged: As previously stated, you should keep your laptop connected to your charger while using the capture card. While a big load of hardware usage lies with the card itself, there’s no questioning that it takes lots of power. That said, using the charger as opposed to the battery may improve stability.

Furthermore, you can try connecting the capture card to another computer and see if it functions properly. If it does not, it is safe to assume that there may be something wrong with the device. In that case, try contacting Elgato’s customer support and get additional help.

Update Chipset Drivers

In general, it is a good idea to keep your chipset drivers up-to-date at all times. Doing so will improve communications between your PC’s components as well as system performance. That said, updating chipset drivers may be the key to tackling the “Game Capture HD60 S needs to be connected to a USB 3.0 port” message. The simplest and safest way to do so is via Device Manager.

• Step 1. Type “device manager” into the Search bar and press Enter to open it.
• Step 2. Expand “System devices” and locate the chipset whose driver you wish to update.
• Step 3. Right-click it and select Update driver.
• Step 4. On the next window, select “Search automatically for drivers”. Windows will now search for the latest driver and download it automatically.
• Step 5. If a newer driver version is found, work through the prompts to install it on your computer.
• Step 6. Repeat step 3 to step 5 for all of the other devices under System devices.

Update BIOS

Occasionally, a BIOS update may be required for the motherboard to properly support new hardware. In this case, a BIOS update might be just what you need for the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S to work. Before doing that, you should check out the manufacturer’s website to see if the BIOS update contains the fix you require. If not, it is better to leave the BIOS alone since updating BIOS at whim comes with great risks.

Updating always guarantees positive changes for software but that is not the case with BIOS. As BIOS is a sensitive part of the system, you should only tweak it with extreme caution. If a single mistake is made, or if the power is cut during the process, you risk bricking your entire computer. Thus, if you are not familiar with this process, it is best to request help from an expert.

If you are confident and are fully prepared to carry out the BIOS update yourself, go through the following steps:

• Step 1. Download the latest BIOS from the manufacturer’s website.
• Step 2. Unzip and copy the files onto a spare USB flash drive.
• Step 3. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS menu by pressing the BIOS key (displayed on the first boot screen) quickly after the computer boots up.
• Step 4. Use the menus to update the BIOS.

Is There An Easier Way To Update Chipset Drivers?

In the case that your chipset contains too many devices, updating them one by one via Device Manager can be quite tiring. That being said, you should consider using a driver manager. The main appeal of these programs is that they can automatically scan for and install your drivers with a single click. This means you will have a much easier time updating a large number of drivers.

What Details Should I Keep In Mind Once It Comes To BIOS Updates?

On the manufacturer’s site, look for release notes. The details you should know will be displayed within the release notes from the latest version to your current version. You could press Ctrl + F then type “HD 60 S” into the box to reveal all relevant details.