Magewell Eco Capture SDI 4K Plus M.2

12G-SDI 4K Capture from an M.2 Slot

The Magewell Eco Capture SDI 4K Plus M.2 captures a single SDI source at up to 3840x2160 via an M.2 slot on the motherboard. It supports the full SDI signal range from SD-SDI through to 12G-SDI, which carries 4K at 60fps in a single coaxial cable. No PCIe card slot is required. At £570, it is the most capable SDI M.2 card in Magewell's Eco Capture range and the only product in this form factor that delivers 4K SDI capture.

SDI Standards Supported

The card auto-detects and captures the complete SDI signal hierarchy:

• SD-SDI for legacy standard definition sources
• HD-SDI for HD broadcast signals up to 1080i/720p
• 3G-SDI for 1080p60 in a single cable
• 6G-SDI for 4K at up to 30fps
• 12G-SDI for 4K at up to 60fps

This range means the card handles both legacy SDI infrastructure and current 12G-SDI 4K equipment from the same M.2 slot, without requiring signal conversion upstream.

4K SDI from M.2: Why It Matters

4K SDI capture has historically required a full-size PCIe card. There has been no way to get 12G-SDI 4K ingest into a system without occupying a PCIe slot. The Eco Capture SDI 4K Plus M.2 changes that. For engineers building compact broadcast servers, embedded capture systems, or dense rack configurations where PCIe slots are reserved for GPU, RAID, or networking hardware, this card makes 4K SDI ingest possible in hardware that would previously have been unable to support it at all.

Understanding the M.2 Installation

The M.2 connector carries PCIe lanes through the motherboard. The Eco Capture SDI 4K Plus M.2 uses those lanes for capture in a card physically the size of an NVMe SSD. Installation requires no PCIe bracket, no slot cover, and no large card to seat. You insert the card into the M.2 slot at an angle, press it flat against the board, and secure it with a single retaining screw. The process is identical to fitting a storage SSD.

Who This Card Is For

• Broadcast engineers who need 12G-SDI 4K capture in compact servers, embedded systems, or small form factor hardware where PCIe is not available
• Systems integrators deploying 4K SDI capture in dense rack configurations where M.2 slots are available but PCIe expansion is fully occupied
• Production teams building portable flyaway kits using compact PCs with M.2 capability but no room for a PCIe card
• Facilities upgrading to 12G-SDI 4K capture in hardware that cannot physically accommodate a standard PCIe capture card

How It Compares to the Pro Capture SDI 4K Plus

The Pro Capture SDI 4K Plus (£771) is a PCIe x4 card with an SDI loop-through output, rated for continuous 24/7 broadcast operation. For permanent broadcast infrastructure with hard uptime requirements, that card remains the recommended choice. The Eco Capture SDI 4K Plus M.2 delivers the same 12G-SDI 4K signal support in M.2 form factor at a lower price, for deployments where the compact form factor is the requirement. Note that the M.2 variant does not include a loop-through output: if simultaneous monitoring from the capture card is needed, the Pro Capture SDI 4K Plus remains the appropriate specification.

Software Compatibility

Compatible with vMix, Wirecast, OBS Studio, Adobe Premiere Pro, and FFmpeg. Supported on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server; Linux kernel 3.x and above; and macOS 10.14 and later.

StreamKit and UK Purchasing

StreamKit is an authorised UK Magewell reseller. The Eco Capture SDI 4K Plus M.2 carries Magewell's three-year warranty. UK orders ship free. UK technical support is available for pre-sales advice on 12G-SDI deployment and M.2 slot compatibility verification for specific hardware platforms.