# How Do I Capture Streaming Video From A VGA Port **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-capture-streaming-video-from-a-vga-port/494580 "2009-04-28T01:55:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JimMacMillan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7bcc69/32.png) [@JimMacMillan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimMacMillan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-capture-streaming-video-from-a-vga-port/494580/1 "2009-04-28T01:55:38Z")
I’m looking for a device to connect to a 15 pin d-sub vga connector that will record streaming video (and audio) from the computer as a WMV or AVI file that I can later edit. Video/Screen capture software will not work as it cannot keep up with the frame rates of what I’m trying to capture. I have a desktop PC and Notebook both running WINXP. I’m hoping that maybe there is something out there that will plug into the VGA port and on the other end have a USB connector that I can plug into the second computer that will record the streaming video. A quickie Google search hasn’t yielded anything that appears to do what I want. Does anyone have any suggestions? TIA:) Jim ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-capture-streaming-video-from-a-vga-port/494580/2 "2009-04-28T02:15:44Z")
> [@JimMacMillan](#): > > I’m looking for a device to connect to a 15 pin d-sub vga connector that will record streaming video (and audio) from the computer as a WMV or AVI file that I can later edit. Video/Screen capture software will not work as it cannot keep up with the frame rates of what I’m trying to capture. > > I have a desktop PC and Notebook both running WINXP. I’m hoping that maybe there is something out there that will plug into the VGA port and on the other end have a USB connector that I can plug into the second computer that will record the streaming video. > > A quickie Google search hasn’t yielded anything that appears to do what I want. > > Does anyone have any suggestions? > > TIA:) > Jim Most computers are not really built with this kind of thing in mind. Can you give us an idea of the final result you are looking to achieve? Usually you capture stuff with a video camera or the like and then edit it on the PC, streaming video between two PC’s can be done but you are probably better off doing it via network. Give us some more details and we might be able to shed more light. Are you trying to capture a movie playing from a DVD or something like that. What type of application you are trying to capture can make a difference. Otherwise you might be better off playing with TV tuner cards and or VGA to NTSC converters, convert to TV signal and record with VCR/DVD recorder. If capture programs are not up to the task maybe you just need a beefier computer. ---
**Author:** ![JimMacMillan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7bcc69/32.png) [@JimMacMillan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimMacMillan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-capture-streaming-video-from-a-vga-port/494580/3 "2009-04-28T02:25:29Z")
I’m attempting to do a compilation of videos from sites such as this for a presentation of available streaming video technologies… [http://www.vusion.com/showcase.php](http://www.vusion.com/showcase.php) I would also like to use it to capture Flight Simulator video as well. ---
**Author:** ![JimMacMillan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7bcc69/32.png) [@JimMacMillan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimMacMillan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-capture-streaming-video-from-a-vga-port/494580/4 "2009-04-28T04:50:33Z")
Okay I’m looking for something like this but for less than $100 USD. [http://www.epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/](http://www.epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/) Thanks for the input so far.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-capture-streaming-video-from-a-vga-port/494580/5 "2009-04-28T05:01:26Z")
> [@JimMacMillan](#): > > Okay I’m looking for something like this but for less than $100 USD. > [http://www.epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/](http://www.epiphan.com/products/frame-grabbers/) > Thanks for the input so far.🙂 I don’t think you are going to find a VGA video capture device for under $100. If you can afford the loss of resolution, and your video card can do it, output Composite Video and capture that. You can get composite video capture devices for under $100. ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-capture-streaming-video-from-a-vga-port/494580/6 "2009-04-28T15:08:26Z")
Jim, I’d do the external video capture thing as a last resort. There are applications that can capture your screen in real-time for exactly what you want to do. Here are a bunch of links in no particular order… BUT, the second one does have a fully functional free trial for 30 days! > **[ALLCapture record screen activity real time capture desktop video screen...](http://www.allcapture.com/eng/index.php)** > > ALLCapture - screen recording software to capture screen and desktop in real-time. Record screen activities in real-time using ALLCapture Screen recorder software. Create videos, screencasts, demos, tutorials, software simulations and movies for the... > **[Camtasia - Fast and Easy Video Editing Software | TechSmith](https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html)** > > Camtasia: Best all-in-one video editing software. Try free now! > **[Screen Capture, Screen Recording, Audio Recorder, Color Picker, HTML to...](http://www.acasystems.com/)** > > Get free trails of ACA screen capture(screenshot, print screen), ACA Screen recorder (screencam), ACA Audio Recorder(sound recorder), ACA Color Picker, ACA Brilliant Button Maker software, ACA HTML to Image Converter and HTML Converter SDK, more! If you were to do the video out thing, you’d have to buy something like a Video to USB adapter, capture it, etc. You’d probably want two computers so you can have one just handling the capturing and controlling the capture and the other you surf on. If you have a laptop they all almost always have a composite or S-Video out that can then be captured. Here’s is an example device that’s pretty cheap: [TigerDirect Sunset](http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3504456&CatId=1428) eb