Check FPS & Gaming Performance with FRAPS - A Guide

Understanding Game Performance Monitoring

Not all game developers integrate performance monitoring tools, such as on-screen Frames-Per-Second (FPS) displays, directly into their games. This can leave players without a clear way to assess how well a game is running. However, consistent performance checks and FPS readings are achievable regardless of the game's native capabilities.

A Reader's Question About Benchmarking

We recently received a request from a gamer seeking a solution for benchmarking games that lack built-in tools. They specifically mentioned Skyrim, noting the difficulty of optimizing performance with extensive modifications. The user desired a method to accurately track FPS and identify performance bottlenecks caused by added content.

Dear How-To Geek,

I am passionate about optimizing game performance to achieve the highest possible FPS. I find on-screen readouts, like those available in Minecraft with the F3 debug screen, incredibly useful. Unfortunately, many games, such as Skyrim, do not include such tools, leaving me to rely on subjective observations of smoothness or stuttering to estimate my FPS.

Given Skyrim’s large modding community and the potential for mods to significantly impact performance, I would like to be able to monitor my FPS during gameplay and determine if new additions, like high-resolution textures, are causing performance issues.

Is there a way to add FPS and/or other benchmarks to a game that doesn't natively support them?

Sincerely,

Game Benchmarking

Why Native Solutions Are Impractical

Attempting to integrate benchmarking or FPS readouts directly into a game's code is generally not feasible for most users. This would require a substantial and game-specific code overhaul, consuming significant time and effort. Such an undertaking would likely detract from the enjoyment of playing the game itself.

The Need for a Dedicated Tool

Instead of modifying game code, a user-friendly tool that monitors system performance and video rendering is the preferred approach. While numerous benchmarking tools provide post-game data, such as maximum GPU and CPU load, few offer the real-time, in-game feedback that is desired.

Introducing FRAPS: A Powerful Solution

Fortunately, a free and effective tool exists to address this need: FRAPS. This Windows application acts as an intermediary between the game and the hardware, allowing it to monitor performance during gameplay.

The free version of FRAPS provides an on-screen FPS monitor, saved benchmark data, and screenshot capabilities (in BMP format). It also includes screen recording functionality, though limited to 30 seconds with a watermark.

A paid version ($37) unlocks additional screenshot formats and removes the limitations on screen recording. For users primarily focused on performance monitoring, the free version is sufficient. Let’s proceed with downloading, installing, and exploring FRAPS.

• FRAPS effectively inserts itself between your game and your hardware.
• It monitors system performance and video rendering.
• The free version is adequate for monitoring FPS.

Setting Up FRAPS

Upon initial launch of FRAPS, a window similar to the one pictured will appear. This allows you to configure initial settings, such as automatically starting FRAPS with Windows.

For users with an LCD keyboard, like the Logitech G15, FRAPS can be configured to display the FPS readout directly on the keyboard, rather than as an on-screen overlay.

Configuring Performance Monitoring

The “99 FPS” tab is central to monitoring your system’s performance. Within this section, you can activate benchmarking features and enable the on-screen display of frames per second.

It is recommended to assign benchmark activation keys to keyboard inputs that are not already utilized by the game or operating system.

Movie Recording Options

Even if video recording isn’t your primary goal, the “Movies” tab contains a comprehensive set of settings. These options become relevant if you decide to capture gameplay footage for platforms like YouTube.

Screenshot Configuration

The final tab manages the screenshot functionality. Given the visually stunning environments in games like Skyrim, capturing screenshots is a common practice.

This tool allows you to designate a specific folder for storing screenshots and assign a capture key; the default is PrtSc, but alternative keys like End can be used to avoid conflicts.

Using a dedicated directory, such as "/Game Screenshots/", is advisable for organizing your saved screenshots.

FRAPS automatically appends the game executable’s name to all created files, including screenshots and benchmarks.

For instance, all files associated with simcity.exe will be named in the following format: simcity [time stamp].[extension].

• FPS monitoring is crucial for assessing game performance.
• Customizable hotkeys enhance usability.
• Organized file naming simplifies management.

Utilizing FRAPS for Performance Monitoring

Having explored the settings and completed the configuration process, let’s now examine the functionality of this tool during gameplay. A crucial point to remember is that FRAPS requires administrative privileges to operate correctly. If you recently installed the application, administrative rights were likely enabled during installation, ensuring proper function.

However, should you close and restart FRAPS, it’s necessary to right-click the shortcut or executable file and select “Run as Administrator.” Failure to elevate privileges will render all of FRAPS’s features unusable.