Programs for monitoring the system in games. Programs showing FPS in games Program for displaying time in games

We looked at ways to increase FPS (frames per second) for smoother motion in dynamic scenes in computer games. This article will be a kind of prehistory for the first one, since below we will consider a way to actually find out this very FPS indicator in the game. And to calculate the frame rate, we will resort to using a small free program for Windows - Fraps.

1. About Fraps

The main purpose of the Fraps program is to test the performance of video cards in a 3D environment - computer games and 3D programs. In particular, the program can calculate FPS. Among its other features is recording screenshots and screencasts of games. Friends, these program functions are discussed in detail in another article on the site.”

The Fraps program, in addition to the paid full-featured version, has a free version with somewhat limited functionality. Specifically, for calculating FPS in a game, the free version of the program is more than enough. In the official edition, Fraps comes only with an English-language interface. The Internet is full of unofficial Russified assemblies of the free edition of Fraps, but not all of them work with Windows 8.1 and 10 systems, and it’s not safe to download software from unverified sources. To start calculating the frame rate in a game using the Fraps program, you don’t even need a basic level of knowledge of the English language, because we will look at all the necessary settings and steps below. And first, of course, let’s download the program from its official website using the link

http://www.fraps.com/download.php

Fraps installation is standard. Let's launch the program.

2. Program behavior settings

Before running the test for calculating FPS, let's look at the behavior settings of the Fraps program in its first tab "General":

The first one from the top is “ Start Fraps minimized"- this is an option to minimize the program window to the system tray immediately upon startup;
Second from the top - "Fraps window always on top"- option to display the program window on top of windows of other Windows applications.
Third from top - "Run Fraps when Windows starts"- program autorun along with Windows.

In our case, we use only the option in the lower left corner of the Fraps window - "Minimize to system tray only", which will hide the program in the system tray.

3. Testing to see how many FPS are in the game

Everything related to testing the video card, in particular, calculating FPS in the game, is configured in the second tab of the Fraps program "99 FPS".

How to run a test to find out how much FPS is in the game? In the column "Benchmark Settings" put a tick on the position "FPS". Above and to the right, in the column "Overlay Hotkey" We will see the preset hotkey F12 to switch the angle of display of the testing indicator on the monitor screen. If necessary, this key can be changed to another and used during testing if the FPS counter obscures, for example, game statistics. The same key is also used to turn off the FPS counter when the final movement angle is reached.

That's it - we can start testing. We do not close the Fraps program and launch the game. In full-screen game mode, you will see an FPS counter in the upper right corner.

4. Testing the FPS indicator and saving the results

In the “99 FPS” program tab we will find another default hotkey - F11 - in the “Benchmarking Hotkey” column. If necessary, it can also be changed to an alternative key. This is the key for saving test results. If you press it during the game, after exiting the game client, the minimum and maximum FPS will be written to the log file.

This log file, along with a csv file, which will contain a more expanded list of FPS indicators during testing, can be found in the folder along the path specified in the column "Folder to save benchmarks in". The path for saving test results changes to another when you click the blue “Change” button.

We can not leave the game client, but simply minimize it with the Win key to view the results of the express test for calculating FPS. To do this, activate the “Stop benchmark after” option and set the number of seconds for which testing will be carried out and the results will be saved to a log file.

Next, as in the previous paragraph of the article, without closing the Fraps program, launch the game. After exiting the game or upon completion of the specified seconds for express testing, we can go for its results along the specified save path. By the way, the program provides quick access to the folder for saving test results - this is the button "View" in the “99 FPS” tab.

5. Other testing settings

In the “99 FPS” program tab there are some other settings that were not used in our case. One of the options that is located in the lower right corner of the program window is "Only update overlay once a second"- this activates the FPS counter update every second, and not every 25 frames, as is configured in the Fraps program by default.

The other two options in the “Benchmark Settings” column are options for testing microlatencies (“Frametimes”) and maximum, minimum, average FPS (“MinMaxAvg”).

These parameters can be seen in the csv file in the folder along the path where the test results are saved.

6. What should be the optimal FPS?

There is no specific set FPS benchmark figure, as different games may have different image quality at the same FPS rate. There is an opinion that the indicator 30 FPS sufficient for an average computer game in terms of system requirements. But for new games, designed to work with productive hardware, stuffed with effects and gameplay dynamics, this figure may not be enough. Gamers with impressive experience love to chase a high score - so that there is at least 50 FPS.

In any case, when choosing a video card for a PC build kit or looking for a powerful laptop with a discrete video card, it would be a good idea to look at tests of these video cards in computer games on the Internet. The higher the FPS value above 30 such video cards produce, the better.

One of the most useful functions of such programs is the display on the screen of the number of frames changed per unit of time (FPS or frame rate). This parameter directly affects the smoothness of the image.

For comfortable gaming and video viewing, cinema and gaming industry professionals consider 60 FPS. In this case, the picture seems smooth and as close to reality as possible. If the frame rate is less than 25, visual events on the monitor begin to twitch.

Programs showing FPS in games

Today, the FPS Monitor program has gained particular popularity. It can often be found on YouTube channels, in tests of new video cards and processors. Why is she so popular, you ask? It works almost perfectly in all games. The developers have created an attractive overlay view that displays all the important information, with the possibility of customization.

Fraps

Ideal for those who don't like to bother with settings. All you need to do is install, launch the program and start playing. The default framerate display is located in the upper left corner.

Fraps is also useful for those who like to record videos. He copes with this task perfectly.
Download Fraps

MSI Afterburner

Watching YouTube videos about video card performance. You've probably wondered what software is used to display FPS in games? One of them is MSI Afterburner.

It’s worth noting right away that you shouldn’t “click everything” in it. The reason for this is the ability to overclock the video card. Otherwise it may fail.

From the name, you might mistakenly think that this product is designed exclusively for products from MSI. But that's not true.

During installation, you will additionally be asked to install Riva Tuner Statitics Server, confirm the action. This application is required for the overlay to work.

We launch the utility, a window with a standard skin will appear. Go to the settings, to do this, click on the Settings button in the right corner.

Go to the monitoring tab, then to active monitoring schedules, you need to check the boxes next to those items that are interesting to you. Be sure to check the box next to each parameter “Show in overlay screen display” and then in the properties column, an inscription will appear in the OED.

The overlay display is located in the OED tab. By clicking the button, the RTSS configuration window will additionally appear. In this window we need to enable Stealth mode. They say that if you do not enable this function in some online games, problems may occur. You are expected to be considered a cheater.

You can change the text color, size, font and position. The remaining points should not be touched. Make sure the Show-on Screen Display switch is turned on.

Overwolf

Go to Settings, FPS tab. Check the box next to “enable FPS monitoring during gameplay” or press the hotkeys Ctrl+Shift+P. It is important to note that the font changes depending on the themes in Overwolf.

Download Overwolf

GeForce Experience

Owners of NVIDIA video cards can display FPS in the proprietary GeForce Experience program. Click on the “share” icon in the upper right part of the window. A menu will open, click the icon in the shape of a rotated triangle/HUD location/fps counter. At the last stage, we select the position of the counter. In our opinion, the convenient location is in the upper right corner.

For a better understanding, we made a video on how to enable the FPS counter in GeForce Experience 3.0.

CAM

Utility developed by NZXT. In terms of functionality, it is similar to MSI Afterburner, but they are radically different. It has an excellent PC monitoring system, namely detailed information on CPU, GPU load, temperature and frame rate.

After launching the utility, all information about the characteristics of the PC will appear. Decorated in a modern light design. By going to the game section, statistics with graphs will open; the data is stored in the cloud. Agree, it looks beautiful and is convenient for clarity.

To configure the overlay, click the gamepad icon/enable CAM Overlay. Check the boxes according to your preferences and click save changes.

You can download CAM from the official website using this link https://camwebapp.com/.

Notice how cool the overlay looks in games, minimum (MIN), average (AVG), maximum (MAX) framerate, clock.

FPS Monitor

The abundance of settings is one of the main advantages. You have the opportunity to configure the program for yourself. Resize overlays, add windows and metrics, and move them around the screen so you can game and monitor your PC's performance. Choose colors, fonts and other graphic elements. Hotkeys are also present. There is a blacklist that allows you to prevent the program from automatically displaying in unnecessary software.

Want to know why your PC is slow? To do this, just display a board on the screen, which by default shows the following items:

Load percentage and frequency of each core
CPU temperature
Memory data (GPU, swap, RAM)
Disk speed
Cooler rotation speed
Frame frequency

FPS Monitor creates virtually no load on the system. The free version has all the above features, but does not allow you to save individual settings. The cost of the license is 350 rubles.

If you don't want to spend money on a new GPU every year, then you should consider purchasing a console. But even on consoles there is not always a high and stable frame rate. In our opinion, 40 frames per second should be enough for most people.

conclusions

Displaying FPS in games makes sense for optimal graphics settings. Performance analysis is needed to understand how many resources are being used and whether the processor is opening up the video card. Temperature monitoring is relevant; it allows you to find out the need to replace thermal paste or clean dust.

Among the indicators that affect comfort while playing video games, FPS is one of the most critical. Gamers are often willing to put up with less-than-ideal graphics and average picture resolution, but less-than-smooth gameplay can take away the fun and turn the fun into stress.

FPS stands for frames-per-second. Another common name for this indicator is framerate. The higher the performance of a computer’s video subsystem, the more modern and technologically advanced it is, the more frames it can display on the screen in the same period of time.

It is difficult to determine the current FPS by eye. To control this indicator, special programs are used.

How FPS affects playback quality and comfort during the game

With a high frame rate, the image is displayed smoothly, without twitching, the picture on the screen looks natural and pleasing to the eye. These factors are especially critical in fast games, where every move counts, and victory depends on reaction speed.

In fast-paced games, an FPS of 60 or higher is optimal. If the game is relatively calm, then 30-50 FPS is enough. This is how video games differ from television and cinema, where 24-25 frames per second is enough for comfortable viewing.

The best programs for measuring FPS

Many apps designed to monitor your framerate while gaming also have other useful features. The latter often play a decisive role in the choice.

Fraps

Fraps is perhaps the most popular FPS tracking program with the added ability to take screenshots and record gameplay videos. Despite the varied functionality and lack of Russian language, it is very easy to use.

Monitoring FPS and taking screenshots are free functions of the application and can be used freely. Others are limited until you purchase the paid version. Without payment, screenshots are saved only in BMP format (without compression), and videos are recorded with a limited duration. Fraps lifetime license costs $37.

After launching Fraps FPS is constantly displayed in the corner of the screen during the game.

Other program functions:

quickly create gameplay screenshots;
recording video with sound;
display of average, maximum and minimum FPS values;
saving FPS readings to a text file;
ability to work on top of all windows;
timer launch and hotkey support.

- an advanced domestic program that shows not only FPS during the game, but also computer sensor data. For example, you can display the workload, temperature of the processor cores and the amount of free RAM.

Another important feature of FPSMonitor is the ability to visually customize the information displayed on the screen. If in the Fraps described above you could only select the corner where the FPS counter is located, then here you can select the color, font, enable or disable the display of various sensors, and so on.

The application costs 350 rubles, but has a free demo version. The action of the latter is not limited in time, but a watermark is displayed on the screen.

FPSMonitor functions:

support for sensors of all popular processors and video cards;
flexible settings of the overlay (image displayed on the screen);
displaying several overlays on the screen;
working with hot keys;
limiting FPS by emulating the vertical sync function (game frame rate and screen refresh rate);
logging;
standard presets for popular tasks;
support for “scenes”, that is, different options for visually displaying data that you can quickly switch between.

— a program for flexible configuration of video cards. It allows you not only to take measurements, but also to overclock graphics adapters. Displaying FPS and other hardware information is its secondary function.

The utility is free, partially Russified and primarily aimed at experienced users who understand computer hardware.

Overclocking your video card will help increase FPS, but keep in mind that if you overclock it, there is a risk of damaging the graphics adapter. Don't use settings you don't understand unless you're sure what you're doing.

To enable counting the number of frames per second, go to the application settings by clicking on the gear, then check the two checkboxes shown in the screenshot below.

Msi Afterburner Features:

displaying the load level of the video card, its temperature, frequency, supply voltage and other parameters;
adjusting video card fans;
setting up the visual display of information;
gameplay recording;
built-in stress test;
mobile version for Android, designed for remote control of the video card after overclocking;
automatic search for safe overclocking settings.

Cam

Cam is a comprehensive and multifunctional program for monitoring the status of computer systems and increasing their performance. One of its capabilities is to display framerate and other characteristics on top of running video games.

Cam is free and has a Russian interface language. To track FPS, the user will have to register in it.

Essentially, this program is similar to the previous one, but with more emphasis on monitoring the computer's performance than on overclocking. It is more user-friendly for inexperienced users than Msi Afterburner, but after the first launch, it may take some time to understand its interface.

To enable frame rate display, go to the application settings, open the “Number of frames/sec.” section. and activate the “Enable CAM data display” function.

Cam functions:

demonstration of FPS and other parameters and characteristics of the computer over a running video game;
graphics card overclocking;
tracking data from dozens of computer sensors;
warnings about incorrectly functioning computer components (for example, about a possible failure of the cooling system);
CPU and video card temperature monitoring;
registration for storing computer performance data in the program developer’s cloud;
tracking FPS history for games launched by the user;
frame rate display setting.

is a free application that allows you to monitor the status of the processor, video card and other computer components, as well as display FPS in popular games.

The program is simple and accessible for beginners (even without the Russian language), however, it does not support all existing games, but only 3600+ of the most popular ones. For most gamers this isn't a problem, but if you're playing something exotic, the framerate may not show up.

No additional program settings are needed to display the frame rate - just launch AgaueEye, and then the game. After the gameplay session, a window with detailed FPS statistics will be displayed. For example, the application will generate a visual graph showing which frames per second were dominant during the game.

AgaueEye functions:

setting frame rate display;
displaying parameters of the processor, video card, hard drive and fans;
maintaining FPS statistics during a gaming session;
displaying detailed information about the hardware;
basic video card overclocking functions;
control using hot keys;
notifications about overheating of the processor or video card.

Please note that any of the programs described may not be compatible with certain video games. Sometimes FPS is not displayed when the game is running in windowed mode.

How to increase FPS in games

If you notice that your game's frames are changing slowly or at an inconsistent rate, the following techniques may help:

set lower graphics settings;
reduce game resolution;
close all third-party programs that can “eat up” part of the processor, video and RAM resources;
update the video card driver.

If the FPS is consistently low for most of the video games you run, it may be time to at least partially upgrade your computer.

The reverse logic is also true: if the frame rate at your settings is stable, without strong drops, and stays at least at 45-55 frames per second, the graphics settings can be improved.

Good day!

There are always a lot of questions regarding FPS, and they are asked even at work (well, I won’t go into the moral side in this article)...

In general, every game lover, sooner or later, learns about such an indicator as FPS (they usually find out when the game starts to slow down, freeze, the picture is distorted, twitches, etc.).

FPS- This is the number of frames per second that is shown on your screen. The more frames per second on the screen, the better: the game will run smoother, the characters’ movements will be more natural, you will see them clearly and clearly, and have time to react to all events.

The FPS indicator, most often, reflects the real performance of your hardware: video card, processor, and the entire computer/laptop as a whole (I do not include cases where FPS is affected, for example, by viruses...).

In this article, I will provide several useful utilities that will be useful for tracking FPS, and also answer several popular questions that all novice gamers are stuck with.

Fraps

One of the most famous programs for recording game videos, taking screenshots, and viewing FPS. The program is distinguished by its low system requirements, thanks to which game video can be recorded even on relatively weak machines.

As for FPS, the program has a special tab in which you can configure the screen angle in which the value will be displayed, as well as a hotkey (see screenshot below).

The screenshot below shows an example of determining FPS - see the yellow numbers “56” in the upper left corner of the screen.

Number of FPS in the game - 56

In general, if you have Fraps running, I think there is no point in looking for alternatives to determine FPS...

Note: in some games, FRAPS behaves unstable and does not display FPS (why is not clear). Therefore, if the program does not work for you, I recommend using the analogues below.

PlayClaw

Competitor of Fraps. The program can: record video and screenshots from the game, broadcast games, determine FPS, supports setting hot keys, selecting codecs for compression (which Fraps does not have).

The main window is made in a "tiled" style...

To configure FPS display, go to the section "Plugins", then check the box next to the item "FPS overlay" and configure the display colors (you can leave them at default - contrasting colors).

After starting the game, you don’t even need to press any buttons - FPS will be shown automatically in the left corner of the screen (top). The screen is shown below.

FPS determination - PlayClaw (see green numbers - 62)

Overwolf

In general, the program Overwolf- this is a whole gaming World for gamers: here are recommendations for games, recording of game videos, news, all kinds of recommendations, etc. (it's a pity that a lot of it is in English...).

Within the framework of this article, this program is interesting because it very qualitatively determines the FPS indicator. To enable FPS display in Overwolf, you need to go to Settings, then open the FPS section, and check the box next to "Enable in-game FPS monitor" (as in the screenshot below).

Actually, now starting the game, you will see the number of frames in any corner of the screen (depending on the settings you chose).

By the way, the program supports the Russian language and works in all modern versions of Windows: 7, 8, 10.

FPS Monitor

This program differs from many others in that it shows not only the number of FPS, but also the load on each CPU core, the load on the video card, the state of RAM, etc. That is. if your game slows down, you can find out which hardware is under the greatest load and cannot handle it (for example, it will help solve a common question: “what’s not working, the video card or the processor?”) .

I note that the program is quite “flexible” and allows you to include only those readings that you need, and, naturally, place them in the corner of the screen where it is more convenient for you.

Of the minuses: the program is paid (albeit inexpensive). Does not support some older games (incompatibility...).

FPS Questions

What should the FPS be for a comfortable game?

An FPS of 60 is considered normal for all games. (unless, of course, we are talking about professional players who have their own tasks and requirements...). I note that when the FPS is less than 30, many games become uncomfortable to play, and sometimes even impossible!

That is, the most favorable FPS range for a comfortable game is from 40 to 60.

In general, a lot depends on the game itself:

if this is a turn-based strategy, then even 20 FPS may be enough for pleasant games;
if it's a dynamic shooter, then 50 FPS may not be enough...

Naturally, in each game your FPS indicator will be different and constantly change. I will say even more - in each level of the game (or location, map), FPS can be different, since the graphics of each level can be different from each other. In addition, when some effects appear (or disappear), FPS can change significantly.

What does FPS depend on and how to increase it

On the performance of your hardware: video card, processor and system as a whole;
From the game you want to launch;
From graphics parameters and settings in the game (filters, resolution, etc.);
Depending on the video driver version and its settings.
The number of FPS can also be affected by: high temperature of components (processor, for example); viruses, Windows OS errors, etc.

Can dust affect FPS?

The fact is that dust can settle on small ventilation holes on the laptop/PC case and clog the processor and video card radiators. As a result, air exchange will deteriorate and heat will not escape from the computer case. The temperature will start to rise...

But as the temperature rises, the computer processor may begin to slow down (i.e., auto-protection is triggered: to reduce the temperature, the processor begins to work slower). If this does not help, then when a certain critical temperature point is reached, the computer simply turns off.

So, dust, of course, can affect the number of FPS (albeit indirectly).

How to clean your computer from dust:

Cleaning your laptop from dust at home:

Does Windows OS version affect FPS in games?

Observation! Many users note that after switching from Windows 7 to Windows 10, some games began to slow down less often and less...

In general, it does. Moreover, sometimes it is significant. For example, in the “old” days, I kept Windows 2000 on disk for a long time (although Windows XP had already been released). The fact is that many games worked significantly better on Windows 2000: the FPS indicator was higher (and video drivers, as a rule, for old OSes have already been worked out and all the changes have been made to them. It’s still time for developers to get their hands on the new OS system.. .). Then, of course, service packs were released for Windows XP, and it was brought to a “normal” level of operation...

In general, OS optimization greatly influences: it’s one thing to run a game on a tuned, cleared of “garbage” and optimized system, quite another thing to run a “cluttered” one. The difference can be quite significant: from a normal game on the first, to terrible brakes on the second (with the same “hardware” of the computers).

By the way, as for the same Windows 10, it now has in its arsenal Game Mode .

The developers of the system are trying to make it as convenient as possible, both for game lovers and for others. So far I don’t have specific figures on the increase in productivity thanks to this mode, but in general, it has a positive effect.

Is it necessary to "make" FPS more than 60

In general, the higher the FPS, the better and more comfortable the game will be. But if the difference between 20 and 60 FPS is noticeable to the naked eye, then not even every experienced gamer will notice the difference between 60 and 90 FPS.

The point here is also in the monitor: the most common classic LCD monitor usually produces a scan frequency of 60 Hz. Accordingly, even if you have an FPS of more than 60, you will still see 60 (since the monitor simply will not show more frames per second), which means there is no point in increasing FPS...

It’s another matter if you have a monitor with a scanning frequency of, for example, 100 Hz - then it makes sense to raise the FPS to 100. The picture quality can simply be discouraging, especially if you compare the image quality at the same time with a classic monitor (see photo above). True, the price tags for such “things” are still “biting”, and most often they are used by professional players. In general, in general, if you are not a sophisticated gamer, then chasing 60+ FPS at the expense of your wallet probably doesn’t make much sense yet. Anyway, in a year or two, such equipment will become cheaper...

By the way, if you have low FPS or many modern games don’t play at all, don’t despair! Not long ago, an article about memories “appeared” on my website: it presents the best hit games of the past, many of them will give a head start to modern innovations!

The greatest hits of the past (can be played even on old laptops and PCs) -

Before you review several applications, you need to understand why you need program for showing FPS in games.

The FPS indicator shows the number of frames per second during the game. If this value falls below 25, the game turns into a “slide show” and the user will not be able to control the actions of the character or the equipment he controls, respond to danger in a timely manner, etc. Experienced gamers claim that for a comfortable game it is necessary that the FPS be at least 60, only in this case the game will not lag or freeze. That is why control over this characteristic is very important and the user will be able, if necessary, to increase the FPS, lower the quality of textures, special effects, etc.

Among the programs for showing FPS in games, the most popular are:

Fraps.
MSI Afterburner.
Overwolf.

This program is ideal for those gamers who do not like to delve into the details of the settings. It is enough to install it and when you turn on the game, in the upper left corner, by default, the FPS indicator will be displayed.

This program will also allow you to record videos of the game process. The settings are quite simple and do not require special skills to figure out what and how to set. The only drawback is the huge size of the resulting video file, but, as a rule, the recorded video is edited and the size can also be reduced by converting to a more compact format.

MSI Afterburner

This software will be a real boon for game lovers. In addition to the fact that this program displays FPS in the game, it can be used to overclock hardware. The only thing worth warning is that if you are not a very advanced user, it is better not to experiment with the settings, because you can do much worse for your computer. And although the name contains the brand name, the program works with any components, regardless of the manufacturer.

In order to install the program, visit the official website and download it. During the installation process, the user will be prompted to additionally install Riva Tuner Statistics Server. Be sure to check the box and install this additional skin.
After installation, a standard program window will appear in front of you. To fully use this software, click on the “Settings” button located at the bottom right of the window.
The settings window will display several tabs. Go to the “Monitoring” tab and check the boxes of the items you are interested in, and they will be displayed in the overlay (in particular, to display FPS, you need to check the box for “Frame Rate”). Also, in order for all parameters to be shown, it is necessary to check the “Show in Overlay Screen Display” item, after which, in the “Properties” column the inscription “in OED” should be displayed.

Overwolf

The Overwolf program opens up many possibilities for gamers, including displaying FPS when playing. To download this program, just visit the application store and install it for free. To display the FPS indicator, go to “Settings”, go to the FPS tab and check the box next to “Enable FPS monitoring”.