Fraps vs NVIDIA's ShadowPlay
Fraps vs NVIDIA's ShadowPlay
You're searching for a comparison... I've been using fraps for quite some time and discovered a much better alternative. As someone who uses AMD hardware, I don't have access to Shadowplay, so my insights are based on that setup. When evaluating fraps versus non-shadow options, the main focus is on maintaining consistent FPS—ideally staying under a 5fps drop. Even at 1080p with high bitrates, performance should remain stable. It's important to ensure your storage isn't a bottleneck, like a slow HDD that limits speed. With Windows 8 and MSI Afterburner, you can leverage Intel QuickSync's built-in x264 encoder for recording games on DX9/10/DX11 platforms. However, since my OS is Windows 7, I'm exploring alternatives. For 64-bit applications, DXtory works well with the same x264 codec, while MSI AB offers free support. CPU-based recording can handle most resolutions smoothly—720p or 1080p at 30-60fps on dual-core systems. MSI is free and cost-effective. DXtory provides stronger streaming capabilities and better recording features, making it a worthwhile investment despite the slight performance trade-off. Performance losses with x264 are less noticeable compared to lossless formats, especially on weaker hardware. If your setup allows, switching to x264 over lossless can preserve frame quality while maintaining acceptable speeds. For platforms like YouTube, high-quality 1080p at 30fps is usually sufficient without lossy compression.
Using my 650ti doesn’t give me great frame rates during recordings with FRAPS (around 25-35 frames per second in the games I mostly make videos for). Shadowplay doesn’t seem to affect the performance much, and the resulting videos tend to be a bit smaller.
Fraps has consistently delivered strong performance, especially with codec presets that range from "superfast" to "placebo." For frame grabbing, it leans toward the slower end, allowing other codecs to run at high speed with minimal visible FPS drop. On desktop recording, it’s straightforward and efficient, though game recording feels less ideal compared to other options available. There are many better alternatives out there, but the term "Fraps" often appears in forum discussions as a go-to solution for gameplay capture.