Fraps Screen Recorder Review: The Classic FPS Recorder

Fraps screen recorder is an iconic name in PC gaming history. It is widely known as the original FPS counter and game recording tool that dominated the late 2000s and early 2010s. For many gamers, seeing the yellow FPS number in the corner of the screen was the first real way to measure performance and capture gameplay moments. This tool set the standard at a time when screen recording tools were rare and complicated. However, while it was a true pioneer, it has not been updated since 2013. This makes it critically flawed for modern systems. Today’s games use newer graphics technologies, higher resolutions, and faster refresh rates. As a result, users now face significant issues, including massive file sizes, performance lags, poor compatibility with modern APIs, and unreliable recording on current versions of Windows. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at Fraps’ core features, break down its biggest drawbacks, and compare it with the best modern alternatives available today. This way, you can decide whether Fraps still has a place in your setup or if it’s time to move on.

What is a Fraps Screen Recorder?

Fraps Screen Recorder is a classic Windows utility for screen recording, benchmarking, and capturing the screen. Originally developed as game recording software, it monitors performance in applications utilizing DirectX or OpenGL. It allows users to overlay live frame rates, log detailed performance statistics, and capture high-quality screenshots with a single keystroke.

It supports synchronized audio-video recording at resolutions up to 7680×4800 and frame rates as high as 120 FPS. It produces uncompressed AVI clips to preserve maximum visual fidelity. Its dual nature makes it equally valuable as a precision benchmarking tool for hardware reviewers and a straightforward capture utility for gameplay creators.

Key Features of Fraps

To test Fraps recording software, we installed it on Windows 10 and used it with several DirectX-based games and applications. We recorded short gameplay clips, checked audio sync, and enabled the Fraps FPS counter during gameplay. Most importantly, we reviewed the output video quality, file size, and system impact. We also tested screenshot capture and benchmark logging to assess their accuracy and ease of use in real-world scenarios.

Video Recording Capabilities

The software records video directly from games and screen activity that uses DirectX or OpenGL. During testing, the video quality was high because it captures footage with minimal video compression. It enables me to choose frame rates from low values up to very high FPS. Also, I was able to record videos from websites and other online platforms. However, because it focuses on raw quality, it does not offer codec selection and advanced editing controls.

Benchmarking and FPS Overlay

Fraps’ strongest feature is its real-time FPS overlay. While testing games, the FPS counter appeared clearly in a corner of the screen. This demonstrates the system's effective performance. The benchmarking tool also allowed us to record frame rates over time and save them as logs for later review. This makes it useful for gamers, reviewers, and PC testers who want simple and reliable performance data without the need for additional software.

Limitations (File Size, Compatibility)

The biggest limitation we found is Fraps’ massive file size. Since it records with minimal compression, even short videos require a significant amount of storage space. This makes it harder to store, share, or upload recordings. Compatibility is another issue; it only works on Windows and mainly supports older DirectX and OpenGL programs. It has not been updated for years, so it lacks support for modern games. This limits its usefulness in today’s digital age.

Pros and Cons of Using Fraps

Before committing to a software, weigh its pros and cons to ensure it aligns with your workflow. Understanding its strengths helps you identify where it still excels, particularly in basic gameplay recording. At the same time, understanding its weaknesses prevents frustration, wasted storage space, and compatibility issues. This makes it easier to decide whether it fits your needs or if a modern Fraps alternative is a better choice.

Best Alternative to Fraps

After we review Fraps screen recorder, it’s worth noting that it hasn’t been updated for years. In other words, it doesn’t include many modern recording features that current users expect. Additionally, if you screen record with Fraps, video files can consume a significant amount of storage space. As a result, many modern users now prefer newer tools, such as AnyMP4 Screen Recorder.

AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is a complete and up-to-date screen recording tool for Windows and Mac systems. This all-in-one software features seven distinct recording modes. This includes Screen Recorder, Audio Recorder, Screen Capture, Game Recorder, Window Recorder, Webcam Recorder, and Phone Recorder. These modes let you capture video, audio-only, gameplay, a specific window, webcam feed, phone display, and take screenshots.

Premium-not to mention, it captures directly to highly compressed formats like MP4. This resolves the significant file size issue that Fraps' recording software has with uncompressed output. It supports recording in high resolutions up to 4K and modern higher frame rates. This low-CPU-usage screen recorder leverages NVIDIA/AMD/Intel hardware encoding to minimize CPU strain, reducing in-game lag. Remarkably, it includes basic editing tools such as trimming, cutting, and annotation features, allowing you to polish recordings immediately after capture without requiring additional software.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Fraps screen recorder remains an important part of PC gaming history. It introduced FPS counters, simple benchmarking, and easy gameplay recording at a time when such tools were rare. However, it has lacked updates since 2013, massive uncompressed file sizes, and limited compatibility with modern games. These limitations make it impractical for today’s users. While it may still work for basic FPS counting or recording older titles, it falls short of modern recording standards. For a reliable, efficient, and future-ready solution, AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is the clear upgrade. It supports modern systems, records in compressed MP4, reduces lag with hardware acceleration, and includes built-in editing tools.