FrafsBenchViewer Tutorial: Step-by-Step Benchmarking Walkthrough
Average frames per second (FPS) figures do not tell the whole story of gaming performance. A game can average a smooth 60 FPS but still feel stuttery if individual frames take too long to render.
To diagnose micro-stuttering and analyze frame pacing, PC hardware enthusiasts rely on frame time analysis. FRAFS Bench Viewer is a free, open-source tool designed exactly for this purpose. It parses the raw data captured by benchmarking software and turns it into highly detailed charts.
This step-by-step walkthrough guides you through capturing, viewing, and interpreting your performance data using FrafsBenchViewer. Step 1: Capture Raw Performance Data
Before using FrafsBenchViewer, you need a source tool to log frame metrics while you play. Historically, the utility was built around FRAPS, but today it works seamlessly with the standard .csv frame log files generated by more modern capture tools.
Using FRAPS: Open FRAPS, navigate to the 99FPS tab, and check the box for Frametimes. Choose your benchmark hotkey (default is F11).
Using Modern Alternatives: Tools like OCAT or RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) can also output frame time logs in standard CSV formats that FrafsBenchViewer can read.
Run your benchmark: Start your game, hit your designated hotkey to start logging, play through a repeatable sequence, and press the hotkey again to stop saving data. Step 2: Open FrafsBenchViewer and Load Your Logs
Once your gaming session is finished, you need to import the data into the viewer.
Download and launch FRAFS Bench Viewer. The tool is lightweight and requires no formal installation. Click on File in the top menu and select Open.
Navigate to your benchmark directory. For FRAPS, this is usually C:\Fraps\Benchmarks.
Select the file that ends with *frametimes.csv. Do not select the standard FPS summary file. FrafsBenchViewer needs the raw millisecond data. Step 3: Analyze the Frame Time Visualizations
As soon as the file loads, FrafsBenchViewer converts the numeric list into a visual representation of your performance.
The Main Chart: The X-axis represents the progression of time during your benchmark loop. The Y-axis represents the time it took to render each individual frame in milliseconds (ms).
Identifying Smoothness: For a flat, perfectly smooth experience, the line on the graph should be straight and stable. A 60 FPS target equates to a flat line right at 16.6ms.
Spotting Micro-Stutters: Look for sharp, upward spikes. If a single frame spikes to 50ms, it creates a noticeable visual hitch or “micro-stutter,” even if your overall FPS counter looks high. Step 4: Review Key Performance Metrics
Look at the summary panel on the side or bottom of the interface. FrafsBenchViewer provides detailed statistical breakdowns that standard overlays omit.
Avg FPS: The traditional mathematical average over your entire run.
1% and 0.1% Lows: These figures represent the average of the slowest 1% and 0.1% of all frames rendered. If your average is 90 FPS but your 1% low is 25 FPS, your game is suffering from severe performance drops.
Time Spent Churning: The software highlights the percentage of your total runtime spent dealing with frames that took longer than critical thresholds (e.g., more than 33.3ms, which translates to dropping below 30 FPS). Step 5: Compare Configurations Side-by-Side
FrafsBenchViewer allows you to compare multiple benchmark runs simultaneously to see the literal performance impact of different settings.
Click File > Open again to add a second or third log file to the session. Use this feature to accurately compare variables like: Overclocked vs. stock hardware settings.
The performance variance between different graphics APIs (such as DirectX 11, DirectX 12, or Vulkan).
Graphic preset changes (e.g., checking if Ultra settings introduce micro-stuttering compared to High settings).
Examine the overlaid lines to see which system configuration delivers the tightest, lowest, and most consistent frame pacing plot. Proceeding with Your Benchmarks
To help optimize your testing setup, tell me more about your benchmarking goals:
Which capture application are you planning to use alongside the viewer (FRAPS, OCAT, PresentMon)?
What specific game or hardware component are you trying to troubleshoot? FRAFS Bench Viewer download | SourceForge.net
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