With over 10 years of experience recording gameplay and tutorials, I’ve tested my fair share of recording software. One program that stands out for its performance optimization is Bandicam. As an advanced user, I’ve discovered several ways Bandicam can boost FPS, reduce lag, and improve video quality during recording sessions.
Optimize Recording Resolution
One of the biggest factors impacting recording performance is resolution. Higher resolutions like 4K put more strain on your GPU and CPU. Bandicam makes it easy to find the optimal resolution that balances quality and performance.
Based on my experience, 1920×1080 at 60 FPS delivers smooth gameplay with minimal impact on most modern gaming rigs. The 1080p resolution also looks great on YouTube and other platforms. If your gameplay drops below 60 FPS, try lowering to 720p or 30 FPS. Bandicam’s resolution slider lets you quickly adjust settings until you find the sweet spot.
Use Hardware Accelerated Encoding
Bandicam fully utilizes GPU resources for H.264 video encoding, taking the load off your CPU. My Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti handles 1080p60 recordings without breaking a sweat thanks to NVENC support. This leaves more headroom for the game itself.
Using my GPU for encoding gives at least a 10-15 FPS boost compared to software encoding. Just enable “Use Hardware Encoder” in Bandicam’s settings. Having a modern Nvidia or AMD GPU is recommended to unlock the full encoding potential.
Limit Capture Frame Rate
Tying your recording frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate isn’t always ideal, especially if chasing high FPS. I will often cap Bandicam’s capture frame rate at 60 FPS even if my game is running at 100+ FPS. This prevents wasted rendering cycles and reduces recording overhead.
The human eye can’t perceive much difference between 60 FPS and 100+ FPS anyway. As long as your game itself is maintaining a steady 60 FPS or higher, the recording will look perfectly smooth at 1080p60. Give it a try if you need some extra performance headroom while recording intense gameplay sessions.
Use Game Capture Mode
The recording mode you choose in Bandicam can affect game performance too. I always use Game Capture for the fastest, most optimized recording experience. This mode hooks directly into the game executable for clean footage.
Window Capture by comparison adds extra rendering passes as it records entire application windows. Game Capture is the way to go for games that support DirectX or Vulkan. I saw FPS gains of around 5-10 switching from Window to Game Capture in titles like Apex Legends. It makes a difference when chasing maximum performance.
Enable Smart Optimized Encoding
Bandicam’s Smart Optimized Encoding is a handy performance-boosting feature. When enabled, the bitrate will automatically scale based on GPU load and encoding lag to prevent overload. This helps maintain high FPS when recording demanding games or gameplay sessions.
I will toggle Smart Encoding on when benchmarking new titles or testing GPU overclocks. It serves as a safety net against encoding lag spikes. By letting Bandicam handle the bitrate, performance stays silky smooth. I can focus on pure gameplay while Bandicam optimizes behind the scenes.
Adjust Video Bitrate
Higher bitrates allow for better video quality but also require more system resources. When I need to eke out a few extra FPS, judiciously lowering the recording bitrate helps lighten the load.
My general recommendation is to start at 25-30 Mbps for 1080p60 footage based on YouTube’s guidelines. If experiencing lag or low FPS, gradually drop the bitrate until performance improves. For fast-paced competitive games, I will use a lower 15-20 Mbps bitrate to maximize FPS. The impact on quality is minor compared to playability gains.
Use a High-Performance Encoder
Choosing the right encoder is key for balancing performance and quality in Bandicam. After extensive testing, I have settled on the x264 encoder for most of my 1080p gameplay recording.
Compared to NVENC, x264 provides superior image quality at equivalent bitrates, especially in motion-heavy scenes. The tradeoff is slightly higher CPU utilization. Fortunately, modern CPUs can easily handle x264 encoding at 1080p60. I suggest trying both encoders to see which works best based on your CPU/GPU combo and game.
Close Other Programs
Like any software, Bandicam will run best when fewer background processes are occupying system memory and CPU cycles. Before starting an intensive recording session, I make sure to close any unnecessary apps.
Web browsers, video players, RGB lighting utilities are common culprits that drain resources. Simply right-clicking and selecting “Exit” ensures these programs won’t interfere with recordings. I also temporarily disable antivirus scans and Windows Updates which can impact performance.
The goal is to free up as much RAM and CPU headroom as possible for both the game and Bandicam. Don’t feel obligated to have other apps open just because you normally would. Prioritize the recording experience for best results!
Overclock Your Components
As an enthusiast PC builder and overclocker, I am always pushing my components to the limit. Higher GPU/CPU clock speeds directly translate to faster encoding times and less recording lag.
My RTX 3080 Ti handles stock 1080p60 gameplay recordings without issue. But when benchmarking or recording at 4K, some extra overclocking headroom keeps performance buttery smooth. Even a moderate 100 MHz core/memory OC reduces encoding times by 5% in my tests.
Overclocking does require proper cooling and power delivery. But for those comfortable tweaking PC components, it can provide measurable improvements to recording and real-time encoding workloads. Both Nvidia and AMD GPUs benefit from overclocking alongside Intel/AMD CPUs.
Upgrade Your Hardware
While optimizing settings helps, upgrading to modern hardware has the most substantial impact on recording performance. My previous GTX 1070 struggled with 1080p60 recordings in some titles due to mediocre NVENC encoding.
After upgrading to an RTX 3080 Ti with the latest NVENC encoder, I can record 1440p120 gameplay without performance penalties. The dedicated encoding cores take the workload off the GPU itself. Investing in a better CPU also helps for software encoding via x264.
PC component pricing continues falling to more reasonable levels after shortages. Now is a good time to upgrade your GPU or CPU if recording performance is lackluster. Bandicam makes excellent use of the latest hardware for buttery smooth footage.
Conclusion
After a decade of recording with Bandicam, I’m blown away by how much performance has improved. Features like GPU-accelerated encoding were game-changers for capturing smooth, high-quality gameplay footage. Bandicam gives users like me precise control over resolutions, frame rates, and encoding to find the best balance.
Some recording programs treat gameplay recording as an afterthought. But the Bandicam developers understand the needs of power users and gamers. The focus on low-overhead recording delivers excellent results across my test bench. Both casual and professional content creators will appreciate Bandicam’s versatility.
If you follow my optimization tips, Bandicam helps rather than hinders system performance. By fine-tuning resolutions, encoders, capture modes and in-game settings, buttery smooth recordings are achievable on most gaming PCs. That leaves you to concentrate on pure gameplay while Bandicam does the heavy lifting behind the scenes!
Also Read – What should I know about using Camtasia for recording videos?