- Home
- Game Profiling Software
- PresentMon
PresentMon
What it is
PresentMon is a free Windows toolset for capturing and analyzing performance in graphics applications. It traces CPU, GPU, and display frame durations and latencies in DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan software. The console application writes captured information to the console or CSV files. Its Capture Application provides real-time graphs and readouts in an overlay and can save per-frame CSV data. PresentMon combines ETW frame information with hardware telemetry such as GPU temperature and power. Client applications can access service data through the PresentMon API and SDK, with telemetry paths including ADL, NVAPI/NVML, IGCL, and WMI. The project supports Windows desktop and UWP applications, and version 2.6.0 is listed as its latest release. It is MIT-licensed and available for free, with API, self-hosted, and Windows platform listings.
For and against
For
- Free plan with no software charge
- Traces CPU, GPU, and display frame metrics
- Supports DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan applications
- Console and overlay capture options
- Provides API and SDK access
Against
- Windows-focused toolset
- Administrator privileges needed for complete process information
- Some OpenGL and Vulkan metrics may be less accurate
- GPU metrics may be less accurate with hardware GPU scheduling
The verdict
PresentMon combines command-line capture, an overlay application, telemetry, and API access for Windows graphics analysis. Users should account for its permission requirements and documented metric limitations.
Who it suits
PresentMon suits Windows users, developers, and performance analysts who need CPU, GPU, memory, or frame-time data from graphics applications. It also fits client applications that need service data through its API and SDK.
Plans and prices
PresentMon
Windows graphics applications · MIT-licensed software
Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Access requirement
- PresentMon requires the user to belong to the Windows Performance Log Users group, and administrator privileges are needed for complete process information across user accounts and for short-lived processes.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- API
- Client applications can access service data through the PresentMon API using the PresentMon SDK.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Capture formats
- The console application outputs captured data to the console or CSV files.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Frame metrics
- It traces CPU, GPU, and display frame durations and latencies across DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan applications.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- GPU scheduling limitation
- GPU execution metrics may be less accurate with Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling enabled.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- GUI overlay
- The Capture Application displays real-time performance graphs and readouts in an overlay and can capture per-frame CSV data.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Hardware integrations
- The v2.6.0 release notes list telemetry paths including ADL, NVAPI/NVML, IGCL, and WMI.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository includes an MIT license and states that the software is provided “AS IS,” without warranty.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Metric limitation
- For OpenGL and Vulkan apps reported with runtime “Other,” CPUFramePacingStall is always zero and CPUFrameTime may be less accurate.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Platform
- The project describes PresentMon as a Windows toolset and its main release page lists version 2.6.0 as the latest release.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PresentMon captures and analyzes high-level performance characteristics of graphics applications on Windows.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Related tools
- The project README lists AMD OCAT, CapFrameX, RTSS RivaTuner Statistics Server, Microsoft PIX on Windows System Monitor, and NVIDIA FrameView as tools that build on or visualize its functionality.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project directs users to report security vulnerabilities under Intel's vulnerability reporting guidelines.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README directs users to GitHub Issues for reported issues and to CONTRIBUTING.md for feature requests and issue reporting.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Telemetry
- The service combines ETW frame data with hardware telemetry such as GPU temperature and power.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
