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The PresentMon/ directory contains source for a standalone console application that uses the PresentMon SDK to capture and analyze graphics applications, outputting data to the console and/or CSV file(s).
A binary of the console application is provided in the release, e.g.: PresentMon-2.3.1-x64.exe.
| Capture Target Options | |
|---|---|
--process_name name |
Only record processes with the specified exe name. This argument can be repeated to capture multiple processes. |
--exclude name |
Do not record processes with the specified exe name. This argument can be repeated to exclude multiple processes. |
--process_id id |
Only record the process with the specified process ID. |
--etl_file path |
Analyze an ETW trace log file instead of the actively running processes. |
| Output Options | |
|---|---|
--output_file path |
Write CSV output to the specified path. |
--output_stdout |
Write CSV output to STDOUT. |
--multi_csv |
Create a separate CSV file for each captured process. |
--no_csv |
Do not create any output CSV file. |
--no_console_stats |
Do not display active swap chains and frame statistics in the console. |
--qpc_time |
Output the CPU start time as a performance counter value. |
--qpc_time_ms |
Output the CPU start time as a performance counter value converted to milliseconds. |
--date_time |
Output the CPU start time as a date and time with nanosecond precision. |
--exclude_dropped |
Exclude frames that were not displayed to the screen from the CSV output. |
--v1_metrics |
Output a CSV using PresentMon 1.x metrics. |
--v2_metrics |
Output a CSV using PresentMon 2.x metrics. |
| Recording Options | |
|---|---|
--hotkey key |
Use the specified key press to start and stop recording. 'key' is of the form MODIFIER+KEY, e.g., "ALT+SHIFT+F11". |
--delay seconds |
Wait for specified amount of time before starting to record. If using --hotkey, the delay occurs each time the recording key is pressed. |
--timed seconds |
Stop recording after the specified amount of time. |
--scroll_indicator |
Enable scroll lock while recording. |
--track_gpu_video |
Track the video encode/decode portion of GPU work separately from other engines. |
--no_track_display |
Do not track frames all the way to display. |
--no_track_input |
Do not track keyboard/mouse clicks impacting each frame. |
--no_track_gpu |
Do not track the duration of GPU work in each frame. |
| Execution Options | |
|---|---|
--session_name name |
Use the specified session name instead of the default "PresentMon". This can be used to start multiple captures at the same time, as long as each is using a distinct, case-insensitive name. |
--stop_existing_session |
If a trace session with the same name is already running, stop the existing session before starting a new session. |
--terminate_existing_session |
If a trace session with the same name is already running, stop the existing session then exit. |
--restart_as_admin |
If not running with elevated privilege, restart and request to be run as administrator. |
--terminate_on_proc_exit |
Terminate PresentMon when all the target processes have exited. |
--terminate_after_timed |
When using --timed, terminate PresentMon after the timed capture completes. |
| Beta Options | |
|---|---|
--track_frame_type |
Track the type of each displayed frame; requires application and/or driver instrumentation using Intel-PresentMon provider. |
--track_hw_measurements |
Tracks HW-measured latency and/or power data coming from a LMT and/or PCAT device. |
--track_app_timing |
Track app timines for each displayed frame; requires application and/or driver instrumentation using Intel-PresentMon provider. |
--track_hybrid_present |
Tracks if the present is a hybrid present and is performing a cross adapter copy. |
--track_pc_latency |
Track app timines for each displayed frame; requires application instrumentation using PC Latency events. |
By default, PresentMon creates a CSV file named "PresentMon-\
If --multi_csv is used, then one CSV is created for each process captured and
"-\-\" is appended to the file name.
If --hotkey is used, then one CSV is created for each time recording is started and "-\" is
appended to the file name.
Each row of the CSV represents a frame that an application rendered and presented to the system for display, and each column contains a particular metric value associated with that frame. All time values are in milliseconds.
Default metrics include:
| Column Header | Description |
|---|---|
| Application | The name of the process that generated the frame. |
| ProcessID | The process ID of the process that generated the frame. |
| SwapChainAddress | The address of the swap chain used to present the frame. |
| PresentRuntime | The API used to present the frame. |
| SyncInterval | The sync interval provided by the application when presenting the frame. Note: this value may be modified later by the driver, e.g., based on control panel overrides. |
| PresentFlags | The present flags provided by the application when presenting the frame. |
| AllowsTearing | 1 if partial frames might be displayed on the screen, or 0 if only full frames are displayed. |
| PresentMode | The presentation mode used by the system for this frame. See the table below for more details. |
| FrameType | Whether the frame was rendered by the application or generated by a driver/SDK. |
| *CPUStartTime |
(CPUStartQPC)
(CPUStartQPCTime)
(CPUStartDateTime)* | The time the CPU started working on this frame. By default, this is the time since recording started unless:
• When --qpc_time is used, the value is a performance counter value and the column is named CPUStartQPC.
• When --qpc_time_ms is used, the value is the query performance counter value converted to milliseconds and the column is named CPUStartQPCTime.
• When --date_time is used, the value is a date and the column is named CPUStartDateTime. |
| MsCPUBusy | How long the CPU spent working on this frame before presenting it. |
| MsCPUWait | How long the CPU spent waiting before starting the next frame. |
| MsGPULatency | How long it took from the start of this frame until the GPU started working on it. |
| MsGPUTime | The total amount of time that GPU was working on this frame. |
| MsGPUBusy | How long the GPU was actively working on this frame (i.e., the time during which at least one GPU engine is executing work from the target process). |
| MsGPUWait | How long the GPU was idle while working on this frame. |
| VideoBusy | How long the GPU video encode/decode engines were actively working on this frame. |
| DisplayLatency | How long it took from the start of this frame until the frame was displayed on the screen. |
| DisplayedTime | How long the frame was displayed on the screen, or 'NA' if the frame was not displayed. |
| MsAnimationError | The difference between the previous frame's CPU delta and display delta. |
| AnimationTime | The time the CPU started animation work on this frame. |
| MsClickToPhotonLatency | How long it took from the earliest mouse click that contributed to this frame until this frame was displayed. |
| MsAllInputToPhotonLatency | How long it took from the earliest keyboard or mouse interaction that contributed to this frame until this frame was displayed. |
| InstrumentedLatency | Instrumented Frame Start To Display Latency |
| MsBetweenPresents | The time between this Present() call and the previous one, in milliseconds. |
| MsInPresentAPI | The time spent inside the Present() call, in milliseconds. |
| MsBetweenDisplayChange | How long the previous frame was displayed before this Present() was displayed, in milliseconds. |
| MsUntilDisplayed | The time between the Present() call and when the frame was displayed, in milliseconds. |
| MsRenderPresentLatency | The time between the Present() call and when GPU work for this frame completed, in milliseconds. |
| MsBetweenSimulationStart | The time between the start of simulation processing of the previous frame and this one, in milliseconds. |
| MsPCLatency | Time between PC receiving input and frame being sent to the display, in milliseconds. |
| MsBetweenAppStart | How long it took from the start of this frame until the CPU started working on the next frame, in milliseconds. |
Some metrics are enabled or disabled depending on the command line options:
| Command line option | Enabled metrics | Disabled metrics |
|---|---|---|
--track_frame_type |
FrameType | |
--track_gpu_video |
VideoBusy | |
--no_track_gpu |
*GPULatency |
GPUBusy
GPUWait
VideoBusy |
| --no_track_input | | ClickToPhotonLatency* |
| --no_track_display
(requires --no_track_gpu and --no_track_input as well) | | *AllowsTearing
PresentMode
DisplayLatency
DisplayedTime* |
| --v1_metrics | | Most of the above metrics. See a 1.x README.md for details on Presentmon 1.x metrics. |
| --v2_metrics | | Most of the above metrics. See a 2.x README.md for details on Presentmon 2.x metrics. |
The following values are used in the PresentMode column:
| PresentMode | Description |
|---|---|
| Hardware: Legacy Flip | Indicates the app took ownership of the screen, and is swapping the displayed surface every frame. |
| Hardware: Legacy Copy to front buffer | Indicates the app took ownership of the screen, and is copying new contents to an already-on-screen surface every frame. |
| Hardware: Independent Flip | Indicates the app does not have ownership of the screen, but is still swapping the displayed surface every frame. |
| Composed: Flip | Indicates the app is windowed, is using "flip model" swapchains, and is sharing its surfaces with DWM to be composed. |
| Hardware Composed: Independent Flip | Indicates the app is using "flip model" swapchains, and has been granted a hardware overlay plane. |
| Composed: Copy with GPU GDI | Indicates the app is windowed, and is copying contents into a surface that's shared with GDI. |
| Composed: Copy with CPU GDI | Indicates the app is windowed, and is copying contents into a dedicated DirectX window surface. GDI contents are stored separately, and are composed together with DX contents by the DWM. |
For more information on the performance implications of these, see:
$ claude mcp add PresentMon \
-- python -m otcore.mcp_server <graph>