Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Most PC gamers need three different jobs covered, not three overlapping overlays: Xbox Game Bar for instant clips and screenshots, OBS Studio for serious recording or streaming, and MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) for FPS, temperatures and hardware diagnostics. Game Bar is already included with Windows, so configure it before downloading anything. Add OBS only when you need multiple sources or regular broadcasts, and add Afterburner/RTSS when you need to understand performance or heat. Running every capture and overlay feature at once can cause conflicts, so install in that order and test after each change.
What should I install on a new gaming PC?
Start with Windows’ built-in Xbox Game Bar, then choose OBS Studio and Afterburner/RTSS according to your needs. They solve different problems rather than forming a single required bundle.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Tool | Primary job | Setup effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Game Bar | Quick clips, screenshots and a simple overlay | Built into Windows; configure immediately | Occasional capture and chat |
| OBS Studio | Multi-source recording and streaming | Moderate; wizard and test required | Frequent recording, livestreams and camera/microphone layouts |
| MSI Afterburner + RTSS | FPS, frame-time, temperature, load and power telemetry | Moderate installation plus companion overlay | Troubleshooting and performance monitoring |
The right combination depends on what you actually do. A player who saves a clip once a week may need only Game Bar; a streamer may need OBS; someone diagnosing stutter needs telemetry before changing any clock or voltage.
How do I use Xbox Game Bar without downloading anything?
Press Win+G while a game is running. The customizable overlay opens widgets for capture, screenshots, sharing and chat, and Microsoft says it works with most PC games.
Popular on Amazon
- BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES: Our blue light glasses for women boast UV400 protection, blocking harmful blue rays from computer screens. With these bluelight glasses women, you can enjoy gaming, reading, or watching TV with no worries of eye strain.
- EYE RELIEF: Our blue light glasses are engineered to reduce blurry vision or strain caused by prolonged screen time. These womens blue light glasses aid in better sleep by preventing blue light from disrupting your natural sleep cycle, helping you fall asleep faster and enjoy a more restful night's sleep, making them the perfect christmas present.
- COMFORTABLE: Crafted from durable material, our trendy blue light glasses for woman or blue light glasses men ensure long-lasting comfort. The high-transmittance lenses accessories, gamer gifts for men, help keep your eyes relaxed. Perfect stocking stuffers, gifts for gamers men, christmas gifts for men, halloween costumes.
- LIGHTWEIGHT: These clear blue light glasses feature a lightweight frame, meaning they’ll stay comfy for long-term wear. Perfect as blue blockers glasses for women or mens blue light glasses, these non-prescription fake glasses for men can be worn throughout the day. The blue light blocking glasses women feature polycarbonate HD lenses, which are anti-reflective and restore true color.
- WORRY-FREE PURCHASE: If you experience any issues, our support team is ready to assist you quickly. These are the perfect costume glasses for cosplay dressing up.
- Open the game and press Win+G.
- Arrange or close the widgets you want, especially the Capture and Audio panels.
- Use Win+Alt+G to toggle full-screen recording, or start a recording from the Capture widget.
- Review saved clips in the Captures widget after returning to the desktop.
Game Bar is the lowest-effort option because it is part of Windows. Microsoft describes it as a way to capture videos and screenshots while playing PC games. App and feature availability can vary by region, so a missing widget or option may reflect your Windows configuration rather than a hardware fault.
Keep Game Bar as the default for occasional clips and screenshots. If you need scenes, alerts, a camera, several audio sources or a regular stream, move to OBS instead of adding more overlays to Game Bar.
When should I install OBS Studio?
Install OBS Studio when “record gameplay” means more than saving a quick clip: it is the flexible choice for streaming, long recordings and layouts that combine gameplay with a webcam, microphone, capture card or alerts.
Also popular on Amazon
- WINDEX GAMING WIPES: effortlessly clean all your gaming gear and gaming electronics in one easy step with our new Windex Gaming Wipes
- AMMONIA FREE: our ammonia-free formula is safe to use on all of your favorite gaming equipment like consoles, headsets, controllers, screens, keyboards, and more
- PRE-MOISTENED WIPES: each wipe instantly removes dust, dirt, and stubborn smudges and fingerprints leaving a streak-free shine
- ANTI-STATIC: great for cleaning and wiping down your gaming gear and electronics leaving behind no visible residue
- COMPACT RESEALABLE PACKAGE: store your pack of Windex Gaming Wipes anywhere in your home for whenever a quick and easy wipedown is needed
Run the wizard first
- Launch OBS and run the Auto-Configuration Wizard. It considers whether you plan to record or stream, your hardware resources and your network conditions.
- Add only the sources you need: Display Capture or Window Capture, Windows Game Capture for 3D games, a webcam or capture card, and desktop or microphone audio.
- Watch the audio meters while speaking and playing. Confirm that the intended microphone and desktop device move without clipping.
- Set output options such as recording or streaming mode, resolution and bitrate appropriate to your PC and connection.
- Record or stream a short test before a real session.
OBS explicitly recommends testing for a few minutes rather than jumping straight into a first stream or recording. Performance is not identical across PCs: encoder choice, resolution, bitrate, the game, graphics drivers and other settings all affect the result.
What if OBS will not record or the game stutters?
Look for duplicate capture systems first. OBS documents that Windows Game DVR can conflict with hardware encoding. It also notes that consumer NVIDIA GPUs can be limited to two encoding sessions; another recorder or background DVR process may already be using one.
- Turn off background Game DVR or another duplicate recorder temporarily.
- Disable duplicate in-game overlays while testing.
- Restart the game and OBS, then test a short recording.
- Re-enable one feature at a time so you can identify the conflict.
Do not assume that adding another overlay fixes an encoding problem. A clean test with fewer capture hooks is usually more informative.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Also popular on Amazon
- Ergonomic & Adjustable Design: Fight "text neck" and improve your posture. Designed for comfort, it offers an adjustable height (7.1in-8.5in) (1.4in adjustable range) and angle (5°-85°) Please note: cell phone stand is only 9 inches tall—the length of a standard pencil
- Without blocking subtitles Perfect for office desk Tiktok Face Time Zoom video—this is the ultimate kitchen desk essential for phones! Perfect viewing experience while reducing neck back strain, A must-have for gamers streamers desk, and anyone who values both style and support!
- Sleek & Stable Design fits Otterbox Case: Say goodbye to bent cables, tangles, and tip-overs! LISEN’s stylish adjustable desk phone holder features a built-in charging hole and smart cable management, keeping your phone secure and your workspace clutter-free cool gadgets for men
- ANTI-SLIP DESIGN free hands: The under 10.00 items easy gadgets back and the bottom of this kitchen essentials for women are fully covered by anti-skid silicone, which LISEN stand up desk decor can provide maximum protection device from any scratches and slides
- Your Perfect Viewing Companion:If your product arrives damaged or breaks within 365 days, reach out to LISEN for a quick and hassle-free solution. Struggling with assembly, like tightening the screw? We’ve got your back! Your experience matters to us. (Product including: phone Holder stand*1, screw*1, hexagon screwdriver*1, specification*1)
How do I show FPS and temperatures?
Install MSI Afterburner together with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS). Afterburner reads graphics-card and system sensors; RTSS supplies the in-game on-screen display for metrics such as FPS, temperature, utilization, power and frame time.
Use telemetry before tuning
- Install the two components from MSI or the legitimate Guru3D distribution identified by the current PC Praha guide.
- Open Afterburner and enable the sensors you need in its monitoring settings.
- Configure RTSS to display those values in-game.
- Play until the problem appears, then compare FPS and frame time with GPU load, temperature, power and (where available) CPU behavior.
- Change one game or driver setting at a time and repeat the same test.
You do not need to overclock or undervolt to use monitoring. Treat the utility as a diagnostic instrument first: a temperature or power limit, a fully loaded GPU, or uneven frame times can point to very different remedies. Keep default clocks until you understand the specific tuning goal.
Which version and download source are current?
PC Praha’s guide, updated October 18, 2026, reports that MSI Afterburner 4.6.6 supports GeForce RTX 50 cards. Version support and download locations are time-sensitive. The same guide says MSI warns about fraudulent sites distributing modified installers, so avoid unofficial mirrors and verify that the download is from MSI or the legitimate Guru3D distribution it identifies.
Also popular on Amazon
- Easy Installation: Our gaming lights have been designed to enhance your entertainment experience. Simply position the led light bar next to your TV or game console to create a game room environment with ease. They come with USB power and a 60 inch cord for direct mounting and mobility
- Audio Syncing & Extensive Mode: The built-in high-sensitivity music sensor allows you to sync the TV led lights to your favorite music. Lights react and move to the beat of music, film and game audio, creating an incredible immersive sound and light experience – and all without the need for an additional hub. You can choose from 64+ patterns, including strobe, illusion, jump, energy, gradient, running, chasing, fluttering mode etc. Each mode can be applied to different scenes
- 64+ Chasing IC+RGB & W Effect: The independent control design of IC+RGB and white all-in-one multifunctional rgbw led bar lights monitor backlight allows you to easily switch the led lights for desk between IC+RGB and white to enjoy a variety of lighting effects, you can choose white lighting mode with high brightness for better illumination when working, etc. Choose IC+RGB lighting mode when you need to create an entertaining atmosphere for the light show, 16 million colours of Color changing rgb light bar let you dance to the beat and create a dynamic party atmosphere
- Dynamic and Dimmable Lights: 1%-full brightness free brightness adjustment gives you the flexibility to adjust dimmable led light bar for room decorations or a variety of occasions
- USB Powered: USB light bars for room can be powered by powernank, usb charger, TV, Monitor, laptop PC mainframe, making behind TV led lighting bar easy to install in any location.TV led lights are powered by the TV usb interface / PC mainframe, can be turned on/off synchronously with TV / PC
How do the three tools differ in practice?
Use this decision rule: choose the simplest tool that covers the job, and avoid stacking capture systems while diagnosing a fault.
Recommended Free Tools
- Need a clip now: press Win+G and use Game Bar.
- Need a stream or a composed recording: use OBS with only the required sources.
- Need to explain stutter, heat or frame drops: use Afterburner/RTSS telemetry before changing settings.
- Need more than one of these jobs: combine tools deliberately, but disable duplicate background recording and overlays during troubleshooting.
What is the safest install order?
- Configure Game Bar: press Win+G and verify capture, audio and saved-clip behavior. No download is required.
- Add OBS if justified: run its wizard, add the minimum sources, check meters and complete a short test.
- Add Afterburner and RTSS when needed: enable the metrics that answer your performance question and leave clocks at their defaults.
- Remove conflicts: if a game crashes, stutters or refuses to encode, disable duplicate overlays and background capture, test, and restore features one by one.
Optional hardware such as a webcam, USB microphone or capture card is useful for an OBS setup but is not essential to every PC gamer; OBS lists those devices as source types rather than prerequisites.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Xbox Game Bar and OBS at the same time?
You can, but simultaneous capture hooks and overlays make troubleshooting harder and may consume hardware-encoding capacity. Start with one recorder, then add the other only if you have a specific reason and a successful test.
Also popular on Amazon
- Compatible with Wide Screens - To ensure compatibility with the dual monitor mount, your each monitor must meet three conditions at the same time: First, computer screens size range: 13 to 32 inches. Second, screen weight range: 4.4 to 19.8 lbs. Third, the back of the monitor screen must have VESA mounting holes with a pitch of 75x75mm or 100x100mm.
- Regarding the compatibility with desks - Your desk must meet three conditions at the same time: First, desk material: Only wooden desks are recommended, plastic or glass desks cannot be used. Second, desk thickness range: 0.59" - 3.54". Third, the bottom of the desk should not have any cross beams or panels, as this will interfere with installation. We recommend carefully checking that your desk and monitors meets all above conditions before purchasing.
- Dual C-Clamp Hold - Worried your dual monitors might wobble or slip? Our upgraded base uses a larger platform plus a dual C-clamp structure to lock the dual monitor arm firmly to your desk. Each arm safely keeps your screens steady while you type, click and game—no shaking, no sliding, just a clean and secure setup you can trust every day. It also provides Grommet Mounting installation choice, both options ensure stable and secure fixation for your 0.59" - 3.54" desk.
- Full-Motion Adjustment For Comfortable View - Pull the screen closer when you’re deep in a spreadsheet, push it back to watch videos, or rotate to portrait for coding — moving everything smoothly with just one hand. The monitor stand offers +85°/-50° tilt, ±90° swivel and 360° rotation. Raise your monitor up to 15.75″ to support a healthy sitting posture. Whether you’re working from home, gaming through the night, or switching between video calls and documents, getting the screens to your natural line of sight helps relieve neck, shoulder and back strain so you can stay focused longer with less fatigue.
- Keep Your Desk Organized: By lifting both screens off the desktop, this dual monitor stand opens up valuable space for your keyboard, notebook, docking station or a simple, clutter-free work area. Built-in cable management guides wires along the arms, keeping cords out of sight and out of the way. Enjoy a tidy, modern workstation that looks as good as it feels to use.
Do I need an NVIDIA graphics card for MSI Afterburner?
No. The monitoring utility is intended to work with almost all graphics cards, although the exact sensors and controls shown depend on the hardware. The RTX 50 compatibility statement applies specifically to Afterburner 4.6.6.
Why is my FPS counter different between tools?
Counters may sample at different times or report average, instantaneous or rendered frames differently. Compare frame-time behavior and test under the same scene rather than treating two overlays as interchangeable measurements.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat should I record first to test OBS?
Make a short local recording that includes the game, intended microphone and desktop audio, then watch the file from start to finish. This catches missing sources, muted tracks and encoder problems before a public stream.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
