I use my graphic cards own recorder Geforce Experience shadowplay. It has option to record desktop. Works pretty good and does the job.

-Jaeykkae

I use Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 for my video capture needs. It's free.

Download Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 from Official Microsoft Download Center

I also settled on Microsoft Expression Encoder 4. Free and no recording time limit.

I have also used the free Microsoft Encoder software at work to record webinars and it has worked very well for me. The no time limit is very nice.

Hulk 

I have camtasia also but only 1 license so when I got my new trading workstation, I didnt want to spend camtasia $$. I researched various software and settled on Autoscreenrecorder and Screenhunter by Wisdom Soft. They are cheaper than Camtasia and Snagit and do the job well. You can download a 15 day fully functioning trial and make your decision based on your experience.

I retract my recommendation for Screenhunter and Autoscreenrecorder. Their support sucks. Sent a simple question 5 days ago, then a reminder yesterday and nothing. It is completely unacceptable. I am going to write to the editor at toptenreviews.com. This cannot be the 2nd highest rated software after Camtasia/Snagit as reviewed. My apologies for the hasty recommendation. I had only just bought it based on the features but I had no idea about their support incompetency.

Screencastomatic. Inexpensive, easy to use, works great, educational videos etc. No complaints here!

I use Replay Video Capture 6. It is simple to use and doesn't take up a lot of resources. It has everything I need.


Download Replay Video Capture

rleplae 

I am using the free version of the BB flashback recorder form blueberry soft. i have installed some extra free codec's that compress better and make good avi's.

This program looks really good!

Which codecs did you install and what settings do you recommend for optimal compression?

Yuri57 

This program looks really good! Which codecs did you install and what settings do you recommend for optimal compression?

Hello Yuri

These are the settings I am using
i downloaded the xvid suite and some codecs that go along with that

3 hours recording would be +/- 250MB with audio and good quality

rleplae 

Hello Yuri These are the settings I am using i downloaded the xvid suite and some codecs that go along with that 3 hours recording would be +/- 250MB with audio and good quality

Hi rleplae!

I have downloaded the codec and made a test compression with the setting above (looks like default).

The result is for a 1 min video with 1368*768 @ 10 fps is ~5MB

So 3 hours would be 900MB for me. Any idea why?

Thanks,

Yuri57