diff --git a/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoengine.cc b/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoengine.cc
index 0c7ac04b1c..7c06bd1640 100644
--- a/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoengine.cc
+++ b/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoengine.cc
@@ -383,19 +383,8 @@ class WebRtcRenderAdapter : public webrtc::ExternalRenderer {
                            int64_t render_time,
                            void* handle) {
     rtc::CritScope cs(&crit_);
-    if (capture_start_rtp_time_stamp_ < 0) {
-      capture_start_rtp_time_stamp_ = rtp_time_stamp;
-    }
-
-    const int kVideoCodecClockratekHz = cricket::kVideoCodecClockrate / 1000;
-
-    int64 elapsed_time_ms =
-        (rtp_ts_wraparound_handler_.Unwrap(rtp_time_stamp) -
-         capture_start_rtp_time_stamp_) / kVideoCodecClockratekHz;
-    if (ntp_time_ms > 0) {
-      capture_start_ntp_time_ms_ = ntp_time_ms - elapsed_time_ms;
-    }
-    frame_rate_tracker_.Update(1);
+    const int64_t elapsed_time_ms = ElapsedTimeMs(rtp_time_stamp);
+    UpdateFrameStats(elapsed_time_ms, ntp_time_ms);
     if (!renderer_) {
       return 0;
     }
@@ -417,6 +406,25 @@ class WebRtcRenderAdapter : public webrtc::ExternalRenderer {
     }
   }
 
+  virtual int DeliverI420Frame(const webrtc::I420VideoFrame* webrtc_frame) {
+    rtc::CritScope cs(&crit_);
+    DCHECK(webrtc_frame);
+    const int64_t elapsed_time_ms = ElapsedTimeMs(webrtc_frame->timestamp());
+    UpdateFrameStats(elapsed_time_ms, webrtc_frame->ntp_time_ms());
+    if (!renderer_) {
+      return 0;
+    }
+    if (!webrtc_frame->native_handle()) {
+      WebRtcVideoRenderFrame cricket_frame(webrtc_frame, elapsed_time_ms);
+      return renderer_->RenderFrame(&cricket_frame) ? 0 : -1;
+    } else {
+      return DeliverTextureFrame(
+          webrtc_frame->native_handle(),
+          webrtc_frame->render_time_ms() * rtc::kNumNanosecsPerMillisec,
+          elapsed_time_ms * rtc::kNumNanosecsPerMillisec);
+    }
+  }
+
   virtual bool IsTextureSupported() { return true; }
 
   int DeliverBufferFrame(unsigned char* buffer, size_t buffer_size,
@@ -469,6 +477,22 @@ class WebRtcRenderAdapter : public webrtc::ExternalRenderer {
   }
 
  private:
+  int64_t ElapsedTimeMs(uint32_t rtp_time_stamp) {
+    if (capture_start_rtp_time_stamp_ < 0) {
+      capture_start_rtp_time_stamp_ = rtp_time_stamp;
+    }
+    const int kVideoCodecClockratekHz = cricket::kVideoCodecClockrate / 1000;
+    return (rtp_ts_wraparound_handler_.Unwrap(rtp_time_stamp) -
+            capture_start_rtp_time_stamp_) / kVideoCodecClockratekHz;
+  }
+
+  void UpdateFrameStats(int64_t elapsed_time_ms, int64_t ntp_time_ms) {
+    if (ntp_time_ms > 0) {
+      capture_start_ntp_time_ms_ = ntp_time_ms - elapsed_time_ms;
+    }
+    frame_rate_tracker_.Update(1);
+  }
+
   rtc::CriticalSection crit_;
   VideoRenderer* renderer_;
   int channel_id_;
diff --git a/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.cc b/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.cc
index 19566d82ab..2dd4799f9b 100644
--- a/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.cc
+++ b/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.cc
@@ -460,9 +460,19 @@ int WebRtcVideoRenderFrame::GetRotation() const {
   return ROTATION_0;
 }
 
+// TODO(magjed): Make this copy shallow instead of deep, BUG=1128. There is no
+// way to guarantee that the underlying webrtc::I420VideoFrame |frame_| will
+// outlive the returned object. The only safe option is to make a deep copy.
+// This can be fixed by making webrtc::I420VideoFrame reference counted, or
+// adding a similar shallow copy function to it.
 VideoFrame* WebRtcVideoRenderFrame::Copy() const {
-  UNIMPLEMENTED;
-  return NULL;
+  WebRtcVideoFrame* new_frame = new WebRtcVideoFrame();
+  new_frame->InitToEmptyBuffer(frame_->width(), frame_->height(), 1, 1,
+                               GetElapsedTime(), GetTimeStamp());
+  CopyToPlanes(new_frame->GetYPlane(), new_frame->GetUPlane(),
+               new_frame->GetVPlane(), new_frame->GetYPitch(),
+               new_frame->GetUPitch(), new_frame->GetVPitch());
+  return new_frame;
 }
 
 bool WebRtcVideoRenderFrame::MakeExclusive() {
diff --git a/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.h b/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.h
index c6a7d70dec..f025163db6 100644
--- a/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.h
+++ b/talk/media/webrtc/webrtcvideoframe.h
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ class WebRtcVideoFrame : public VideoFrame {
 
   bool Init(const CapturedFrame* frame, int dw, int dh);
 
+  void InitToEmptyBuffer(int w, int h, size_t pixel_width, size_t pixel_height,
+                         int64_t elapsed_time, int64_t time_stamp);
+
   // Aliases this WebRtcVideoFrame to a CapturedFrame. |frame| must outlive
   // this WebRtcVideoFrame.
   bool Alias(const CapturedFrame* frame, int dw, int dh);
@@ -122,8 +125,6 @@ class WebRtcVideoFrame : public VideoFrame {
                                        size_t pixel_height,
                                        int64_t elapsed_time,
                                        int64_t time_stamp) const;
-  void InitToEmptyBuffer(int w, int h, size_t pixel_width, size_t pixel_height,
-                         int64_t elapsed_time, int64_t time_stamp);
 
   rtc::scoped_refptr<RefCountedBuffer> video_buffer_;
   size_t pixel_width_;
diff --git a/webrtc/video_engine/include/vie_render.h b/webrtc/video_engine/include/vie_render.h
index 5cceb723d8..eab69a2963 100644
--- a/webrtc/video_engine/include/vie_render.h
+++ b/webrtc/video_engine/include/vie_render.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 namespace webrtc {
 
+class I420VideoFrame;
 class VideoEngine;
 class VideoRender;
 class VideoRenderCallback;
@@ -47,6 +48,9 @@ class ExternalRenderer {
                            // Handle of the underlying video frame.
                            void* handle) = 0;
 
+  // Alternative interface for I420 frames.
+  virtual int DeliverI420Frame(const I420VideoFrame* webrtc_frame) = 0;
+
   // Returns true if the renderer supports textures. DeliverFrame can be called
   // with NULL |buffer| and non-NULL |handle|.
   virtual bool IsTextureSupported() = 0;
diff --git a/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.cc b/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.cc
index f50a40f13e..b360c90f60 100644
--- a/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.cc
+++ b/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.cc
@@ -595,6 +595,15 @@ int FrameDropDetector::GetNumberOfFramesDroppedAt(State state) {
 int FrameDropMonitoringRemoteFileRenderer::DeliverFrame(
     unsigned char *buffer, size_t buffer_size, uint32_t time_stamp,
     int64_t ntp_time_ms, int64_t render_time, void* /*handle*/) {
+  ReportFrameStats(time_stamp, render_time);
+  return ViEToFileRenderer::DeliverFrame(buffer, buffer_size,
+                                         time_stamp, ntp_time_ms,
+                                         render_time, NULL);
+}
+
+void FrameDropMonitoringRemoteFileRenderer::ReportFrameStats(
+    uint32_t time_stamp,
+    int64_t render_time) {
   // |render_time| provides the ideal render time for this frame. If that time
   // has already passed we will render it immediately.
   int64_t report_render_time_us = render_time * 1000;
@@ -605,9 +614,12 @@ int FrameDropMonitoringRemoteFileRenderer::DeliverFrame(
   // Register that this frame has been rendered.
   frame_drop_detector_->ReportFrameState(FrameDropDetector::kRendered,
                                          time_stamp, report_render_time_us);
-  return ViEToFileRenderer::DeliverFrame(buffer, buffer_size,
-                                         time_stamp, ntp_time_ms,
-                                         render_time, NULL);
+}
+
+int FrameDropMonitoringRemoteFileRenderer::DeliverI420Frame(
+    const webrtc::I420VideoFrame* webrtc_frame) {
+  ReportFrameStats(webrtc_frame->timestamp(), webrtc_frame->render_time_ms());
+  return ViEToFileRenderer::DeliverI420Frame(webrtc_frame);
 }
 
 int FrameDropMonitoringRemoteFileRenderer::FrameSizeChange(
diff --git a/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.h b/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.h
index bcafe9021f..317b760065 100644
--- a/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.h
+++ b/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/primitives/framedrop_primitives.h
@@ -230,7 +230,11 @@ class FrameDropMonitoringRemoteFileRenderer : public ViEToFileRenderer {
                    int64_t ntp_time_ms,
                    int64_t render_time,
                    void* handle) OVERRIDE;
+  int DeliverI420Frame(const webrtc::I420VideoFrame* webrtc_frame) OVERRIDE;
+
  private:
+  void ReportFrameStats(uint32_t time_stamp, int64_t render_time);
+
   FrameDropDetector* frame_drop_detector_;
 };
 
diff --git a/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/source/vie_autotest_render.cc b/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/source/vie_autotest_render.cc
index 889e907cbb..3e5be49340 100644
--- a/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/source/vie_autotest_render.cc
+++ b/webrtc/video_engine/test/auto_test/source/vie_autotest_render.cc
@@ -71,6 +71,13 @@ public:
       return 0;
     }
 
+    virtual int DeliverI420Frame(const webrtc::I420VideoFrame* webrtc_frame) {
+      EXPECT_TRUE(webrtc_frame);
+      EXPECT_EQ(webrtc_frame->width(), _width);
+      EXPECT_EQ(webrtc_frame->height(), _height);
+      return 0;
+    }
+
     virtual bool IsTextureSupported() { return false; }
 
 public:
diff --git a/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/helpers/vie_to_file_renderer.cc b/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/helpers/vie_to_file_renderer.cc
index 33e88391b4..449ce7726a 100644
--- a/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/helpers/vie_to_file_renderer.cc
+++ b/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/helpers/vie_to_file_renderer.cc
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 #include <assert.h>
 
+#include "webrtc/common_video/libyuv/include/webrtc_libyuv.h"
 #include "webrtc/system_wrappers/interface/critical_section_wrapper.h"
 #include "webrtc/system_wrappers/interface/event_wrapper.h"
 #include "webrtc/system_wrappers/interface/thread_wrapper.h"
@@ -19,16 +20,7 @@
 namespace test {
 struct Frame {
  public:
-  Frame(unsigned char* buffer,
-        size_t buffer_size,
-        uint32_t timestamp,
-        int64_t render_time)
-      : buffer(new unsigned char[buffer_size]),
-        buffer_size(buffer_size),
-        timestamp(timestamp),
-        render_time(render_time) {
-    memcpy(this->buffer.get(), buffer, buffer_size);
-  }
+  Frame() : buffer(nullptr), buffer_size(0), timestamp(0), render_time(0) {}
 
   webrtc::scoped_ptr<unsigned char[]> buffer;
   size_t buffer_size;
@@ -120,6 +112,22 @@ void ViEToFileRenderer::ForgetOutputFile() {
   output_path_ = "";
 }
 
+test::Frame* ViEToFileRenderer::NewFrame(size_t buffer_size) {
+  test::Frame* frame;
+  if (free_frame_queue_.empty()) {
+    frame = new test::Frame();
+  } else {
+    // Reuse an already allocated frame.
+    frame = free_frame_queue_.front();
+    free_frame_queue_.pop_front();
+  }
+  if (frame->buffer_size < buffer_size) {
+    frame->buffer.reset(new unsigned char[buffer_size]);
+    frame->buffer_size = buffer_size;
+  }
+  return frame;
+}
+
 int ViEToFileRenderer::DeliverFrame(unsigned char *buffer,
                                     size_t buffer_size,
                                     uint32_t time_stamp,
@@ -127,21 +135,32 @@ int ViEToFileRenderer::DeliverFrame(unsigned char *buffer,
                                     int64_t render_time,
                                     void* /*handle*/) {
   webrtc::CriticalSectionScoped lock(frame_queue_cs_.get());
-  test::Frame* frame;
-  if (free_frame_queue_.empty()) {
-    frame = new test::Frame(buffer, buffer_size, time_stamp, render_time);
-  } else {
-    // Reuse an already allocated frame.
-    frame = free_frame_queue_.front();
-    free_frame_queue_.pop_front();
-    if (frame->buffer_size < buffer_size) {
-      frame->buffer.reset(new unsigned char[buffer_size]);
-    }
-    memcpy(frame->buffer.get(), buffer, buffer_size);
-    frame->buffer_size = buffer_size;
-    frame->timestamp = time_stamp;
-    frame->render_time = render_time;
-  }
+  test::Frame* frame = NewFrame(buffer_size);
+  memcpy(frame->buffer.get(), buffer, buffer_size);
+  frame->timestamp = time_stamp;
+  frame->render_time = render_time;
+
+  render_queue_.push_back(frame);
+  // Signal that a frame is ready to be written to file.
+  frame_render_event_->Set();
+  return 0;
+}
+
+int ViEToFileRenderer::DeliverI420Frame(
+    const webrtc::I420VideoFrame* input_frame) {
+  assert(input_frame);
+  const size_t buffer_size = CalcBufferSize(webrtc::kI420, input_frame->width(),
+                                            input_frame->height());
+  webrtc::CriticalSectionScoped lock(frame_queue_cs_.get());
+  test::Frame* frame = NewFrame(buffer_size);
+  const int length =
+      ExtractBuffer(*input_frame, frame->buffer_size, frame->buffer.get());
+  assert(static_cast<size_t>(length) == buffer_size);
+  if (length < 0)
+    return -1;
+  frame->timestamp = input_frame->timestamp();
+  frame->render_time = input_frame->render_time_ms();
+
   render_queue_.push_back(frame);
   // Signal that a frame is ready to be written to file.
   frame_render_event_->Set();
diff --git a/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/include/vie_to_file_renderer.h b/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/include/vie_to_file_renderer.h
index dccf262487..fc75c42756 100644
--- a/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/include/vie_to_file_renderer.h
+++ b/webrtc/video_engine/test/libvietest/include/vie_to_file_renderer.h
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ class ViEToFileRenderer: public webrtc::ExternalRenderer {
                    int64_t render_time,
                    void* handle) OVERRIDE;
 
+  int DeliverI420Frame(const webrtc::I420VideoFrame* webrtc_frame) OVERRIDE;
+
   bool IsTextureSupported() OVERRIDE;
 
   const std::string GetFullOutputPath() const;
@@ -71,6 +73,9 @@ class ViEToFileRenderer: public webrtc::ExternalRenderer {
  private:
   typedef std::list<test::Frame*> FrameQueue;
 
+  // Returns a frame with the specified |buffer_size|. Tries to avoid allocating
+  // new frames by reusing frames from |free_frame_queue_|.
+  test::Frame* NewFrame(size_t buffer_size);
   static bool RunRenderThread(void* obj);
   void ForgetOutputFile();
   bool ProcessRenderQueue();
diff --git a/webrtc/video_engine/vie_renderer.cc b/webrtc/video_engine/vie_renderer.cc
index 5a2b7e28d2..976cef6730 100644
--- a/webrtc/video_engine/vie_renderer.cc
+++ b/webrtc/video_engine/vie_renderer.cc
@@ -189,6 +189,13 @@ int32_t ViEExternalRendererImpl::RenderFrame(
     return 0;
   }
 
+  // Fast path for I420 without frame copy.
+  if (external_renderer_format_ == kVideoI420) {
+    NotifyFrameSizeChange(stream_id, video_frame);
+    external_renderer_->DeliverI420Frame(&video_frame);
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   VideoFrame* out_frame = converted_frame_.get();
 
   // Convert to requested format.
@@ -204,16 +211,6 @@ int32_t ViEExternalRendererImpl::RenderFrame(
   converted_frame_->VerifyAndAllocate(buffer_size);
 
   switch (external_renderer_format_) {
-    case kVideoI420: {
-      // TODO(mikhal): need to copy the buffer as is.
-      // can the output here be a I420 frame?
-      int length = ExtractBuffer(video_frame, out_frame->Size(),
-                                 out_frame->Buffer());
-      if (length < 0)
-        return -1;
-      out_frame->SetLength(length);
-      break;
-    }
     case kVideoYV12:
     case kVideoYUY2:
     case kVideoUYVY: