MSI Afterburner is a popular and powerful graphics card overclocking utility developed by MSI. It's widely considered the best free software for GPU monitoring and tweaking.
The program allows users to adjust their graphics card's core clock speed, memory clock speed, voltage, and fan speed. It also provides real-time monitoring of various parameters including GPU temperature, usage, fan speed, and frame rate.
One of the most valuable features of MSI Afterburner is its on-screen display (OSD) capability, which shows system performance metrics while gaming. The software also includes a built-in benchmarking tool and video recording functionality through RivaTuner Statistics Server.
Despite being developed by MSI, Afterburner works with graphics cards from all manufacturers, including NVIDIA and AMD. This universal compatibility, combined with its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, has made it the go-to choice for gamers and PC enthusiasts who want to optimize their graphics card performance.
The software is completely free and regularly updated to support new graphics cards and add new features.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Developer | MSI (Micro-Star International) |
| Initial Release | 2009 |
| Latest Version | 4.6.5 Beta 3 (as of 2023) |
| License | Freeware |
| Operating System | Windows |
| File Size | ~12 MB |
| Main Features | |
| Hardware Monitoring | - Real-time hardware monitoring - GPU temperature - CPU temperature - Fan speed - Core clock - Memory clock - Framerate - GPU usage |
| Overclocking Capabilities | - GPU core voltage control - Power limit adjustment - Core clock adjustment - Memory clock adjustment - Fan speed control - Custom fan curves |
| Video Capture | - Video recording - Screenshot capture - Built-in benchmarking - Support for multiple video codecs |
| On-Screen Display (OSD) | - Customizable OSD layout - Real-time performance metrics - FPS counter - Hardware statistics - Multiple display support |
| Compatibility | |
| GPU Support | - NVIDIA Graphics Cards - AMD Graphics Cards - Intel Graphics (limited support) |
| Manufacturer Support | - All major GPU manufacturers - Not limited to MSI products |
| Advanced Features | |
| Profiles | - Multiple profile support - Profile hotkeys - Profile auto-loading |
| Benchmarking | - Built-in benchmarking tools - Performance logging - Custom benchmark profiles |
| Customization | - Skinnable interface - Custom OSD layouts - User-defined monitoring graphs |
| Additional Tools | |
| RivaTuner Statistics Server | - Bundled with installation - Frame rate limiting - Additional monitoring features |
| Kombustor | - Stress testing - GPU stability testing - Performance benchmarking |
| System Requirements | |
| Minimum OS | Windows 7 |
| CPU | 1.5 GHz or higher |
| RAM | 512 MB minimum |
| Disk Space | 50 MB free |
| Safety Features | |
| Protection | - Failsafe mechanisms - Hardware protection - Voltage limits - Temperature monitoring |
| User Interface | |
| Design | - Simple and intuitive - Graph-based monitoring - Easy-to-use sliders - Compact mode available |
| Language Support | Multiple languages supported |
| Additional Benefits | |
| Updates | - Regular updates - Beta versions available - Community support |
| Community | - Large user base - Active forums - Tutorial availability |
| Cost | Free to download and use |
